News Release
As extreme weather events intensify and geopolitical dynamics grow more complex, Canada’s public weather service plays an increasingly vital role in supporting national safety, sovereignty, and prosperity. A new report from the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) explores how the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) can respond to climate change, rapid technological shifts, and the evolving needs of users in Canada and globally.
The MSC asked the CCA to examine the essential functions of a public hydro-meteorological service and how they could be adapted to keep pace with growing demands. The Future of Hydrological and Meteorological Services in Canada considers how the MSC could support leadership and coordination both at home and abroad and better engage users.
“We’re facing a critical moment for hydro-meteorological services in Canada and an opportunity to ensure that Canada’s weather service continues to serve the public interest,” said Jim Abraham, chair of the expert panel.
Financial constraints are also putting pressure on the weather service to adapt. The panel determined that strengthening and diversifying domestic and international partnerships will help resist fragmentation of services and improve the end-to-end resilience of forecasts and warnings. AI has the potential to drastically change the way weather predictions are made. At the same time, it is essential that the MSC continue to provide and maintain Canada’s backbone infrastructure, such as a country-wide observation system and modelling capabilities, which remain critical to Canada’s weather enterprise and climate change adaptation strategy.
“Weather, water, and climate monitoring and forecasting are some of the most indispensable government services in Canada,” said Tijs Creutzberg, CCA president and CEO. “This report can inform the important work of the public weather service to ensure it continues to support decision-making across sectors, communities, and industries.”
By embracing standards, building partnerships, and taking a stronger leadership role where needed, the MSC can leverage its resources to maximize efficiency and return on investment while protecting Canadian sovereignty, safety, and prosperity.