New policy brief calls for Canada to adopt a national climate risk data commons

A new policy brief from the Waterloo Climate Institute, led by Prof. Dan Henstra and Prof. Jason Thistlethwaite, explores the need for Canada to establish a national climate risk data commons. The proposed federated data-sharing system would improve access to climate risk information while allowing organizations to retain control over sensitive data.

Governments, insurers and businesses depend on climate risk data to guide infrastructure investment, land-use planning, insurance pricing and disaster preparedness. Yet these datasets remain fragmented across public agencies, private firms, utilities and research institutions, limiting their usefulness for decision-making. A national climate risk data commons would help address these gaps, supporting better adaptation decisions, more effective insurance markets and more resilient communities.