Title
Madam President, Xochimilco’s Original People Demand Justice
Authors
Patricia Romero-Lankao, Daniel Gnatz, Director, Institute for Sustainable Urban Transformation, José-Genovevo Pérez-Espinosa, local leader and original resident of Xochimilco, Valerie Berseth, Angélica Rosas-Huerta, Verónica Gil-Montes, Professor, (Professors, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Subina Shrestha
Topic/Focus:
Restorative Justice to address inequities associated with hydrocolonialism
Location/Context:
On September 26, 2025, five thousand residents of the original peoples (pueblos originarios) of the Xochimilco borough of Mexico City, descendants of the Nahuas, posted a letter on Facebook, stating, “Madam President, Xochimilco has given you the water with which you governed the capital and now govern the nation. It’s time to settle the historical debt. Xochimilco offers a unique opportunity to advance Mexico’s president’s vision of shifting to an environmental and humanist development model that respects planetary limits and ensures shared prosperity.
Approach to equity and Key finding/argument
We present a historical analysis of hydrocolonialism, the dispossession of water and chinampa wetlands, and the original peoples’ resistance and efforts to protect their cultural identity and traditional lands and waters. We then suggest a series of stepping stones for the Mexican government to embrace restorative justice as its most basic organizing principle. These include addressing the original peoples’ demands to prioritize a safe and adequate water supply for Xochimilco before sending its water to other areas of the
city, embracing their full involvement in comprehensive water and agriculture restoration, and promoting more equitable and sustainable urban development by regularizing informal settlements on conservation lands. This restorative justice approach will foster Xochimilcan capacity to prosper and flourish, promote equitable sustainability and resilience to the region, and contribute to broader Mexican development goals. It can also become a model for similar endeavours worldwide.
Expected date of completion:
The perspective is under review, and we hope it will be published by the summer of 2026
Title:
Powering People: Building Climate-Resilient Energy for All in Canada
Authors:
Coordinating Lead author: Patricia Romero-Lankao; Lead Authors: Valerie Berseth, Debra Davidson, Emily Eaton, Mark Stoddart; Contributing Authors: Sarah Burch, Alexandra Lesnikowski, Jay Wilson; Student Leader: Zachary Gan
Topic/Focus:
We launched this month the drafting of the energy chapter, which will be part of the NRCan’s Living in our Changing Climate (LIOCC) Report
Location/Context:
Energy is an important sector in Canada’s economy and is embedded in the country’s social fabric and cultural identity. Energy is a major driver of investment, employment and government revenue, a key input for industry, and a daily necessity for cooking, heating, cooling, and commuting. The energy sector is vulnerable to climate change impacts, including natural disasters, reduced hydroelectric capacity, shifting energy demand (e.g., from heating to cooling), and cascading effects across critical infrastructure. These energy impacts are unevenly distributed, exacerbating pre-existing socioeconomic and racial inequalities. Marginalized communities, such as Indigenous peoples, face disproportionate risks and burdens.
Approach to equity/Key finding/argument:
This chapter will examine barriers and options for supporting a resilient energy system in Canada through an equity and justice lens, advancing climate-resilient energy for all and supporting Canadian decision-makers, practitioners, and actors involved in the current transition.
Expected date of completion:
End of 2028
