Closing the equity deficit: Sustainability justice in municipal climate action planning in Waterloo region

• Published in: American journal of community psychology 2024-03, Vol.73 (1-2), p.118-132
• Main Authors: Dobai, Jennifer, Riemer, Manuel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Action; Cities; Climate action; climate action planning; Colonialism; Equity; Fairness; Humans; Knowledge; Local government; municipality; Planning; Qualitative Research; Racial justice; Racism; Regions; Social Justice; Sovereignty; Sustainability; systems thinking
• ISSN: 0091-0562; 1573-2770; 1573-2770
• DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12675

There is growing recognition that often well‐intended climate action solutions perpetuate and exacerbate manifestations of colonialism and racism due to the lack of equity and justice considerations in designing and implementing these solutions. There is limited research exploring why the integration of these considerations are lacking in municipal climate action planning. This exploratory descriptive qualitative study explored how municipal actors perceive and understand equity and justice in municipal climate action planning as a step toward addressing this issue. Semistructured interviews were conducted with seven members of the core management group from ClimateAction Waterloo region, and a template analysis of the interview data resulted in six themes. Findings suggested that those involved in municipal climate action planning understand and perceive justice and equity considerations as important to their work, however, translating this understanding to practice is a challenge due to structural (governmental and societal) and capacity (limited time, funding, resources, and knowledge) barriers. By better understanding how key actors consider justice and equity, we identify shifting colonial mental models as a potential pathway for transformative change given the central role of these actors. Highlights Local governments play a critical role in addressing climate and social justice issues. Justice and equity considerations are limited in municipal climate planning and implementation. Systems thinking may be essential to understand how issues of justice and sustainability intersect. Sustainability justice requires centering racial justice, Indigenous sovereignty, and reconciliation.