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Zhaohua Cheng (Cindy) is a PhD student in the Urban Forestry program at the Faculty of Forestry. Her research is focusing on finding a way to integrate urban forest planning and management into climate action planning of cities to cope with the climate crisis. Cindy is also looking at the co-benefits of livability and social benefits of urban forests in cities.��

“Studies are showing that urban forests can have a significant cooling effect in neighborhoods, and how this has social benefits such as increased walkability, encouraging people to go outside, et cetera -- which in turn helps their health,” she said.��

Cindy’s inspiration for this research idea came from helping with the Faculty of Forestry to coordinate a new program, the Bachelor of Urban Forestry.��“This is where I learned about this fascinating idea of managing tree resources for urban residents,” she said. Also, she saw the importance of trees when she visited her hometown by the coast, Ningde, China, and saw that it was going through a rapid densification process.”It’s all about economic development, industrialization, but there is little talk about protecting the environment.”��

Cindy states that the health impacts of climate change are already being seen around the world. She gave the example of sea levels rising in coastal cities and as a result many people losing their homes and relocating. “This will negatively impact people’s physical and mental health, especially people with low incomes, and chronic health conditions.”

She aims to help politicians, and practitioners better understand the various benefits of urban forests, and how it not only benefits the environment but humans too. She stated that when we look at climate impacts in cities, we are mainly talking about the impacts on people, and urban forests can be a nature-based infrastructure, which helps people cope with climate challenges in urban areas.

Federico Andrade-Rivas is a PhD student��at the School of Population and Public Health. His research is focusing on human health and the connection with nature and ecosystems health.��

Currently, his research focuses on how chemical contamination affects��humans��and the ecosystems around us. He is working in different areas in Ecuador and Canada, and looking at how structural processes are growing at a rapid pace.

He believes it is important to frame climate change as a health crisis on many levels.��Federico says we need to understand��what happening to us and the planet.��“To me, planetary health is an idea that we need to stop thinking about human health in isolation and in the short term. Rather, we need to talk about climate change in a way that actually makes sense to people and helps them make the right choices,” he said.��

In his research, he is looking at marginalized and historically oppressed communities. For example, in Ecuador, he is looking at farmers working both in the banana and flour production. In Canada, he is working alongside Indigenous communities. According to research, marginalized, low-income, and vulnerable communities will be hit the hardest by the health effects of climate change.

Federico hopes that his research has an impact both locally and globally. “Locally, I would like it to be meaningful for the struggles people are having, and they can use it to make their situations better. But on the broader scale, I would like researchers to look at my work and acknowledge the damage that is going on, and have a willingness and passion to change that,” he said.

�������� Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs students Brayden Pelham, Victoria Ker, Stephen Patenaude, and Erica Steele are passionate about addressing the need for proactive strategies for adapting to climate change in Canada, particularly in supporting rural Indigenous communities with the lowest capacity to cover costs of disruption.

Their recent Global Policy Project (GP²) gave them the opportunity to apply creative thinking, policy analysis skills, and a variety of virtual field research techniques as they worked with the Nisga’a Village Government of Lax̱g̱alts’ap to assess the adaptation strategies that are available for Lax̱g̱alts’ap as they respond to sea-level rise along the Nass River.

Their project approach involved conducting remote interviews with industry specialists, rightsholders, and stakeholders, which made it possible for them to connect with a wider variety of people that might not normally be possible outside of an online setting. “It was incredibly eye-opening to be able to speak with experts in their field and to hear compelling perspectives on our project during the course of our virtual fieldwork.”����The group found that the information gathered from their interview process was invaluable and set the stage for a conducive project design.

“My background in sustainable development typically focused on strategies for larger municipalities like Vancouver, but the project provided insight into how climate change affects smaller communities with limited access to resources,” contributed��Brayden Pelham.

The team felt that their work gave them insight into not only the importance of proactive climate adaptation strategies but also the importance of involving Indigenous communities in these conversations. They believe that if the needs of Indigenous and smaller Canadian communities are going to be met, the Canadian federal government must take a proactive approach to climate adaptation. This would include making funding more widely available for adaptation before a disaster occurs.

“Our research really highlighted the importance of applying an intersectional lens to climate change to ensure that no one is left behind. We have learned the value of creating spaces where a variety of voices can share their concerns before implementing change,” the group concluded.