Canada’s transit and passenger rail operators have a new framework to assess climate risks and plan measures to protect infrastructure, operations, and services.

CSA Group, with support from the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), has published CSA D700, Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems, a new National Standard of Canada. The standard provides guidance for identifying climate-related vulnerabilities, evaluating risks, and developing adaptation plans.

According to CSA officials, flooding, extreme heat, severe storms, and freezing rain pose growing challenges for transportation systems. While many operators recognize these threats, the organization adds that the sector needs a consistent approach to assessing vulnerabilities, setting priorities, and planning responses.

Three main areas

CSA D700 addresses three main areas. The first covers climate vulnerability and risk assessments, including hazard identification, adaptive capacity, and risk prioritization. The second focuses on adaptation planning and decision-making, with guidance on selecting resilience measures, comparing options, prioritizing investments, and documenting decisions.

The third area addresses implementation, monitoring, and continual improvement. It includes planning, performance evaluation, reporting, communication, and updating adaptation plans as climate information changes.

“CSA D700 gives organizations a consistent approach to understanding climate-related vulnerabilities, evaluating risks, and developing adaptation strategies that can help maintain reliable transportation services in a changing climate,” says Ana-Maria Tomlinson, director of standards development at CSA Group.

The standard is designed to complement existing railway and transit requirements rather than replace them. Operators can use it alongside CSA R114, which addresses railway risk evaluation and assessment; CSA R122, which covers passenger railway safety indicators; and CSA Z1600, which addresses emergency and continuity management, CSA says. It also aligns with international climate adaptation guidance, including ISO 14090, Adaptation to climate change — Principles, requirements and guidelines, and ISO 14091, Adaptation to climate change — Guidelines on vulnerability, impacts and risk assessment.

CSA Group develops standards related to safety, social good, and sustainability. SCC is a federal Crown corporation that represents Canada in standards and accreditation, both domestically and internationally.