Corporate Climate Adaptation and Community Impact Project

UN Global Compact Network Canada is pleased to launch the "Corporate Climate Adaptation and Community Impact: An Intersectional Approach" initiative.

This project is dedicated to examining the impacts of corporate climate adaptation projects on diverse local communities.

Climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities, making it crucial that adaptation efforts not only respond to environmental changes but also address the social inequities these changes intensify. Our project utilizes an intersectional lens to ensure that these efforts are equitable and effective, particularly benefiting communities that are traditionally underserved or marginalized.

---

What We Aim to Achieve

The project has three main objectives:

1. Identify Barriers and Drivers: We will uncover the critical elements that facilitate or hinder effective adaptation strategies within corporate settings.
2. Assess Impact: Our research will delve into the positive and negative outcomes of these corporate efforts on local communities.
3. Share Insights: We aim to highlight exemplary practices and common pitfalls, guiding businesses in taking a community-focused approach in their adaptation initiatives.

Understanding Intersectionality

An intersectional approach recognizes that people experience layers of discrimination and privilege based on various identity factors including gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. This project will:

• Focus on the experiences of equity-deserving groups such as racialized individuals, Indigenous peoples, LGBTIQ2S+ communities, women, and economically disadvantaged groups.
• Explore how gender norms and other societal expectations affect the implementation and outcomes of adaptation strategies.
• Consider the historical and ongoing policies that shape the access to and distribution of resources, ensuring that these dynamics inform our strategies.

Participant Engagement

We are looking for 4-6 Canadian companies from sectors such as agri-food, forestry, environmental services, energy, insurance and financial services, and more that have active or recently completed climate adaptation projects. Participants will benefit from:

• Gaining deeper insights into effective community-focused climate adaptation.
• Collaborating with peers to develop and refine best practices.
• Contributing to a body of knowledge that supports all communities in climate resilience.

---

Project Timeline

• August  - September 2024: Gather company interest
• October - December 2024: Engagement with companies.
• January - December 2025: Conduct company peer learning sessions and on-site community assessments.
• January - December 2026: Develop and publish a toolkit for corporate community-based, intersectional climate adaptation practices

For more information or to express interest in participating, please contact our Project Manager, Wynnie Zhao (she/her) at wynnie@unglobalcompact.ca.

---

Together, we can ensure that our climate adaptation strategies are as inclusive as they are innovative, paving the way for a resilient future for all communities.