About Us

Our Goals, Objectives & Outcomes

We aim to contribute to more inclusive, just, and equitable research approaches to climate action and community capacity.

Using a transdisciplinary, equity, and comparative approach, we pursue three research objectives:

Enable Participation (Procedural Justice)

Operationalize procedural justice by examining communities’ desired futures, challenges and solutions. We also examine how policies, investments, and innovations can foster equity in sustainability transitions. 

Redress Inequities (Restorative Justice) 

Investigate how actions and innovations can effectively tackle inequities. These include infrastructure investments, lending, planning, and technologies like heat pumps and rooftop solar. 

Contribute to Equitable Outcomes (Distributional Justice)

Analyze how improving restorative and procedural justice can contribute to more equitable access to benefits and protection from harm. 


			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
CERC NEST is about building a future where sustainability benefits everyone, no matter where they live or their background.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Co-creating Actionable Research

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
The CERC NEST will co-produce knowledge that supports equity and justice in city-relevant climate action and innovation. By working with youth, underserved populations, and city actors, we will help strengthen local capacity in Toronto, Mexico City, and Los Angeles. This work will support communities as they flourish and realize their life goals in a world defined by change and uncertainty. 

			

				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				

				
			

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Outcomes

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Through active engagement with underserved communities, youth, and city actors, we will co-create methodologies, toolkits, and tailored products that will help ensure that no one is left behind. We highlight some examples of anticipated activities and outcomes. 

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
CERC NEST will co-produce actionable knowledge through briefs, factsheets, and academic publications. These products will strengthen people’s capacity to benefit from policies and reduce burdens and harms to health and well-being. Key concerns include extreme heat, wildfires, and social stressors. 


Through our co-produced methodologies, we will help target infrastructural neglect and lack of investment. We will also address inadequate quality of housing and transportation, along with other root causes of social inequity across varied urban contexts in Canada and beyond.