Climate change

We understand climate change not only as a technical and environmental problem but also a human and social one. We focus on building the conditions and capacities needed to support sustainable change from the inside out—in individuals, groups, organizations, and communities.

Climate change adaptation

Working closely with technical and policy experts, we bring the process and communications expertise to support organizations, communities, and collaboratives to deepen understanding of complex topics, build capacity for collaboration and implementation, and better inform climate vulnerability and risk assessments and plans. We specialize in working across a wide range of climate-related topics with a particular focus on the health, equity and social dimensions of climate change.

Health and climate change

Climate change is one of humanity’s biggest health challenges. We support all levels of government, health authorities, and community sectors to understand, plan for, and address the health and social impacts of climate change. Through a ‘multi-solving’ approach, we support solutions that enhance resilience, health, and equity.

Climate equity

Inequities are amplified by the impacts of climate change, putting marginalized populations at higher risk. Using intersectional, trauma-informed approaches and gender-based analysis (GBA+), we support partners to understand climate impacts on diverse populations and apply a climate equity lens to policies, plans and programs. We centre the expertise of people with lived experience in our research, engagement, and planning.

How we can help you

We provide customized design, facilitation and convening of processes for climate mitigation and adaptation that enable diverse sectors and audiences to reflect, learn and take action together.

Our processes enhance understanding of the impacts of climate change (e.g. heat, wildfires, flooding) and use systems thinking to uncover complex dynamics, interconnections and underlying root causes that hold a challenge in place.

Core to our approach is meaningfully engaging those most impacted by climate change and valuing lived experience as expertise.

Examples of our work in this area include:
  • Integrated Partnership for Regional Emergency Management in Metro Vancouver (IPREM) Wildfire Forum (2022)
  • Regional Emergency Management Partnership (REMP) in the Capital Region Tsunami Forum (2021)
  • Natural Resources Canada Building Regional Adaptation Capacity and Expertise (BRACE): Celebrating Success and Looking Forward National Workshops (2020 and 2022)
  • Build Back Better Together Forum: Collaborative Flood Recovery in the Lower Fraser Region (2022) 
  • Understanding Risk BC Regional Resilience Roundtable (2021)
  • Comox Valley Regional District Airshed Roundtable (2019)

Beyond assessments and plans, we also need to build our capacity as individuals, groups and organizations to deal with uncertainty and complexity in our work.

That is why capacity-building practices are at the heart of the workshops, trainings and communities of practice we offer. Each one is carefully designed to help develop the leadership skills and practices of those working on the front lines of climate action, so they have the resilience required to face those uncertainties head on.

Examples of our work in this area include:
  • UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Working Group I, Strengthening Participatory and Inclusive Practices (2019 – current)
  • BC Climate Action Secretariat, Elevating Equity: Emerging Practices for Climate Equity Engagements (Workshops and Guidebook) (2022)
  • Fraser Basin Council, Community Climate Preparedness Training Series for staff and decision-makers (2020-21) 
  • Fraser Basin Council, Community Climate Preparedness Workshops (2019 – 2020)
  • “Making the Links” Climate and Health Forum and Framework for Collaborative Action (2018)
  • Fraser Health: Community Health and Climate Change Training Series (2018)

We design and facilitate processes involving a wide range of stakeholders and partners to better understand climate-related issues, assess priorities, and create well-grounded action and implementation plans.

We work closely with technical and policy experts and those with lived experience to create shared understanding and alignment across multiple jurisdictions and partners.

Examples of our work in this area include:

Heat Alert and Response Systems (HARS)

Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability Assessments and Planning

Assessment and Planning for Climate Resilient Health Systems

  • BC Ministry of Health:  Health System Climate Resilience in British Columbia Baseline Assessment (2021-2022)

Participatory Research on Impacts of Climate Change

Ocean view from a dock in BC.

Examples of our work in this area

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Resources

Read a selection of reports and publications from our climate change-focused work

View resources