Canada's northern communities are unprepared to cope with the threat that climate change poses to their roads, buildings and other infrastructure, a new report from the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy says.

"Climate change is moving fastest in Arctic areas, requiring Canada to be a world leader in adaptation practices, more than we had even contemplated," the group's chairperson said in a news release.

The independent federal government agency made 16 recommendations, saying a comprehensive effort will be needed to help deal with climate change effects such as degrading permafrost, melting ice roads, storms surges and coastal erosion.

The report comes as world leaders and environmental ministers prepare to meet in Copenhagen for a major climate conference in December.

Some of the group's suggestions include:

• updating construction and engineering codes
• providing better weather information
• insurance system changes
• new infrastructure built to withstand climate change

"From buildings to roads, from airports to pipelines, infrastructure is essential to modern, secure communities," NRTEE President and CEO David McLaughlin said.

The report says some of climate-change effects on the North include winter roads melting early, forcing communities to airlift supplies; melting permafrost destabilizing buildings and airport runways; increased snowfall adding additional stress to buildings; and, storm surges putting communities at risk.

The report says that national codes are inadequate for the challenges faced by the North, and there is an absence of co-ordinated strategies.

According to the report, NRTEE consulted with more than 100 experts and residents during its research.

The group has a mandate to advise the federal government on sustainable development issues.