New national research from Desjardins Insurance shows Canadians are increasingly aware that climate-related weather events could threaten their homes and vehicles, but many are still not acting on that awareness.
When asked why they have not been more proactive about protecting their homes and vehicles, Canadians cite affordability as the biggest barrier, with fewer than four in 10 saying they plan to take protective action in the next five years.
In a survey of roughly 4,000 Canadians, more than half said they were not aware of government programs or incentives that could help them climate‑proof their homes. Federal initiatives and provincial or municipal subsidies are designed to help homeowners make their properties more resilient, yet many appear to be going unused.
That lack of awareness is noteworthy, given that 82% of respondents said financial incentives would influence their decision to invest in protection measures. This suggests that clearer signposting of available grants, coupled with concrete, costed recommendations, could unlock mitigation that benefits both policyholders and carriers by reducing future claims and pressure on pricing.
“Desjardins Insurance’s prevention survey shows that Canadians are paying close attention to climate risks. That said, many are not taking the next steps to better protect themselves,” said Valérie Lavoie, president and chief operating officer, Desjardins General Insurance Group. “There is an opportunity to raise more awareness and better support Canadians to give them greater peace of mind about protecting their homes. That’s what this survey and our prevention campaigns hope to achieve, to help Canadians feel more confident today and better protected for what lies ahead.”
The survey highlights marked regional differences in concern and preparedness. Climate risk is no longer seen as abstract, but direct experience appears to shape behaviour.
Respondents in Atlantic Canada, who have faced frequent storms and coastal impacts in recent years, were both the most worried and the most likely to have taken protective measures.
More than 40% said they had taken steps to protect their home, compared with a national average of 34%. That aligns with recent loss experience - post‑tropical storms and flooding events in Atlantic Canada have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in insured damage, prompting some carriers to tighten terms in the highest‑risk coastal and riverine zones.
Nearly 70% of insured Canadians believe severe weather could damage their home, and 80% believe their vehicle is at risk. Despite that awareness, only about one‑third say they have already taken steps to protect their home, and just 38% say they are likely to do so over the next five years.
Roughly two‑thirds of respondents cited cost as the main reason they have not upgraded their homes. At the same time, nearly half said they would be willing to invest between $1,000 and $5,000 to protect their property, suggesting that targeted measures within that range could gain traction if better explained. Only a small minority said they would not be willing to invest in climate‑proofing at all.
From a market‑wide perspective, this reinforces the importance of integrating prevention into product design. Some Canadian carriers have begun piloting premium credits, loss‑prevention endorsements, and partnerships with contractors or technology providers to encourage specific upgrades.
The study also explored the mental‑health dimension of climate risk.
Four in 10 Canadians said climate change is already having a negative effect on their mental well‑being, with that share even higher among people under 35. Desjardins said the rise in climate‑related stress in its research reflects uncertainty about the future of extreme weather and the perceived link between protecting property, financial stability, and peace of mind.
Insurers have already stepped up efforts to provide clients with fact sheets and practical tips to protect property, while governments at all levels offer programs to support more expensive upgrades.
The challenge now, as Desjardins’ research underlines, is to make climate‑risk prevention clearer, more targeted, and easier to act on – so that concern about severe weather is matched by concrete steps to reduce losses and keep coverage sustainable.
