A Resilient Future for Canada’s Built Environment
The Infrastructure Buildings Working Group (IBWG) is a national collaborative focused on strengthening the resilience of Canada’s infrastructure and buildings in the face of climate change and its cascading impacts.
As Canada experiences more frequent and severe climate-related events — from floods and wildfires to extreme temperatures and storms — the resilience of our built environment has become an essential foundation for the well-being, safety, and prosperity of Canadian communities. IBWG brings together experts, practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders from across disciplines to address this urgent challenge.
Our Mission
Our mission is to advance the resilience, adaptability, and sustainability of Canada’s infrastructure and building systems. We work to ensure that the form, function, and performance of the built environment can withstand and adapt to a changing climate — protecting communities today while preparing for the uncertainties of tomorrow.
What We Do
- Research & Knowledge Sharing: We gather, synthesize, and share the latest science, best practices, and innovations in climate-resilient infrastructure design, construction, operation, and maintenance.
- Policy & Standards Development: We contribute to the development of policies, guidelines, and standards that embed resilience and adaptability into infrastructure planning and building design at all scales.
- Cross-Sector Collaboration: We foster partnerships across sectors — including government, industry, academia, and communities — to align efforts, share knowledge, and accelerate the integration of resilience into practice.
- Capacity Building: We support practitioners and decision-makers with tools, training, and resources to build climate-resilient infrastructure and communities.
Why Resilience Matters
The built environment is at the heart of Canadian society — from homes and schools to roads, bridges, water systems, and energy grids. As climate risks intensify, traditional design assumptions are no longer sufficient. IBWG recognizes that resilience is not only about protecting assets but also about safeguarding livelihoods, supporting economic stability, and ensuring the continued function of vital services under changing conditions.
By advancing resilient infrastructure and buildings, we help create communities that are safer, healthier, more sustainable, and better equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.