The meeting covered recent updates to climate data and their implications for energy and structural design. In the 2025 data, snow loads have increased due to climate change and are now based on a 1/1000 return period. Wind loads have also been updated to a 1/500 return period. Despite the higher return periods, the values have been calibrated to maintain risk levels comparable to those in the previous datasets.

The 2025 values are based on a global warming scenario of +2.5°C, selected as a likely outcome within this century.

Key points emphasized that Canada’s climate is already changing and will continue to shift, affecting a wide range of weather extremes. Climate projections carry uncertainty due to variations among models, underscoring the importance of careful interpretation.  

One presentation highlighted the ongoing gap between design and performance, particularly in relation to field installation and quality assurance. It was noted that even with accurate climate loads and well-specified materials, poor construction practices can undermine resilience. Addressing this “missing link” is important to ensure that updated climate data and building codes result in reliable, real-world outcomes. 

Climatic data is expected to undergo continuous updates every code cycle as the resolution of data increases and becomes more accurate to reflect future conditions.