This opening session sets the foundation for the entire series.
Too often, climate adaptation efforts struggle not because of a lack of commitment, but because engagement processes are constrained by siloed decision-making, limited capacity, and mistrust rooted in past exclusion. These barriers are rarely named—yet they shape everything that follows.
In this session, participants:
Explored the systemic, institutional, and cultural barriers that hinder equitable community engagement
Examined real-world case examples highlighting challenges such as lack of trust, fragmented governance, and inadequate resourcing
Built a shared language across sectors to talk honestly about what is getting in the way
Established a common foundation for the solution-focused sessions that follow
This session is designed to create clarity, alignment, and momentum so that participants are better equipped to move into action together.
This webinar series is aligned with Leading Together: Local Governments Advancing Equitable Climate Resilience, an action-oriented learning cohort delivered by the Tamarack Institute, with funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)’s Green Municipal Fund and the Government of Canada.
Stephen Ngonain. Senior Manager of Communities, Climate Transitions
Erika Massoud. Community Animator, Networks for Change