Resilience without borders: Understanding and anticipating transnational climate risks and impacts in Quebec

Climate change knows no borders: its international repercussions can be felt even in our own backyard. This project studies transnational climate risks and impacts in Quebec in the food processing and battery industries.

Project details

Scientific program

Programmation 2020-2028

Theme(s) and priority(s)

Economy - Climate Governance - Energy Security

Start and duration

February 2026 • December 2029

Project Status

In progress

Principal(s) investigator(s)

Annie Chaloux

Université de Sherbrooke

Context

In a highly interconnected world, the consequences of climate change extend far beyond the borders of the territories where they occur. Transnational climate risks and impacts take several forms: direct impacts crossing borders (e.g. droughts, floods), risk redistribution through adaptation (or maladaptation generating effects elsewhere), and transnational adaptation opportunities, such as cooperation and the establishment of shared resilient infrastructure. However, climate adaptation strategies are still mostly focused on local or national impacts and do not always take these global interconnections into account.

Objective(s)

This project aims to better understand how transnational climate risks and impacts can affect Quebec. In particular, it focuses on two key industries:

Food processing, which is essential for our food security and self-sufficiency
The battery industry, a pillar of the energy transition

The objective is to produce practical knowledge to help businesses, decision-makers and researchers anticipate risks, and also seize opportunities for adaptation and inter- and intra-sectoral cooperation.

Methodology

First, the project will produce a general overview of the main transnational climate risks and impacts, across all sectors. This step will help to identify the main threats and vulnerabilities, while defining strategic sectors requiring priority adaptation.

Next, the study will focus more specifically on the two case studies: the food processing and battery industries. This will involve:

Analyzing the propagation dynamics of transnational climate risks and impacts and the adaptation strategies currently being implemented, through consultation with experts (Delphi method) and decision-makers in the two industries
Studying the perceptions of industry stakeholders regarding their exposure to transnational climate risks and impacts, their vulnerability, and the adaptation opportunities, by means of discussion groups
Developing forward-looking analyses and strategic recommendations for stakeholders in both of the industries studied

Expected results

The project will help to identify the main vulnerabilities and adaptation opportunities as well as the propagation dynamics related to transnational climate risks and impacts in Quebec. It will also help to better understand how stakeholders in the food processing and battery industries perceive and prepare for these challenges.

Benefits for adaptation

The prospective analyses and recommendations developed by the study will support decision-making by public authorities, businesses and civil society organizations, which will strengthen Quebec’s resilience to transnational climate risks and impacts.

The study will strengthen or build connections between links in the food processing and battery supply chain, as well as with academia and the public service, in order to promote a more coordinated adaptation response to transnational climate risks and impacts.