Hopewell Cape, NB — Father and children walking by the river on a cloudy day. The government of New Brunswick has stated that rising sea levels have increased the risk of flooding and coastal erosion and that in recent years the province has experienced extreme weather events that have caused “catastrophic damages." Image: Cavan Images/Getty Images.
A Powerful Tool for Action
Built on Foundational Research
To develop the Re.Climate model, our team conducted more than 100 stakeholder interviews, sought advice from 20+ international organizations with similar mandates, commissioned 10 expert research reports, and drew feedback from a breadth of practitioners in the field.
Informed, Relevant Experience
Our model is informed by a decade of experience building climate communications and engagement through Climate Access (in the United States) and the Climate Narratives Initiative (in Canada).
Established Relationships
Our team has long-standing relationships with similar institutions around the world. These relationships not only allow us to benefit from an international community of researchers, but to actively contribute our own insights and learning, too.
Our Theory of Change
Bamfield, BC — A multigenerational family scaling the rocky shore in Bamfield, BC. Coastal British Columbia is one of the most at-risk regions in North America for climate related emergencies, such as unpredictable weather, flooding, warming ocean temperatures, and rising sea levels, among others. Image: Pamela Joe McFarlane/Getty Images.
Public engagement is essential to tackling climate change.
We can make all the technological advances in the world, create and implement new laws and policies, but none of it will have an effect without the active engagement and buy-in of citizens. Their informed support for action is what’s known as a “social mandate” — and it’s how real change happens.
Researchers, practitioners and organizers need a space to work together.
We believe climate communicators need a space to access research, share insights, innovate, and learn with their peers. This collaborative approach is essential to overcoming impasses in climate communication and developing new approaches that engage citizens and prompt broad-based public support for climate action.
Our values—not just facts—must underpin climate communications and engagement.
People’s views and actions are influenced by values, emotions, identity, needs, and cultural norms. To engage more Canadians in climate action, we must listen and respond to what moves people, address what they care about, and empower those who are often excluded from climate conversations.
Active participation from people across the country is essential to enacting change.
Our work supports communicators to promote climate concern and action as the norm, increase understanding of the urgency and relevance of climate change, overcome polarization to build broad support, and encourage active participation in decision-making.
Our Team
Re.Climate brings together Canada’s leading climate communication academics and practitioners.
Our team has decades of experience conducting research, developing and implementing climate, energy, and sustainability campaigns, and training leaders from a range of sectors in how to apply evidence-based best practices in outreach efforts.
Amber Bennett
One of Canada’s top climate communication strategists and capacity builders. Amber works with groups across the country, bridging the gap between research and practice. She led the groundbreaking Alberta Narratives Project and supported much of the foundational work to pilot and build Re.Climate.
Ghadah Alrasheed
Ghadah supports research, knowledge mobilization, and the development of resources, evidence-based tools, and training programs for Re.Climate’s network of 750 organizations and 2,000 climate influencers. With a PhD in Communication and a wealth of experience spanning the academic, federal, and NGO sectors, she brings a unique understanding of effective research and knowledge mobilization practices in climate communication.
Jessica von Handorf
Jessica has over 10 years’ nonprofit leadership experience in design, communications, and project management. She played a pivotal role in co-founding Mindful.org and Mindful magazine, a pioneering science-based resource dedicated to secular mindfulness. Her contributions were instrumental in propelling its growth to a total of 2.4 million followers and subscribers in its first five years.
Maria Granados
Maria supports training, events, and communities of practice focused on communicating about climate change and energy transition in Canada. She also provides research support for Re.Climate’s key research and resource publications.
Chris Russill
An Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at Carleton University, Chris’ work focuses on political (in)action around climate change and its effects. Chris is editor of the Canadian Journal of Communication.
Barbara Leckie
Professor in the Department of English and the Institute for the Comparative Study of Literature, Art, and Culture at Carleton University. Barbara has written extensively about the role of rhetoric, images, and narrative in advancing climate action, including her most recent book Climate Change, Interrupted (Stanford UP, 2022).
Louise Comeau
Louise holds a doctorate in environmental management, focused on environmental ethics and behaviour change. She has received three Queen’s citizenship medals for her work in international climate negotiations, creation of the Green Municipal Fund at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and advancing climate action in New Brunswick. She is a member of Canada’s Net Zero Advisory Body.
Cara Pike
The founder and executive director of Climate Access, a non-profit focused on building political and public support for climate action. Cara is a pioneer and leading thinker in climate communications. She regularly advises government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
James Meadowcroft
A Professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University where he has held a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Governance for Sustainable Development. James will act as a project advisor as the academic chair for the Sustainable Energy Research Centre.
One of Canada’s top climate communication strategists and capacity builders. Amber works with groups across the country, bridging the gap between research and practice. She led the groundbreaking Alberta Narratives Project and supported much of the foundational work to pilot and build Re.Climate.
An Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at Carleton University, Chris’ work focuses on political (in)action around climate change and its effects. Chris is editor of the Canadian Journal of Communication.
Professor in the Department of English and the Institute for the Comparative Study of Literature, Art, and Culture at Carleton University. Barbara has written extensively about the role of rhetoric, images, and narrative in advancing climate action.
Louise holds a doctorate in environmental management, focused on environmental ethics and behaviour change. She has received three Queen’s citizenship medals for her work in international climate negotiations, creation of the Green Municipal Fund at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and advancing climate action in New Brunswick. She is a member of Canada’s Net Zero Advisory Body.
The founder and executive director of Climate Access, a non-profit focused on building political and public support forclimate action. Cara is a pioneer and leading thinker in climate communications. She regularly advises government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
A Professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University where he has held a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Governance for Sustainable Development. James will act as a project advisor as the academic chair for the Sustainable Energy Research Centre.
Ghadah supports research, knowledge mobilization, and the development of resources, evidence-based tools, and training programs for Re.Climate’s network of 750 organizations and 2,000 climate influencers. With a PhD in Communication and a wealth of experience spanning the academic, federal, and NGO sectors, she brings a unique understanding of effective research and knowledge mobilization practices in climate communication.
Jessica has over 10 years’ nonprofit leadership experience in design, communications, and project management. She played a pivotal role in co-founding Mindful.org and Mindful magazine, a pioneering science-based resource dedicated to secular mindfulness. Her contributions were instrumental in propelling its growth to a total of 2.4 million followers and subscribers in its first five years.
Maria supports training, events, and communities of practice focused on communicating about climate change and energy transition in Canada. She also provides research support for Re.Climate’s key research and resource publications.
Our Funders
With your support, Re.Climate can uncover new insight, build capacity, and help researchers and practitioners create communications strategies that inspire the public to support climate action. Contact us to learn how you can play a part.
Our Partners
Re.Climate is proud to work with the Communauté de pratique en communication climatique to offer programming for Quebec-based audiences and to partner with Climate Access, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization focused on building political and public support for climate and clean energy solutions by developing and promoting the adoption of effective communication and engagement approaches.
Governance
Carleton University
Ottawa, ON — Students gather outside the Tory Building on the main campus at Carleton University. Carleton offers programming at the undergraduate and graduate level for those interested in focusing their studies on the current climate emergency. Dwayne Brown Studio.
With your support, Re.Climate can uncover new insight, build capacity, and help researchers and practitioners create communications strategies that inspire the public to support climate action. Contact us to learn how you can play a part.
Carleton University
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1S 5B6
Canada
Carleton University
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1S 5B6
Canada
Carleton University
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1S 5B6
Canada