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The Canadian Climate Institute acknowledges that systemic injustices from colonization and discrimination make certain groups more vulnerable to climate change and policy impacts. To address this, the Institute commits to increasing the representation of underrepresented groups within its organization and research, integrating diverse perspectives into its work, and supporting Indigenous rights and self-determination.

The Canadian Climate Institute acknowledges that historical colonization and discrimination have left marginalized groups—including Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, lower-income individuals, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and people with disabilities—more vulnerable to climate change and under-represented in policy development. To address this, the Institute commits to improving its internal hiring and culture, integrating diverse worldviews into its research, supporting Indigenous rights and self-determination, and encouraging partners to adopt similar equity practices.

The study examines flood risk in Windsor, Ontario, by combining geospatial hazard data with socioeconomic indicators. It finds that while riverine flood risk is relatively evenly distributed across social groups, pluvial (surface) flood risk is significantly higher for Black households, Indigenous people, and other visible minorities. The authors argue that traditional risk assessments focusing only on physical exposure overlook these environmental injustices, and recommend that mitigation resources and communication strategies be targeted toward socioeconomically vulnerable communities to improve cost-effectiveness and equity.

The study uses geospatial and quantitative analysis in Windsor, Ontario, to demonstrate that combining flood hazard exposure with a neighbourhood deprivation index reveals 'hot spots' of risk that traditional physical assessments miss. It finds that marginalized and racialized populations, particularly Black households, are disproportionately exposed to pluvial (surface water) flooding, while no such significant disparity was found for fluvial (riverine) flooding. The authors argue that integrating socioeconomic vulnerability into risk management allows for more equitable allocation of resources and targeted social programs to reduce overall vulnerability.

The document highlights the work of Gregory Dugas within the Mi’kmaq Pollinator Project, focusing on how climate warming contributes to the rise of parasites like the gallerid, which devastate bumblebee colonies. To protect these essential pollinators, Dugas recommends that the provincial government test the use of traps on artificial hives to block parasite entry.

The document describes the 'double perspective' approach used by the Sahtú people in the Northwest Territories, where intercultural camps in nature facilitate the co-production of knowledge between Indigenous knowledge holders and scientific researchers. These camps aim to address climate change impacts—such as rising temperatures and changing caribou behavior—while promoting youth leadership, cultural reclamation, and community-led environmental monitoring. Key initiatives include the Dene Ts’ı̨lı̨ school for youth and water knowledge camps to address pollution and climate risks. The study highlights that successful implementation requires a focus on participant well-being, structured learning combined with traditional activities, and the provision of professional certifications to incentivize participation.

The Sahtú Renewable Resources Board implements 'Cross Cultural Research Camps' to facilitate the co-production of knowledge between Indigenous community members and researchers. These camps address climate change impacts in the Northwest Territories—where temperatures are predicted to rise by 4 to 8 degrees by the 2050s—by combining traditional Dene and Métis knowledge with science-based monitoring. Key initiatives include youth-focused skills training, water knowledge camps to address contamination and climate risks, and the Tracking Change project focusing on fish ecology. The document highlights the necessity of integrating wellness supports for youth and developing cultural safety plans, while noting that these camps strengthen community resilience and cross-cultural relationships.

The Canadian Climate Institute outlines nine recommendations for the federal government to enhance its climate strategy. These include integrating climate resilience into government cost-benefit analyses, improving climate risk data dissemination, prioritizing 'sure-bet' solutions like energy efficiency, and implementing a national sales quota for zero-emission vehicles. The document also advocates for targeted support for clean-tech industries, regional transition strategies for workers, and mandatory climate risk disclosures for public and private entities to ensure Canada remains competitive in a global low-carbon economy.

The document argues that climate change adaptation policies in Canada often ignore that risks are socially created and inequitably distributed. It uses case studies from Nova Scotia to demonstrate how structural determinants—such as poverty, systemic racism, and lack of education—combine with environmental racism to make racialized communities more sensitive to and more exposed to climate hazards. The author highlights specific instances of environmental racism, including toxic waste sites and industrial pollution in Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian communities, and calls for race-based data collection and health equity impact assessments to build climate resilience.

The document argues that climate change adaptation policies in Canada often ignore how structural inequalities and environmental racism increase the vulnerability of marginalized groups. Using case studies from Nova Scotia, it demonstrates how historical racism and systemic failures in education, employment, and justice create health disparities that make Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian communities more susceptible to climate-related hazards. It details specific instances of environmental racism, such as the pollution of Boat Harbour and the forced relocation of Africville, and calls for health equity through disaggregated data, increased representation, and environmental justice legislation.

