Mandate

The climate justice working group shall provide advice and support to the municipality in the development of climate change resilient programs and services. The group shall ensure that principles of equity, inclusion and fairness are adhered to, while centering collective health and well-being. It will focus on dealing with the inequitable impacts of climate change upon the vulnerable and marginalized groups in society and ensure that a climate justice perspective is implemented in developing all policies and recommendations emanating from the Advisory Committee. It will also focus on the health impacts of climate actions and policies, and include actions related to the food system. The working group will work with community members to design climate mitigation actions and measures that achieve equitable outcomes.

Objectives

• Evaluate the socio-economic and environmental impacts of all proposed
  and existing climate policies on vulnerable and marginalized communities
  to ensure they are equitable, inclusive, and fair.
• Assist with conducting a comprehensive evaluation [LL1] of the community to identify
  Hamilton's most at-risk groups and neighborhoods, including low-income,
  racialized, Indigenous, immigrant, and health-impacted communities.
• Engage meaningfully with all stakeholders, especially those most affected by
  climate change, in the committee decision-making process via various
  inclusive platforms and mechanisms.
• Develop and advocate for climate policies and programs that address the specific needs of marginalized communities in Hamilton, ensuring that all climate actions taken by the Advisory Committee and the City are done through a climate-justice lens.
• Work with the Advisory Committee and the City to promote social equity (ie. Policies that promote improved air quality, access to renewable energy, and reduction of energy poverty).
• Develop a framework and set of KPIs for the Committee to use in monitoring and evaluating the impact of climate actions on vulnerable communities within Hamilton.
• Collaborate closely with Indigenous communities to advise/support City Staff on the incorporation traditional ecological knowledge into the City of Hamilton's climate action policies and to ensure that the feedback and rights of the Indigenous communities are heard and respected.
• Collaborate with the Community Engagement Working Group to develop and launch
  educational workshops and programs examining the intersectionality of
  climate change, social justice, and equity in Hamilton.

Terms of Reference for Climate Justice Working Group