More Canadians are worried about climate damage — but many still aren’t preparing for it

2023 Canadian wildfires in Nova Scotia

More Canadians are becoming concerned about the financial risks tied to severe weather, but many still haven’t taken practical steps to better protect their homes or vehicles.

New research from Desjardins Group found that nearly 70% of insured Canadians believe extreme weather could damage their home, while 80% say their vehicle is at risk. Yet only about one-third say they’ve actually taken steps to better protect their property.

The findings highlight a growing tension for many households: climate-related risks are becoming harder to ignore, but preparing for them can feel expensive or difficult to prioritize.

“Canadians are paying close attention to climate risks,” said Valérie Lavoie, president and chief operating officer of Desjardins General Insurance Group, in a statement. “That said, many are not taking the next steps to better protect themselves.”

Don’t Miss Cost remains the biggest barrier

Affordability was by far the most common reason Canadians gave for not climate-proofing their homes.

Even so, many homeowners appear willing to invest at least something in prevention. Nearly half of respondents said they would consider spending between $1,000 and $5,000 to reduce the risk of weather-related damage to their property.

The survey also found that more than half of Canadians weren’t aware of government programs or incentives designed to help homeowners make their homes more resilient to severe weather. At the same time, 82% said financial incentives would influence whether they decide to take protective action.

Overall, the findings suggest many homeowners are open to better preparing their properties, but they aren’t always sure where to start — or what support may already be available.

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Read more: Here are the 3 net worth milestones that change everything for Canadians (and what they say about you)

Wildfire preparedness remains uneven

A separate recent survey from Intact Financial Corporation (1) points to a similar gap between climate risk and preparedness.

Despite several record-breaking wildfire seasons in recent years, Intact found that 61% of Canadians remain either unconcerned or only slightly concerned about wildfire risks.

That comes even as wildfire activity spreads beyond regions traditionally associated with major fire risk. According to federal sources, 2025 was Canada’s second-largest wildfire season on record in terms of area burned (2).

“Wildfires are unpredictable, but our response to them doesn’t have to be,” noted Mel Wright, vice president of Intact Insurance, in a statement. “As wildfire risks are increasing across Canada, small actions taken today – such as clearing gutters, creating space around the house and moving combustibles – can help to meaningfully reduce the risks of wildfire damage.”

For many households, preparing for severe weather is increasingly becoming part of a broader financial conversation — one that now includes insurance costs, home resilience and the long-term financial risks tied to climate events.

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Intact Insurance (1); Government of Canada (2)

This article originally appeared on Money.ca under the title: More Canadians are worried about climate damage — but many still aren’t preparing for it

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