A collection of research summaries
This collection aims to bring together and make accessible existing knowledge on the relationship between inequalities, climate action and sustainability transition initiatives in cities and regions in Canada. In 2023, 15 syntheses of recent research in Quebec were published. In 2024, 26 new syntheses from recent research in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec are published. The project is led by Hélène Madénian and Sophie L. Van Neste from INRS, and the team from the Canada Research Chair in Urban Climate Action, with a scientific committee composed of René Audet (UQAM), Geneviève Cloutier (Université Laval), Stéphane Guimont Marceau (INRS), Nathalie Bleau (Ouranos), Laura Tozer (University of Toronto) and Christina Hoicka (University of Victoria), in collaboration with Villes Régions Monde network and the participation of Alexandra Nadeau. To find out more…
Cities, Climate and Inequalities - Fighting climate change in an urban context: Toward a disability inclusive approach
By Sébastien Jodoin and Naomi Gupta
While existing literature already addresses the consequences of urban climate action for racial and socio-economic inequalities, its intersections with inclusion and equality for people with disabilities have received little attention from researchers. This lack of knowledge is problematic in light of emerging evidence that climate mitigation and adaptation efforts have the potential to dismantle and reinforce the social, economic and physical barriers faced by people with disabilities.
Cities, Climat and Inequalities - Presence & power: The illusion of Indigenous inclusion in climate adaptation plans in Canada
Par Janna Wale
Over the past several years, there has been an increasing recognition of the importance of including Indigenous knowledge in both responding and adapting to climate change. Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) and associated Action Plan (NAP), released in draft in 2022, presented a landmark opportunity for Indigenous people to both meaningfully contribute and lead climate action and adaptation. However, many aspects of Indigenous inclusion and representation in the development of the NAS and NAP fell short. This research considers the involvement (or lack thereof) of Indigenous peoples in adaptation planning and decision-making in Canada.
Cities, Climate and Inequalities - Urban inequality and planning in a context of socio-ecological transition: The Conseil interculturel de Montréal’s action research experience
By Chloé Reiser
In Montreal, territorial inequalities are a central issue in planning policies, with a view to a fairer socio-ecological transition. Although the City of Montreal recognizes the existence of such inequalities within its territory, much remains to be done to guarantee equitable access to urban resources for all citizens. As part of the renewal of the city’s Urban Planning and Mobility Plan, the Conseil interculturel de Montréal (CIM) is looking at the experiences of immigrant and racialized people in terms of territorial inequalities. Drawing on an in-depth review of grey and academic literature, as well as an online survey and mapping-discussion workshops conducted in three disadvantaged city neighborhoods – Saint-Léonard, Saint-Laurent and Montréal-Nord – immigrant and racialized people not only identify obstacles to accessing urban resources, notably public transport, affordable housing and green spaces, but also put forward solutions to address these persistent issues.
Cities, Climate and Inequalities - Architecture + Homelessness: Inclusive practices for urban solidarity
By Carolyne Grimard, Sonia Blank, Sarahlou Wagner Lapierre, Elizabeth Prince and Véronic Lapalme
The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the housing, migration and climate crises, has increased inequalities and exacerbated homelessness in urban areas. How can we engage architecture to transform our cities in solidarity with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness? Research carried out by the team of Architecture Sans Frontières Québec (ASFQ) and the Université de Montréal has identified planning gestures aimed at reversing the dynamics of exclusion, reconsidering perceptions of home and adapting design to the realities of life in public space.
Cities, Climate and Inequalities- Fighting for a just transition in the local political arena: Challenges and opportunities for reciprocal training between elected officials and residents
By Anne-Sophie Bendwell
Citizen mobilization for the energy transition in so-called Quebec has been in full swing in recent years. One of the strategies of activists is to invest local political spaces. To facilitate this strategy, we analyzed the results of a focus group that then informed a literature search on the theme. In the light of these results, we propose avenues of reflection for the reciprocal conformation of the various actors involved in local politics.
Cities, Climate and Inequalities - Energy poverty in Canada: Social and geographic inequalities
By Mylène Riva
Between 6% and 19% of Canadian households are currently grappling with energy poverty, according to data sourced from the 2017 Survey of Household Spending. This research delves into the social and geographic distribution of this phenomenon across the country. The study reveals that certain household types, such as those with single occupants, lone parents, or older members, face significantly higher odds of experiencing energy poverty. Geographical disparities are evident, with households in Atlantic provinces and rural areas facing nearly double the odds of energy poverty compared to other regions. These findings underscore the socio-spatial patterning of energy poverty in Canada and highlight its variability across different locales.
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