The Canadian Climate Institute highlights the importance of Bill C-12, which legally enshrines Canada's net-zero goal for 2050 and establishes accountability structures. The author emphasizes that the federal government must now develop a detailed emissions reduction plan for 2030, including a 2026 interim target, focusing on energy efficiency and clean electricity. The document calls for collaboration between federal, provincial, and Indigenous governments, as well as the private sector, to ensure the 2030 targets are met.

The adoption of Bill C-12 legislates Canada's net-zero target and establishes a framework for accountability and governance. The federal government is now required to develop an emissions reduction plan for the 2030 target, including an interim objective for 2026, focusing on 'safe bet' solutions like energy efficiency and electrification.

The authors argue that uncertainty regarding the future of Canada's carbon price—scheduled to reach $170 per tonne by 2030—discourages firms from investing in expensive, long-lived low-carbon projects. To close this 'certainty gap,' they propose that the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) act as a partner to share risk, effectively providing insurance against policy reversals. This could be achieved through payment exchanges based on actual versus expected policy costs or by making loan payback obligations conditional on future policy stringency. The authors contend this approach is superior to grants or subsidies because it targets the specific market failure of government risk and creates a financial deterrent for future governments that might seek to weaken carbon pricing.

The document argues that disasters affecting Indigenous communities in Canada are 'non-natural' because they are exacerbated by colonial legacies, such as the Indian Act and territorial dispossession. Using the Siksika Nation's experience with the 2013 Bow River floods, it details a five-phase displacement process where evacuees faced inadequate housing and psychological trauma. It highlights the Dancing Deer Disaster Recovery Centre as a model for Indigenous self-determination, providing culturally appropriate, community-led healing services.

The document details the activities of the Wisahkotewinowak collective in the Waterloo-Wellington region of Ontario, illustrating how Indigenous leadership in urban and peri-urban spaces can mitigate climate change impacts and advance reconciliation. Through three primary examples—the White Owl Sugar Bush, partnerships with educational institutions, and the transformation of Uniroyal Goodrich Park—the authors demonstrate the integration of Indigenous Knowledge with environmental action. The report argues that restoring Indigenous relationships to the Land is essential for biodiversity conservation and food security, particularly in 'crisis ecoregions' like the Lake Erie Lowland. It concludes with a 'seed story' framework providing recommendations for local and policy-level engagement to support Indigenous governance and Land access.

The document details the activities of the Wisahkotewinowak collective in the Waterloo-Wellington region of Ontario, illustrating how Indigenous-led urban gardening and land restoration contribute to climate adaptation and reconciliation. It highlights three specific projects: the White Owl Sugar Bush, partnerships with post-secondary institutions for land-based learning, and the transformation of Uniroyal Goodrich Park. The authors argue that restoring Indigenous relationships with the land is essential for protecting urban biodiversity and improving community well-being in the face of climate change.

The document examines the 2013 flood in Siksika Nation as a case study of how colonial land dispossession and the Indian Act create disproportionate climate risks for Indigenous communities. It details a five-phase displacement process where evacuees faced substandard temporary housing and long-term trauma. The report highlights the Dancing Deer Disaster Recovery Centre as a model of self-determination, providing culturally safe, community-led health and social services to aid recovery.

The Canadian Climate Institute's review of carbon pricing in Canada finds that while progress is being made, the current 'patchwork' of systems suffers from uneven price signals, inconsistent emissions coverage, and a lack of transparency. The report recommends establishing a common standard for emissions coverage, replacing point-of-sale rebates with direct revenue recycling, and aligning benchmarks for large emitter programs to reduce competitiveness risks and emissions leakage.

The Canadian Climate Institute evaluates Canada's diverse carbon pricing instruments, noting inconsistencies in emission coverage and price signals. It recommends establishing a common emission coverage standard, improving transparency, and harmonizing benchmarks for large emitters to enhance efficiency and equity.

The author argues that the Supreme Court of Canada's focus on federal-provincial jurisdiction in its carbon price review erased critical Indigenous perspectives on sovereignty and climate justice. While the Court acknowledged that Indigenous peoples face disproportionate climate impacts, it failed to address arguments that Canada is not merely a bi-juridical state of federal and provincial powers, but one that must respect Indigenous laws and nation-to-nation relationships for reconciliation.