Abstract

This scoping paper is part of a series commissioned by the Canadian Climate Institute that explores key opportunities for public policy to advance rapid, effective, and just climate change adaptation in Canada.

Canada’s climate is rapidly warming, posing wide-ranging risks for Canadian society. As the consequences of climate change become more severe for the health and well-being of Canadians, governments must pursue a much more ambitious approach to climate adaptation. By committing to Canada’s first-ever National Adaptation Strategy, the federal government has indicated that it recognizes the need to better promote and manage adaptation at the national level.

A monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system will be a critical part of the National Adaptation Strategy. A robust M&E system tracks progress towards goals and targets based on clear metrics of progress. It would support improvement of the National Adaptation Strategy over time, enabling the government to adjust priorities as necessary given changing risks and social vulnerability. It would also inform policymakers about whether adaptation actions and policies identified in the strategy are in fact helping Canada adapt and become more resilient. And if not, it would create avenues to course-correct if necessary.

This paper provides guidance on key elements of a robust M&E system for adaptation in Canada. We summarize the four building blocks necessary for a successful system—context, content, operationalization, and communication. Based on these blocks, we identify nine best practices for Canada to guide the development of a national adaptation M&E system:

1. Define the purpose of Canada’s M&E system in terms of accountability, policy learning, and improved decision making
2. Legislate a strong federal mandate on adaptation M&E
3. Integrate findings from regional M&E systems and work in partnership with Indigenous leadership to build a full national picture of adaptation progress
4. Integrate multiple approaches and lines of evidence
5. Develop indicators that capture both policy outputs and outcomes
6. Apply qualitative methods alongside quantitative output and outcome indicators to enhance their explanatory power
7. Allocate sufficient time and resources to get institutional design right and ensure ongoing analytical capacity
8. Align the timing and frequency of reporting to best support the national adaptation strategy
9. Present M&E findings in accessible formats for diverse stakeholders