ACBC Consulting, leveraging its expertise in community-driven, equity-focused planning, collaborated with Linnean Solutions to ensure that climate justice principles were fully integrated into the municipality’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). ACBC led the development of a tailored Climate Equity Framework designed to center the needs of marginalized communities and ensure their inclusion in climate action efforts. This process involved refining the framework’s structure, language, and approach to align with the lived experiences of impacted populations while maintaining practical applicability for municipal implementation.

As part of this effort, ACBC conducted an equity audit to assess how effectively the framework aligned with the CAAP’s broader goals, ensuring that equity considerations were seamlessly woven into the plan. This evaluation identified potential barriers to implementation and provided strategic recommendations for embedding equity into climate-related decision-making processes. Additionally, ACBC co-authored the CAAP’s public health chapter, embedding health equity principles into climate adaptation strategies to address the disproportionate health impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations.

This work contributed to the successful incorporation of the Climate Equity Framework into the municipality’s Comprehensive Master Plan, laying the foundation for a 30-year vision and a 10-year action plan that prioritizes historically underserved communities. The project also led to the establishment of a Climate Equity Council, which will oversee the continued integration of equity into the municipality’s climate resilience initiatives, strengthening long-term capacity for equitable and sustainable climate action. The framework’s adoption has not only shaped municipal policy but also provided a replicable model for embedding climate equity into governance structures, ensuring that future climate strategies remain inclusive and responsive to community needs.