Funding the Future: Enabling natural infrastructure through federal programs

A flexible approach to infrastructure funding, including natural infrastructure, can help Canada build resilience while making the most of every dollar invested. Natural infrastructure, like restored wetlands, urban tree canopies, or rain gardens, can provide specific infrastructure benefits, with the potential for many other social, economic, and environmental benefits. There is increasing evidence that natural infrastructure can deliver much-needed water outcomes cost efficiently while also providing areas for recreation, habitat to support wildlife, and improving the overall resilience of our communities.

IISD's recently published “Funding the Future: Enabling natural infrastructure through federal infrastructure programs” assesses six federal infrastructure programs against 14 enabling criteria for natural infrastructure. Results show two programs are leading the way. IISD recommends 14 practical criteria to better enable natural infrastructure within major infrastructure programs, while highlighting existing models that work well with nature. 

This webinar brought together experts to discuss why incorporating enabling criteria for natural infrastructure is so important, especially as aging infrastructure, decades of underinvestment, and the growing impacts of climate change strain local governments who are grappling for sustainable infrastructure solutions. The webinar shares results from the report, the updated design of a federal funding program, and municipal perspective on accessing federal funding, wrapping up with discussion and audience questions. 

Key Takeaways from the Webinar: 

• Natural infrastructure can help to deliver critical infrastructure services, while providing solutions at the nexus of interconnected crises; climate, biodiversity, housing, and infrastructure.
• Of the 6 programs reviewed, the Natural Infrastructure Fund and the Local Leadership for Climate Adaption were identified as the most natural infrastructure “friendly”, with GMF “willing to put more money on the table for projects that incorporate natural infrastructure”.  
• In order to design federal funding programs that support natural infrastructure, as opposed to exclusively grey infrastructure, the desired outcomes should be identified early on. For the LLCA, GMF was intentional in elevating equity and the delivery of benefits to those that are disproportionately vulnerable to climate impacts and that natural infrastructure is the preferred solution where feasible.    
• Both dedicated funding programs (like the Natural Infrastructure Fund) and embedded within major funding programs (like the Disaster Mitigation & Adaptation Fund) are critical to enhancing natural infrastructure implementation. Dedicated funds can give local governments the opportunity to try a new approach, while embedded will support more widespread use and application.  
• “Every infrastructure project should have a natural infrastructure component” where possible, as people are a part of nature, not apart from nature. With Canada’s newly re-elected Liberal party committing to protect nature and fight climate change, with nature-based solutions front and centre to the interlinked crisis, there is anticipation that natural infrastructure could play a role. 

This webinar took place on May 22, 2025. Watch the full recording below or on YouTube.

Our Speakers

Christine Mettler is a green infrastructure policy expert and designer. She is currently in school pursuing her Master's Degree in Landscape Architecture to learn how to better support designers and planners to implement functional, beautiful, and thriving GI. Before that, she was the director of Green Infrastructure at Green Communities Canada—a national non-profit organization with member organizations across the country. There, she co-authored the Framework for Living Cities with a research team from the University of Toronto, and worked with environmental organizations across Canada to better integrate GI into local policy, engage local community members, and support the planning and designing equity-oriented GI projects. 

Joanna Eyquem is an internationally-recognized leader in climate adaptation and nature-based solutions, with 25 years experience in Europe, North America and Western Africa. Her work at the Climate Risk Institute focuses on managing climate risk, including flooding, erosion and extreme heat, in particular working with nature and the financial sector. As part of this work, Joanna leads the development of national guidance and tools for climate resilience and nature-based solutions, including disclosures of natural assets in financial statements and sustainability reporting. In addition, Joanna serves on over 30 boards and committees, including the Canadian Infrastructure Council, the Canadian Sustainable Finance Network, Canada’s TNFD Working Group, the National Research Council of Canada, the Government of Quebec’s Expert Group on Adaptation, and as Chair of the Board for the Natural Assets Initiative.

Dustin Carey is the Lead, Climate Adaptation with FCM's Green Municipal Fund and an Expert Consultant with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. After receiving his Master of Climate Change degree from the University of Waterloo, he applied his understanding of climate science to practical municipal climate solutions. Specializing in climate adaptation, municipal asset management, capacity development and sustainable land use practices, Dustin works to enable local governments to create low-carbon, resilient communities. He wrote the Climate-Resilient Asset Management chapter of the United Nations' Managing Infrastructure Assets for Sustainable Development Handbook. 
 

Our Moderator:

Asha Nelson is a Project Coordinator at ClimateWest, where she manages numerous climate adaptation initiatives and supports the organization’s reconciliation and equity efforts. She brings nearly a decade of experience working in the non-profit sector in Manitoba, leading projects, programs and community-based research in the areas of food sovereignty, climate change, and refugee resettlement. Previously, she worked at Fireweed Food Co-op helping develop critical infrastructure for local food distribution and continues to be an active member of the Winnipeg Food Council. Asha is an experienced facilitator and is based in Winnipeg on Treaty 1 Territory. 

Resources:

• Funding the Future: Enabling natural infrastructure through federal infrastructure programs (IISD)
• FCM Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation (LLCA) initiative (FCM)
• The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review (Gov.UK)
• IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions (IUCN)
• Statistics Canada Census of Environment portal (StatsCan)
• Getting Nature into Financial Reporting  (Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation)
• A Clear and Overdue Path to Accounting for Natural Assets in Canada (C.D Howe)
• Article: Canada’s natural capital is a key in the Trump era but requires a new approach (Policy Options)
• Unpacking Methods for Integrated Assessments of Nature-Based Solutions (IISD)

Thanks to our webinar series partner:

Funded in part by: