Climate Change and Climate Equity: What We Heard – Climate Impacts, Adaptation, and Resilience in Victoria explores how climate change affects equity-deserving communities across the city and how inclusive planning can strengthen resilience for everyone. Led by the Community Social Planning Council (CSPC) in partnership with the City of Victoria, the two-year Climate Equity by Design project gathered insights from Indigenous peoples, low-income residents, racialized communities, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, newcomers, unhoused people, and persons with disabilities. Through surveys, public engagements, and community conversations, participants shared firsthand experiences of extreme heat, housing insecurity, food access challenges, and the systemic barriers that limit their ability to adapt.
The report highlights the moral and practical need to embed equity in climate adaptation—from designing accessible public infrastructure and culturally safe services to supporting community-led initiatives and Indigenous self-determination. Its recommendations call for governance structures that centre lived experience, targeted investments in vulnerable neighbourhoods, and measurable indicators to track progress toward a fair, resilient, and climate-ready Victoria.