Guide to equitable, community-driven climate preparedness planning
This resource is avialable in English only
Climate change guide recognizing racial inequities
This guide from the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, designed for local government actors, begins by describing how low income and Racialized communities (frontline communities) are disproportionately vulnerable to climate hazards (e.g. extreme heat, flooding, air pollution).
The authors include an important a primer on social inequities and the role of government, including:
- the impact of institutional and structural racism on policy and decision-making;
- the perpetuation of institutional and structural racism through government processes;
- three dimensions of equity (procedural, distributional and structural), each requiring distinct strategies and approaches;
- a framework for institutionalizing racial equity (normalizing, organizing, operationalizing); and
- case examples of advancing racial equity through government relations and using a whole of government approach.
Seven-step framework
The authors state that, while several climate change preparedness guidelines already exist, they fail to meaningfully acknowledge and address the root causes of unequal climate change vulnerability, such as racism.
In response, this guide proposes a strong framework that prioritizes equity, community collaboration and shared decision-making power between government agencies and frontline communities.
For each of the following stages of equitable community-driven climate preparedness planning, the authors include process steps, specific activities, resources and practice examples.
- Community and local government readiness
- Project initiation
- Data collection and analysis
- Visioning and alternatives
- Plan development
- Plan and project implementation
- Monitoring and review
This guide also discusses a companion racial equity evaluation tool, available for download from the USDN website.
Addressing root causes of vulnerability
The authors argue that short-term plans to prepare communities for a changing climate will be more effective if coupled with long-term action to address the root causes of climate change vulnerability. To this end, they name transformative actions to promote social equity (e.g., financial assets, political representation, healthcare, housing, and education) and recommend concurrent, intersectoral, whole of government approaches. Finally, they explore specific climate hazards, typical adaptation strategies, equity considerations and concrete suggestions for building climate resilience.
Use this resource to:
- facilitate a discussion with your colleagues about what drives climate change vulnerability;
- inform your engagement with municipalities, community groups and other intersectoral partners on climate change adaptation-planning; and
- identify opportunities to contribute to climate resilience through public health practice.
Reference
Yuen, T., Yurkovich, E., Grabowski, L., & Altshuler B. (2017). Guide to equitable, community-driven climate preparedness planning. Urban Sustainability Directors Network. Retrieved from: https://www.usdn.org/uploads/cms/documents/usdn_guide_to_equitable_community-driven_climate_preparedness-_high_res.pdf
Related resources
- NCCDH resources: Climate change and health equity
- Climate change, health equity and public health responses: A curated list (2020)
- Key public health resources for anti-racism action: A curated list (2018)
- Climate change, health, and equity: A guide for local health departments (2018)
- National Inuit climate change strategy (2019)
Tags: Community engagement, Environmental health, Intersectoral action, Racism/racialization, Climate change, Report / Document