Who Gets Left Behind: Climate Change, Vulnerability, and Exclusion in Municipal Climate and Energy Transition

Abstract

This thesis examines the intersection of climate change, energy transitions, and social inequities in Canada, with a focus on poverty, health vulnerability, and municipal-level governance. Firstly, there were gaps in the existing literature in terms of understanding how climate change-associated risks affect diverse populations in Canada. To address these gaps, the first article of the thesis asked: In the Canadian context, what are the impacts and implications of climate change and weather extremes on the physical and mental health of those experiencing poverty, as evidenced in the peer-reviewed academic literature? To answer that question, the first article presents a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature on climate-related risks in Canada and focuses on exploring how the climate crisis is exacerbating health inequities in Canada, disproportionately impacting those experiencing poverty.

Secondly, the thesis moved beyond merely highlighting the uneven effects of climate change to also showing how vulnerability can also be produced through governance processes with the second and third papers. To do so, in the second article, the thesis developed an integrated analytical framework to examine participation and inclusion in climate and energy governance. Additionally, the thesis uses different data collection and analysis methods. While it uses document analysis and qualitative content analysis for the second article, for the third article it applies qualitative thematic analysis for analysing semi-structured interviews with government officials, community members, and intermediary actors. These studies explore how principles of climate and energy justice, particularly procedural and recognition justice, are operationalized in local policy. The Ottawa case studies reveal persistent gaps between formal commitments to equity and the realities of participation, shaped by institutional barriers, technocratic decision-making, and socio-economic marginalization. Barriers such as top-down governance, resource limitations, and power asymmetries restrict meaningful engagement and reproduce existing inequalities.

Thus, the thesis comprised of the three articles highlight the unequal impacts of climate change and energy transitions, the limitations of current policy frameworks, and the need for more participatory, justice-oriented approaches. The thesis contributes to scholarship on climate and energy justice by integrating evidence on health vulnerability with practical insights on municipal governance. It also provides a foundation for designing policies that reduce inequities, strengthen inclusion, and foster equitable climate and energy transitions in Canada.