Empowering Community-Led Climate Action through Equitable, Participatory Development Interventions in Ottawa

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In Ottawa, we are experiencing the impacts of climate change today, while more extreme climate conditions are projected in our future. Concurrently, social inequity persists—the percentage of people experiencing poverty has increased, more people are using the shelter system, and food insecurity is on the rise, especially among newcomers.

The City’s urban planning and development application processes offer an opportunity to shape our city and reduce future emissions while meeting the needs of all residents. However, urban planning processes often exclude the voices of equity-deserving communities—such as low-income, newcomer, and other marginalized groups—who are disproportionately affected by climate change.

Marginalized communities face barriers to participation in planning process and consultations, while the interests of a narrow demographic of privileged homeowners are overrepresented. This exclusion ignores or exacerbates inequities, perpetuates climate injustice, and undermines efforts to build equitable, healthy, sustainable urban environments.

Planning an Ottawa for All: Tackling Emissions and Inequity

City for all Women Initiative (CAWI) and Ecology Ottawa have partnered to launch the climate equity initiative Empowering Community-Led Climate Action through Equitable, Participatory Development Interventions in Ottawa. The project empowers equity-deserving communities to actively participate in urban planning and development processes to advance equitable climate action—enhancing resilience to climate impacts, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and fostering an inclusive environment that respects and incorporates everyone's needs. 

Why is this Project Necessary?

1. Rapid Near-term Urban Development: Our city is undergoing significant growth, with a commitment to build 151,000 housing units by 2031. In Ottawa, 46% of greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings. This level of urban growth presents a significant opportunity for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions, if sustainable practices are implemented.
   
2. Potential for GHG Emissions Reductions: A city’s built form significantly impacts GHG emissions. In 15-minute neighbourhoods that include a diversity of amenities, like businesses, services, and greenspace, residents can satisfy their daily needs through short trips by sustainable travel modes like walking, rolling, biking, and public transit. This helps reduce transportation-related emissions, which constitute 42% of Ottawa’s total emissions.
   
3. Addressing Historical Exclusions: Equity-deserving groups have historically been marginalized in the urban planning and development processes. Our project works to correct these exclusions by ensuring that these communities are not only included but are influential voices in the planning and development discussions in their neighbourhood which directly affect them.
4. Impact on Climate and Community Resilience: Equity-deserving communities disproportionately feel the effects of climate change, particularly in climate-related emergencies. Urban planning and public engagement plays an integral role in reducing emissions and building resilience against the effects of climate change. It is imperative that communities have the resources to take collective action to strengthen their neighbourhoods.
5. Opportunity for Systemic Change: The magnitude of the commitment to building 151,000 housing units in Ottawa offers an opportunity to rethink how planning decisions are made and who gets to shape them. As our city undergoes major growth, this is a crucial time for communities to make their voices heard and influence the direction of development. By getting involved, residents can help shift decision-making processes toward greater equity, emissions reductions, and climate resilience.

What are the Project Goals and Activities?

1. Empower Community Participation: Equipping equity-deserving communities with necessary tools and knowledge to effectively engage in the urban planning and development application process. 
   • Activities: workshops about the urban planning and development application processes, civic engagement opportunities, relevant legislation, the effects of climate change, and equitable climate solutions
2. Facilitate Inclusive Urban Planning: Facilitating community-based participatory planning exercises.
   • Activities: hosting participatory mapping, community care walks, and synthesizing art projects to hear and communicate the perspectives, needs, and observations of residents in their neighbourhood  
3. Develop Scalable Tools and Resources: Creating and distributing tools that communities across Ottawa and beyond can use to advocate for their interests in the urban planning and development process, ensuring that equity and climate considerations are prioritized in city planning. 
   • Activities: the development and sharing of a toolkit that synthesizes the project framework, tools, and findings
4. Develop Policy Recommendations: Formulate policy recommendations that integrate equity and climate considerations into public consultation, development application, and planning processes.
   • Activities: analyzing insights from meetings, workshops, and community-based activities to formulate policy recommendations, and meeting with City staff and other relevant stakeholders 

Do you want to get engaged on a development happening in your neighbourhood? 

We have developed a series of tools to help residents engage in the development application process. Learn more by exploring each document.

What is a Development Application?

The Development Application Process and Timeline

How to Get Involved in the Development Application Process

So You Have Feedback on a Development in Your Neighbourhood

We also recorded our Climate Equity Workshop that covers:

• What climate equity means

• How buildings contribute to greenhouse gas emissions—and what we can do about it

• How the development process works—and the key moments when you can step in and influence decisions

• Our project—and how to get involved

• You’ll leave feeling more informed and empowered to have your say in your neighbourhood, your city, your planet.

Climate Equity Workshop

In early 2026, we are launching a series of practical workshops: Building Power to Shape a Climate-Equitable Caring City. The workshops will empower residents with the knowledge, tools, practice, and support to engage meaningfully in the decisions being made about our neighbourhoods. 

• Are you looking to influence change in your neighbourhood?
• Are you impacted by unreliable transit?
• Do you want energy-efficient heating and cooling to lower your bills and be resilient to extreme weather events?
• Have you witnessed a loss of greenspace and trees with new developments?

Then this workshop is for you! By participating, you are taking a concrete and powerful step towards actively influencing the shape of your neighbourhood and community, to better serve you and your neighbours into the future! 

Building Power to Shape a Climate-Equitable Caring City

Project partners

Thank You to Ottawa Climate Action Fund (OCAF)

This work wouldn't be possible without the financial support of our project funder!