Centering Equity and Justice in Participatory Climate Action Planning: Guidance for Urban Governance Actors

Abstract

Advancing equity and justice in climate action planning (CAP) presents a considerable challenge for urban governance actors. This paper provides necessary and practical guidance for developing participatory approaches that help planners avoid perpetuating dominant knowledge systems and corresponding planning interventions that have brought us to the current state of climate change and social inequity. Advancing equity and justice in CAP requires reflexive, participatory practice that centers vulnerable residents and supports communication across differences in social position and systems of meaning. These actions require a fuller accounting of the underlying social processes that drive vulnerability to climate change.

Keywords:

• Climate action planning
• equity
• justice
• participation

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kayleigh Swanson

Kayleigh Swanson is a doctoral candidate in the School of Planning at the University of Waterloo. She has previously collaborated on research exploring climate compatible development strategies that reduce poverty and advance gender equality. Her current research explores how equity and justice considerations are articulated and embedded in climate action plans.