Combatting Canada’s Rising Flood Costs: Natural infrastructure is an underutilized option

Beyond the specific methods needed to assess and compare grey infrastructure against natural infrastructure options relative to their utility to mitigate risk, a framework is required that would provide guidance to those considering or opting for a natural infrastructure solution.

​This report presents ample evidence to suggest that efforts by governments to limit flood risk may be consistent with – and reinforce – their fiduciary responsibility to administer good governance.

Flood risk is mounting across Canada from fluvial sources, such as rivers and lakes; pluvial sources, such as intense rainfall inundating urban environments; and coastal sources, such as storm surges compounded by rising sea levels.