Incorporating Climate justice into decision making
Context: The Hamilton Climate Change Impact Adaptation Plan (CCIAP) is a proactive effort to lessen the impact of climate change on Hamilton. This evidence-based strategy uses the most recent climate forecasts to protect our infrastructure, companies, and residents. The City of Hamilton’s Office of Climate Change Initiatives (OCCI) main priority is to safeguard the residents of our community using this plan, while also minimizing the expenses, duration, and negative effects on health. They seek to strengthen operations and improve community resilience in the face of environmental issues by beginning to understand diverse community viewpoints, concerns, and barriers, in order to develop a climate justice framework.
Problem: In the Hamilton community and across the globe, climate change has set the course for immediate action for residents, community members, and policy members. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions causing increased global temperatures have contributed to increased costs, illnesses, and a deteriorating quality of life, especially for those most vulnerable. However, previous frameworks may not have considered diverse and underrepresented lenses from community partners and stakeholders within the Hamilton community. It is important to consider these voices through a climate justice lens when implementing climate action to ensure equitable benefits and reduce inequities across the community.
This project involves completing extensive research to develop a climate justice framework Develop the design for a Hamilton-specific, Climate Justice Framework. This Framework is intended to be used as a tool/resource to:
1. Guide City decision-making and planning and apply where process-oriented issues are concerned, such as engagement methods, training materials, resources, etc.
2. Ensure decisions regarding mitigation and adaptation actions are made in a manner that promotes climate justice moving forward
3. Further discussions on broader, intersecting themes, and address the historical context of climate injustice.
Students: Rand Al-Wazzan, Sifad Chowdhury, Tasneem Alnahhas, Ishaq Siddiqui, Dylan Yu
Staff: Trevor Imhoff -Senior Project Manager, Beatrice Ekoko - Project Manager
Instructor: Kojo Damptey, Darina Vasek, Elizabeth Bang, Randy Kay