ClimateWest

Who we are

Working across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, ClimateWest empowers communities, businesses, non-profits and governments to thrive in the face of a changing climate. ClimateWest is a part of a growing network of regional climate hubs that work closely with the Canadian Centre for Climate Services (CCCS) to provide climate services.

The Canadian Prairies are a hotspot for climate change—not just within Canada, but across the world. The region is projected to warm much faster than the global average and the resulting risks to ecosystems, communities, and economies will be substantial. Even if large-scale, international emission reduction efforts are made today, the Prairies are projected to continue warming.

Climate Projections

Those living in western Canada should prepare for three major weather and climate events.

The table below summarizes climate projections for the end of this century. These projections are based on a high emissions scenario using data from the Climate Atlas of Canada.

Along with global mitigation efforts, local actions to reduce risk and vulnerability to major weather events will be essential for future prosperity in the Prairies.

ClimateWest helps people in the Prairie provinces understand the potential hazards and impacts of climate change, how to prepare for them, and how to continue to thrive in our present and future climate. This is achieved through delivering credible, useful, and timely climate information, data, and tools tailored to the Prairie region in support of positive adaptation to climate change.

Here are some helpful resources:

• A Snapshot of the Changing Prairie Climate – a plain language report prepared by the Prairie Climate Centre, designed to be an accessible, timely, and accurate snapshot of the past, present, and future climate for those who live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
• A Guide to Finding Climate Information and Data – this guide provides an overview of credible resources that offer free access to climate data about the future. Focusing on climate information needs within the Prairie provinces, the guide outlines where to find climate data and some basics for how climate information and data can be used in risk management and adaptation planning.
• Understanding and Accommodating Uncertainty in Climate Change Data: A ClimateWest Primer – this report unpacks the different types of uncertainty associated with climate modelling and how to manage these risks for better adaptation outcomes.

More Prairie Resources

ClimateWest Help Desk

ClimateWest’s Help Desk is a free, public resource that supports people living in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba with their climate adaptation needs and questions. Whether you need assistance locating relevant region-specific data, understanding its implications, or guidance on integration of climate data into decision-making, please reach out by email, phone or through our website.

Contact the Help Desk

Sign up for the ClimateWest monthly newsletter, and follow on X or LinkedIn to stay up-to-date with climate information in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

Follow ClimateWest on: