This resource is also available in French. Click here to access the French version.
New members are committed to resident-led, multi-sector climate action
Meet the communities!
In 2022, 19 trailblazing communities from six provinces took part in Tamarack’s first-ever Climate Transitions Cohort. During a 10-month learning journey, communities worked to develop and implement local climate transition plans through whole-community approaches that involved residents, nonprofits, municipalities, businesses, and other sectors. All communities were committed to centering equity and justice in their climate action. The impact of their work was significant.
Tamarack continues to work alongside many of these communities while also expanding the network. In 2023, we are welcoming 30 new communities through our second English-speaking Cohort and our first-ever French-speaking one.
15 members of the new English-speaking Climate Transitions Cohort:
Halifax Regional Municipality, NS: Community Climate Hubs Initiative (Climate Reality Project Canada), the OATHE Project, HCi3, Ecology Action Centre, Halifax Regional Municipality Council, Youth Council – the African Nova Scotia Road to Economic Prosperity, Prep Academy, Inspiring Communities
North Shore, PEI: Council of Canadians, Canadian Federation of University Women – PEI Chapter, Gulf Shore Community Health Corporation, Member of the Provincial Legislative Assembly, CLIMAtlantic
Quebec City, QC: City of Québec
Collingwood, ON: Town of Collingwood, Collingwood Climate Action Team
London, ON: Climate Action London, Middlesex London Ontario Health Team, London Health Sciences Centre
Markham, ON: Markham Public Library
Middlesex, ON: Municipality of Middlesex Centre
Northumberland County, ON: Community Power Northumberland, Municipality of Port Hope (Council), Municipality of Brighton (Council), Municipality of Hamilton Township’s Environmental Sustainability Committee, Environmental Advisory Committee to the Municipality of Port Hope, Municipality of Cramahe, Town of Cobourg, Brighton’s Sustainability Advisory Committee
Peel Region, ON: Region of Peel
Tobermory, ON: Northern Bruce Peninsula Climate Action Committee 2022, The Meeting Place Tobermory
Finger Lakes Region, NY, US: The Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region
Regina, SK: Regina City Council, City of Regina
West Kootenays, BC: Regional District of Central Kootenays, West Kootenay Climate Hub, Neighbours United
Vancouver, BC: CityHive
Tahsis, BC: Village of Tahsis Council
15 members of the new French-speaking “Cohorte ClimatIC”:
Péninsule Acadienne, NB:
Caraquet, NB:
Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC:
Québec City, QC:
Longueuil, QC:
Montréal Region, QC:
- La Fondation David Suzuki (Réseau Demain le Québec), Mères au front, Équiterre, ENvironnement JEUnesse
- CDC Centre Sud
- Concertation Montréal
- Concertation Saint-Léonard
Beaconsfield, QC:
Gatineau, QC:
Francophone Ontario:
- Association des Francophones du Nord-Ouest de l'Ontario (AFNOO), Coopérative Centre Francophone de Thunder Bay, Centr'elles Centre pour les femmes francophones du Nord-Ouest de l'Ontario
- Association des communautés francophone de l'Ontario Stormont Dundas Glengarry (AFCO)
Why communities are taking part
When asked about what local goals they are looking to advance over the year, communities shared ambitious hopes and dreams, such as:
- Bringing more organizations and citizens together into an unprecedented, all-in collaboration.
- Balancing mitigation and adaptation efforts, while ensuring that all climate work is done justly and leaves no one behind.
- Forming a diverse core team to draft a new climate plan and an evaluation framework.
- Supporting the environmental literacy of the community.
- Convening a county-wide team for collaboration and coordination of climate action efforts.
- Broadening existing networks and build relationships with a diverse spectrum of community champions, who may or may not identify as such.
- Bringing together a cross section of people and community leaders.
- Developing a shared sense of ownership of an existing climate plan and commitment to actions and strategies laid out in the plan.
- Integrating environmental sustainability into all aspects of city operations and decision-making, and prioritizing equity in their climate plan implementation.
What their journey will look like
The 30 new members of the Climate Transitions cohort will go through a 10-month program and have access to experts, coaches, resources and more, around the themes of collective impact, climate justice and community engagement.
Here is an overview of the 2023-2024 program curriculum:
Committing to a just and equitable climate transition
Every organization starting this journey is committed to serving their community and ensure a healthier, brighter, and equitable future through collaborative work that yields long-lasting transformational change.
Would you like to join next year’s cohort or nominate a community? Contact the CCT’s Director of Climate Transitions: laura@tamarackcommunity.ca.