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AT A TIME WHEN CANADA is contending with economic volatility, geopolitical shifts, and worsening socio-economic challenges, the push toward a net-zero future may seem, to some, like a luxury. But in reality,
it is a necessity—and an opportunity. For rural, remote, and Indigenous
communities in particular, net-zero pathway partnerships o昀昀er a chance
not just to decarbonize, but to generate co-bene昀椀ts that address economic, social, and environmental challenges.
Across Canada, communities are contending with overlapping crises: a
looming recession, an unpredictable trade relationship with the United
States, rising food and fuel prices, and deepening housing and health
barriers. Indigenous communities continue to face the intergenerational
e昀昀ects of colonialism, from systemic racism to underfunded social
services. Meanwhile, rural and remote regions are disproportionately
impacted by climate-related disasters and economic precarity—often
without the infrastructure or institutional support to respond quickly,
according to a report from the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices.
Amid these challenges, we cannot a昀昀ord to treat net-zero action as a
siloed goal. The pursuit of rapid decarbonization must also be a pursuit
of justice, reconciliation, economic security, improved health and
wellbeing, sovereignty, and long-term prosperity for all communities.
The good news? When grounded in strong partnerships, community leadership,
and thoughtful planning, energy and emissions solutions can become tools to solve
multiple issues at once.
Multi-solving through community partnerships
For many rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, the primary barrier to
climate action isn’t a lack of ambition—it’s fragmentation. Fragmented funding
opportunities, siloed government programs, limited capacity, and weak collaboration
often make it di昀케cult to plan, implement, and sustain net-zero action. In rural and
remote areas, high energy costs, limited job opportunities, and housing challenges
remain persistent. Indigenous communities face the additional burden of climate
impacts intersecting with the intergenerational
e昀昀ects of colonialism, systemic racism, and the
ongoing displacement of traditional knowledge
systems in decision-making.
To overcome these layered challenges, we need
partnerships intentionally designed for multisolving—collaborative e昀昀orts that use net-zero
action as a lever for achieving broader social,
economic, and environmental bene昀椀ts.
OLD CROW SOLAR PROJECT
E N V I RON M E N T J OURN A L QUA RT E RLY RE PORT • S UM M ER 2 02 5 • P AGE 1 6
