Social Equity
With our partners, IISD supports just and equitable transitions to sustainability, amplifies underrepresented voices in decision making, and ensures Indigenous knowledge systems inform solutions.
Poverty, widening income gaps, unequal access to employment opportunities, structural oppression, and other systemic barriers concentrate wealth and power in the hands of a few while leaving many behind.
Social equity is foundational to sustainable development and must be integrated into policies and governance to ensure fair outcomes for all.
By nurturing partnerships with Indigenous Peoples, feminist coalitions, and other actors who advocate for people’s rights and demand accountability from decision-makers, we explore creative approaches to amplify underrepresented voices and foster inclusive decision making.
Featured topics
Gender Equality
For development to be sustainable and effective, the needs of all people must be considered.
Environment, Conflict and Peacebuilding
Natural resource management and other environmental factors are linked to violent conflicts in a variety of complex ways.
Just Transition
In the transition to clean energy, a just transition can minimize negative impacts and maximize positive opportunities.
Featured projects
Understanding Climate Risks Through an Intersectional Approach (iCRA)
This project investigates how intersecting systems of inequity based on gender inequality, ageism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination shape vulnerability to climate change. It will involve collaborative case study research, led by Prakriti Resources Centre in Nepal and Urban Earth in South Africa, to test how intersectional climate risk assessments (CRAs) can help to advance inclusive and effective adaptation in practice and policies.
Inclusive Monitoring to Leave No One Behind in Canada
Leaving no Canadian behind requires understanding who is being left behind, why they are being left behind, and what their needs are to catch up.
Evidence on Gender, Equity, and Justice for Effective Adaptation
This project summarizes key messages on gender, equity, and justice from the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, making them accessible to adaptation practitioners.
Envisioning Resilience
Amplifying women’s voices in climate change adaptation planning
Natur'ELLES
This project aims to improve mangrove protection through an ecosystem approach, using nature-based solutions to benefit 8,000 people, particularly women, in the Sine Saloum and Casamance deltas in southern Senegal.
Mainstreaming Gender in Sustainable Bonds
how to scale up financing towards gender objectives