Canada Excellence Research Chair
Network for Equity in Sustainability Transitions
A research initiative committed to creating flourishing and inclusive cities.
Welcome to the Canada Excellence Research Chair Network for Equity in Sustainability Transitions (CERC NEST) – an initiative committed to creating flourishing and inclusive cities.
Vision
The CERC NEST seeks to contribute to equity in climate and sustainability transitions. It examines how the co-production of actionable knowledge with communities and city actors can foster participation in decision-making, help address entrenched inequities in programs, and investments, and ensure equitable access to benefits and protection from harm.
Overview of the CERC NEST
CERC NEST is designed to create knowledge that contributes to making cities more sustainable and fair for everyone. While climate change affects us all, its impacts are often felt most strongly by those who contribute the least to the problem — predominantly low-income and marginalized urban populations. Many cities focus on technological solutions to climate change, but these often overlook the needs and experiences of people living in vulnerable neighbourhoods.
By building on three findings from Dr. Romero-Lankao’s work in cities like Mexico and Los Angeles, CERC NEST advances research within three working groups.
Working Group I
operates at the local level
First, communities want to define aspirations, problems, and solutions.
Through knowledge co-creation, we generate actionable research with underserved populations – the youth and working class.
Working Group II
operates at the city systems level
Second, top-down approaches to knowledge and action often (re)create inequities.
Through urban research, we analyze equity in energy use for transport and housing, vulnerability and urban climate action.
Working Group III
operates at the international level
Third, we need a solid, context-aware analysis of equity determinants and outcomes across cities.
Through a community of practice, we examine exclusion mechanisms and how to foster equity in actions.
CERC NEST News and Events
Photo Stories of how students move around the city?
On June 16, 2026, an orientation session was held for undergraduate and graduate students from the Autonomous Metropolitan University, Xochimilco, who are participating in the workshop: How Do You Move Around the City? The purpose of the session was to present the...
We received positive feedback from the CERC’s Tri-Agency
We are pleased to share some positive feedback received from the Canada’s CERC Tri-Agency Secretariat on the CERC NEST 2023–2025 Annual Progress Report.The review recognized the strong progress and impact of the program, noting the significant research contributions...
Equity in Sustainable Housing | CERC NEST CoP (April 22)
As cities push to decarbonize, our CERC NEST community of practice discussed how to center justice and community care within housing transitions. The discussion focused on how these projects can address systemic inequities alongside environmental goals. Two guest...
The CERC NEST is supported by the CERC program:
The CERC program is a tri-agency initiative of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. It is administered by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS), which is housed within SSHRC.
