Strength in Unity: Advancing Equitable Climate Action in Nova Scotia

This African Heritage Month, under Nova Scotia’s theme “Strength in Unity: Moving Forward with Purpose, Prosperity, Power, and Progress,” I had the opportunity to speak with youth leaders, entrepreneurs, and community advocates working at the intersection of climate and justice.

Across those conversations, one message stayed with me: climate action cannot succeed if it is disconnected from justice, affordability, and economic opportunity.

Environmental Justice Must Be Foundational

In many African Nova Scotian communities, vulnerability to storms and flooding and infrastructure gaps are shaped by historic land decisions and long-standing patterns of exclusion. Past decisions regarding where infrastructure was built, and where it was neglected, still shape which communities face the highest climate risks today.

Bradley Daye, who helps facilitate the African Nova Scotian Climate Justice Ambassadors Program, puts it simply: “It’s impossible to talk about climate issues without talking about climate justice.”

If equity is not embedded at the design stage of programs and infrastructure investments, climate policy risks overlooking the communities most affected. Success, therefore, must be measured not only by emissions reduced, but by whether resilience, safety, and long-term stability are strengthened where vulnerability is highest.

Climate Action Has to Connect to Daily Pressures

Climate change is rarely experienced first as policy. It is experienced through high energy bills, aging housing, unreliable power during storms, and rising costs of living.

As Dr. Ingrid Waldron, founder of the ENRICH Project, notes, “The climate issue that is most relevant to these communities is food security, the impact of climate change on agriculture and the health and mental health effects of climate change.” Her work reminds us that environmental racism and climate injustice affect Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities across Canada in tangible ways, negatively impacting food security, health, and overall wellbeing.

Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help communities adapt to a changing climate will be more effective when they are clearly connected to these lived realities. Programs that lower emissions while also reducing costs, improving comfort, and strengthening infrastructure reliability are the ones most likely to build lasting trust and participation.

The Clean Economy Must Be Intentionally Inclusive

The transition to a low-carbon economy presents real opportunity, but opportunity does not distribute itself evenly.

Through conversations with Tribe Network and One North End, it became clear that Black youth and entrepreneurs are already contributing to sustainability and innovation. At the same time, barriers remain, particularly access to capital, mentorship, and pathways into trades and hardware-based clean technology.

Organizations such as Tribe Network and One North End are already expanding pathways into the clean economy. Continuing to grow workforce training, strengthening cross-sector partnerships, and increasing visibility for Black-led innovation will be critical to ensuring broader participation.

Youth Leadership Is Already Here

One of the most energizing insights this month was seeing how young people are stepping into climate leadership with confidence and clarity about the kind of future they want to build.

Projects like the off-grid music studio led by Maziah and Makye Clayton demonstrate that climate engagement expands when solutions feel relevant and community-rooted.

Youth are not waiting to be invited into the climate space; they are creating their own entry points. Sustained funding, mentorship, and paid pathways into climate careers will determine whether that early leadership becomes long-term influence.

Housing Is Central to Climate Resilience – Access Matters

Housing sits at the intersection of affordability, resilience, mitigation, and adaptation.

Energy-efficient homes reduce utility costs, improve comfort, and protect families during extreme weather, but access to existing programs can be uneven. Community leaders spoke about financial constraints, administrative complexity, land title challenges, and the condition of older homes that may require pre-work before qualifying for retrofit programs. Trust and communication also shape participation.

Targeted approaches, such as Efficiency Nova Scotia’s African Nova Scotian Communities Retrofit Pilot demonstrate how programs can be adapted to improve participation and reduce barriers. Continued efforts to address financial, procedural, and communication gaps will be essential to ensuring climate investments reach the communities who stand to benefit most.

Moving Forward with Purpose

What this month reinforced for me is that climate action becomes stronger when it:

·       Reflects lived experiences

·       Connects to affordability and stability

·       Expands access to economic opportunity

·       Reduces structural and procedural barriers

Nova Scotia has set ambitious climate goals. The inspiring work of the organizations highlighted in this blog and throughout our campaign demonstrates that these goals can be met in ways that promote social equity. The opportunity now is to expand and institutionalize this commitment so equitable access becomes standard practice rather than the exception.

By Naomi Ibiama 

Outreach and Communications Coordinator, HCi3