Investing in Resilience: How DP World’s Support is Helping Natural Resources Canada to Adapt Port of Vancouver to Climate Change

Natural Resources Canada (announced over $7 million in funding for 12 climate change adaptation projects in British Columbia and across Canada. This funding is part of a broader $39.5 million investment under the Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP) and Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities (CRCC) Program. Among these initiatives is the Port of Vancouver Climate Adaptation Planning Project, a vital effort to safeguard one of Canada’s busiest trade hubs from mounting climate risks.

Backed by stakeholders like DP World, which provided a letter of support for the initiative, the project is a key step in future-proofing Canada’s infrastructure. As extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and other climate-related challenges grow more frequent, the need for proactive adaptation has never been clearer.

The Port of Vancouver Climate Adaptation Planning Project

The Port of Vancouver Climate Adaptation Planning Project received $1.43 million in funding from NRCan, with a total project value of $2.82 million. Over the next three years, the initiative will develop a comprehensive plan to mitigate climate risks to port infrastructure, operations, and surrounding communities. By addressing environmental threats as well as social and economic impacts, the plan will identify priority actions to ensure the port’s long-term sustainability.

Jennifer Natland, Vice President of Properties and Environment at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, noted: “In recent years, climate-related impacts have significantly disrupted supply chains. With this funding to develop a climate adaptation plan for the Port of Vancouver, we will work collaboratively with First Nations and stakeholders to identify key climate risks and priority actions needed to enhance port infrastructure and supply chain resiliency. This will help strengthen our position to facilitate Canada’s trade reliably, now and into the future.”

DP World’s Commitment to Sustainability

DP World’s support for the Port of Vancouver project reflects the company’s broader commitment to sustainability. As one of the world’s leading logistics companies, DP World recognizes the need to adapt global trade systems to the realities of a changing climate. By endorsing initiatives like this one, the company demonstrates its role in fostering resilience across supply chains and protecting critical infrastructure.

Ports are vital economic hubs, and disruptions caused by climate-related impacts can ripple across industries, affecting food security, energy supplies, and more. By prioritizing adaptation at the Port of Vancouver, Canada is not only protecting a key trade hub but also setting an example for climate resilience in the logistics sector.

The High Stakes of Climate Adaptation

Canada is already experiencing the consequences of climate change, from more frequent wildfires and floods to rising sea levels and thawing permafrost in northern regions. NRCan highlights that proactive adaptation measures are critical to limiting economic losses, protecting infrastructure, and safeguarding quality of life. For every dollar spent on adaptation, up to $15 can be saved in future costs associated with disaster recovery, higher insurance premiums, and other expenses.

The Port of Vancouver Climate Adaptation Planning Project is part of a broader effort to align with Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy, released in 2023. This strategy emphasizes a whole-of-society approach to climate resilience, bringing together government agencies, private sector partners, and local communities to address the challenges ahead.

Looking Ahead

With work on the Port of Vancouver project slated to continue through 2027, this initiative will serve as a blueprint for how ports and other critical infrastructure can adapt to a warming world. The lessons learned will not only benefit Canada but also provide insights for global adaptation efforts.

Adaptation isn’t just a response to climate change—it’s an investment in a safer, more sustainable future. And with partners like DP World stepping up, Canada is proving that resilience can be built one project at a time.

For more information about this project and Canada’s broader climate initiatives, visit Natural Resources Canada's official announcement.