The federal government is contributing $1.6 billion towards a National Adaptation Strategy to combat the impacts of climate change.

Emergency Preparedness Minster Bill Blair says the money is aimed a proactive approach to things like severe weather.

“Part of what we are announcing today is very specific targets that we will work to achieve and also a significant investment in that research and that collaboration,” Blair explained during the announcement in Prince Edward Island.

“Clearly there will need to be need to be significant investments by all orders of government and by all Canadians right across the country.”

Blair says the funding will be spread out over five years to tackle the effects of climate change.

“We know that we’re going to have to deal with the impact of climate change in this country, and there will be future climate related events, emergencies and disasters we’re going to have to respond to.  But we want to make sure, that we’re spending public dollars, and we want to make sure we’re doing that well and wisely.”

The funding is to improve the country’s disaster response, protect Canadians from extreme heat and top up the disaster mitigation and adaptation fund.

It also gives targets for things like getting people back into their homes sooner following disasters such as flooding or hurricanes.