Peel Climate Equity Event Results
Working Blueprint for a Fair Future
Climate change does not affect everyone equally, with the greatest burden often being felt by those with the fewest resources to respond.
On June 2, 2026, Peel Region brought together nearly 100 people from community organizations, residents and lived-experience networks, local municipalities, conservation authorities, businesses, and institutional partners during Toronto Climate Week to explore how climate action can be more inclusive, affordable, and community-driven in Peel. Hosted at the Riverwood Art Gallery and Conservancy in Mississauga, the day was designed as a practical, solutions-focused forum — a chance to connect existing work and pinpoint where stronger support, coordination, and investment are needed.
The event was led by Peel’s Office of Climate Change and Energy Management, in collaboration with Peel’s Waste Management and the Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET). At its heart were four solution labs, each tackling a tangible climate equity challenge in Peel:
Food Security - advancing food dignity, community control, and stronger local food infrastructure.
Energy Equity - improving the affordability, access, trust, and uptake of energy and home retrofit programs.
Tree Equity - designing urban greening and stewardship programs around the people they are meant to serve.
Inclusive Circularity - making Peel’s circular economy of repair, reuse, and redistribution work for everyone.
Between sessions, an Equity Exchange showcased partner organizations and hands-on activities, giving participants a chance to connect, share resources, and build new relationships across sectors.
Across every lab, participants returned to a common set of needs: stronger partnerships, easier access to programs and services, long-term investment, and community-led solutions. Again and again, the conversation came back to the organizations residents already know and trust — community groups, faith groups, and newcomer-serving agencies — as the key to reaching people who are too often left out.
The Blueprint captures what participants shared and outlines practical actions to help build a more resilient, connected, and equitable future for Peel communities.
Key priorities include:
Connect programs, partners, funding, and data so residents can more easily find and access climate-related supports.
Invest long-term in solutions that address the root causes of food insecurity, energy affordability, housing vulnerability, heat risks, and other climate-related inequities.
Support community organizations, faith groups, newcomer-serving agencies, and local leaders as essential partners in delivering trusted, culturally relevant solutions.
Leverage Peel Region’s role as a convener, funder, policy partner, and data enabler to help align action where no single organization can solve the issue alone.
Design programs around people’s daily realities by reducing cost, language, access, and trust barriers, and creating more opportunities for social connection.
Climate equity in Peel is more than a buzzword — it’s a call to action. Working together, we can build a fairer, more climate-resilient future for all.
Read the Final Report for more information on actions to advance a fair climate future.
