On September 23, CERC NEST participated in Adaptation Canada 2026 in Toronto, contributing to national conversations on climate adaptation, energy resilience, and equity in Canada.
As part of the conference, CERC NEST Chair Patricia Romero-Lankao participated in an engagement session for the forthcoming Living in Our Changing Climate Report, part of Canada’s national climate change assessment process. The session brought conference participants together to discuss and provide input on key messages currently being developed for the report.
Romero-Lankao led discussions on the report’s energy chapter, “Powering People: Building Climate-Resilient Energy for All in Canada.” The chapter examines barriers and opportunities for building a more resilient Canadian energy system through an equity and justice lens.
Emerging messages from the chapter highlight the vulnerability of energy infrastructure to climate impacts and the cascading effects these disruptions can have on other critical systems, including transportation and water. The chapter also considers the challenges facing fossil fuel-dependent regional economies, jobs, and livelihoods, as well as opportunities for adaptation to strengthen the resilience of people and energy infrastructure.
Importantly, the chapter emphasizes that effective adaptation should be people-centred and guided by principles of energy justice, including equitable access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.
Participating in Adaptation Canada 2026 provided an important opportunity for CERC NEST to bring equity and justice into national discussions on Canada’s climate adaptation priorities.