About the Program

What is the RACs Program about?

  • The RACs Program is a three-year, $30 million, cost-shared initiative to support coordinated action towards advancing regional climate change adaptation decision-making. It will develop knowledge and tools so that local practitioners and decision-makers can reduce the risks and maximize opportunities arising from a changing climate. Under this Program, the Government of Canada will invest in six regional adaptation collaboratives.

What is the goal?

  • The goal of the RACs Program is to catalyze coordinated and sustained adaptation planning, decision-making and action, by establishing six RACs, covering all regions in Canada.
  • The national Program has five RACs already established in British Columbia, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada. A process is underway to establish a RAC in Northern Canada.

Who is involved?

  • The RACs Program is a collaboration between the federal government and provinces and territories, and engages local governments, communities, industry, business, academia, and Aboriginal and non-governmental organizations, all of whom have a role in adaptation.
  • The Program is led by Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan's) Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Division.

Why was this Program created?

  • In December 2007, the Government of Canada announced a federal investment of $85.9 million under the Clean Air Agenda for programming to help Canadians adapt to the impacts that climate change is having on our health, infrastructure and communities. This investment includes $30 million for NRCan to establish the RACs.
  • The RACs initiatives address targeted climate change issues identified by science, notably, From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate, a research report produced by NRCan.
  • The RAC Program was designed recognizing the need for a regional approach to adaptation and the significant foundation of adaptation knowledge and expertise that resides among government and non-government decision-makers and technical experts across the country. As such, the region-centric, collaborative nature of the Program creates synergies towards action.

Who will benefit from the results?

  • Regions and sectors across Canada will benefit as practitioners and decision-makers integrate and use the knowledge, tools and networks developed by the RACs to develop and update guidelines, policies, codes and standards.