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

Investigate how communities can define their desired futures, identify challenges, and suggest policies, investments, and innovations to realize their aspirations, operationalizing procedural justice

Address Inequities

Examine how to effectively tackle inequities in actions and innovations, including infrastructure investments, lending, planning, and technologies like heat pumps and rooftop solar, focusing on recognition and restorative justice.

Contribute to Equity

Evaluate how improving restorative and procedural justice can contribute more equitable access to benefits and protection from harm, highlighting the principles of distributional justice.


			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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. Working with the youth and underserved populations and city actors will ensure that all in Toronto, Mexico City, and Los Angeles strengthen their capacity to flourish and realize their life goals in a world defined by change and uncertainty.

			

				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				

				
			

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Outcomes

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

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

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
The CERC NEST will co-produce actionable knowledge in briefs, factsheets and academic publications to foster urban capacity to benefit from policies and reduce burdens and harms to health and well-being from extreme heat, wildfires, and social stressors. Through our co-produced methodologies, we will help target infrastructural neglect and lack of investment, inadequate quality of housing and transportation and other root causes of social inequity across varied urban contexts in Canada and beyond.