Preparing Cities for Climate Emergency: A Triage-based Framework for Urgent & Equitable Climate Action Planning and Prioritization

Three interconnected crises (the climate crisis, the pandemic and inequality) are presenting unprecedented challenges for local governments. The pandemic is straining resources and time to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change is running out. This is leading to disproportionate burdens on racialized, marginalized, and vulnerable communities and intense pressure on local governments to formulate innovative solutions. In Section One of this paper, mixed-method research synthesis and semi-structured, open-ended interviews were utilized to explore trends, strategies and shortcomings within municipal climate action planning, prioritization, and implementation. Findings from Section One suggest that municipal climate policy and planning is haphazard, lacks standardization across municipalities, does not consider prioritization of initiatives, is not consistently leading to emissions reduction or energy savings and largely excludes considerations of equity or justice. In Section Two, an exploratory conceptual framework incorporating a medical triage perspective is proposed to streamline and standardize the climate planning & prioritization process. The triage framework adds value to the climate action planning field by utilizing an innovative, systematic method to achieve efficient, effective, and equitable policy outcomes in urgent situations. Traditional approaches to climate policy and prioritization have been insufficient in non-emergent circumstances and will no t suffice in the current state of climate crisis. Section Three is a case study which utilizes the triage framework in a hypothetical scenario. The case study prioritizes climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives for buildings in Waterloo Region. These results are compared to priorities in recent climate action plans released by Waterloo Region. An equity and justice lens underpins this research.