About Climate Resilient Retrofits

Research overview

Climate Resilient Retrofits is stewarded by Partners for Action (P4A), a research initiative of the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo. This work began in 2023 when the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia engaged Partners for Action (P4A) at the University of Waterloo to conduct research on adapting residential and non-residential buildings to increase resilience to locally relevant natural hazards. 


P4A researchers and practitioners observed a significant gap, both in the scholarly literature and in professional practice, in how to retrofit and design buildings beyond climate mitigation (e.g., net-zero, energy efficiency) to protect against multiple hazards - an increasing concern with climate change. Since then, P4A has continued to expand upon the accessibility and applicability of this work, partnering with National Research Council Canada to further develop the multi-hazard resilient retrofit database, and collaborating with others working to advance climate resiliency and disaster risk reduction via the non-profit sector, research institutions, and across levels of government.

Our Projects and Partnerships

In 2023, Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia engaged P4A to conduct research on Resilient Retrofits for Adaptation Initiatives: Multi-Hazard, Residential and Non-Residential as part of Halifax's climate action planning initiative, HalifACT. 

Our team developed a framework for assessing, enabling, and implementing retrofit measures in the region related to building typologies and locally-specific hazards, resulting in the creation of a comprehensive database and guidance documents to support adaptation planning in Halifax.

In 2024, P4A collaborated with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to further develop and refine our comprehensive Database of Climate Resilient Residential Retrofits for Adaptation, a compilation of hazard-specific retrofits for single-family homes and multi-residential unit buildings, such as condominiums, apartments, and townhomes.

Funding for this work was provided by NRC's Climate Resilient Built Environment Initiative, in support of delivering the Government of Canada's Adaptation Action Plan, and towards achieving commitments under the National Adaptation Strategy. 

In 2024, P4A partnered with the Clean Foundation as part of their Resilient Home Retrofits pilot project, which supports homeowners in the Town of New Glasgow and Halifax Regional Municipality improve their resiliency to overland flooding.

P4A developed a plain language guidebook, the Flood Resilient Residential Retrofits Handbook, designed to equip contractors, homeowners, and building operators with a detailed, non-technical understanding of the types of flood resiliency measures available across different elements of the building and how these retrofits may be installed. 

Our Team

Since beginning research on climate resilient building retrofits in 2023, P4A has been fortunate to collaborate with graduate researchers and partners working to solve complex sustainability and resiliency challenges across disciplines and sectors.

Meet the team behind Climate Resilient Retrofits.

About P4A

Partners for Action (P4A) is a research initiative that seeks to empower Canadians to become flood resilient by promoting awareness and preparedness actions that are inclusive and evidence-based.

P4A conducts original research and partners with organizations across the country with the goal of influencing flood risk awareness and preparedness at the individual and collective levels. We do this through:

  •  supporting community-engaged flood risk awareness, preparedness, and adaptation,
  • contributing to policy development, flood resiliency planning, and foresight, and
  • stewarding Flood Smart Canada (floodsmartcanada.ca), a bilingual online portal for flood risk awareness and preparedness.

Partners for Action is based out of the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo, with founding and continued support from The Co-operators Group Ltd. and Farm Mutual Re.

Our Mission

Across Canada, damage from extreme weather is costing taxpayers and insurers billions. The true cost of disasters is measured by how resilient individuals and communities are. Natural hazard events are occurring more frequently and are augmented by climate change. In light of this evolving context, it's important to consider equity and resilience by directing resources and supports toward those who are most adversely affected, and by working together to co-develop innovative and actionable solutions across sectors, disciplines, jurisdictions, and policy domains. 

To address the complex and evolving challenges of the 21st century, we must adopt whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches. That is why P4A is committed to the advancement of climate action, adaptation, and justice across Canada, which we achieve through strategic partnerships, innovative research, and an equity-informed approach to assessing risk.

Our Work

As a thought leader, collaborative convenor, and conversation starter, P4A advances multi-level dialogue and action through:

  • localizing community-engaged flood risk awareness and preparedness,
  • partnering for adaptation, and
  • developing flood resilience planning and foresight.

These priorities will enable communities to access effective resources and innovative research, and ultimately, embrace inclusive resilience. 

P4A has developed partnerships and projects around several key focus areas including: climate resilient building retrofits for adaptation, strategic relocation from at-risk areas, decision-support tools for locally-led adaptation, enabling nature-based solutions, adapting in place, inclusive risk communications, and equity-informed risk assessments that integrate socio-economic vulnerabilities and hazard exposure.

Climate Resilient Retrofits is a project of Partners for Action (P4A), a research initiative in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo, with founding funding from the Co-operators Group Ltd. and Farm Mutual Re. Climate Resilient Retrofits has been generously supported by our partners and funders at Halifax Regional Municipality, the National Research Council of Canada, and the Clean Foundation.


Connect with us further!