We recently sat down with Alicia Richins, Climate Justice Advocate and expert in ecological economics and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to explore how climate justice in Canada intersects with business, equity, and innovation.
Her insights reveal not only why climate justice matters for our communities, but also how Black entrepreneurs can position themselves as leaders in building a sustainable and just future.
Interconnection and Local Action
Climate justice requires us to see the connections between social issues, economic disparity, and environmental challenges. Alicia reminds us that the SDGs provide a powerful framework, but transformation only happens when we translate broad goals into local, tangible action.
What this means for business owners:
Embed sustainability into your business model, starting with your immediate community.
Reject “business as usual.” The old ways weren’t serving us. True sustainability means building a world that is prosperous, equitable, and regenerative.
Innovation and Accountability as Tools for Change
For Alicia, transformation requires both creativity and proof of impact.
Harness social innovation: Think of innovation as a sandbox where businesses can test bold new ideas before scaling.
Mandate impact measurement: Define your goals, collect data, and prove your results. A strong evidence base will make your business more credible to funders, partners, and customers.
Unpacking Systemic Barriers
Environmental challenges are never neutral—they disproportionately affect racialized communities. Alicia highlights that neighborhoods with fewer trees, poorer transit, and closer proximity to industrial zones face higher pollution, worse health outcomes, and reduced economic opportunity.
Insights for entrepreneurs:
Demand evidence against greenwashing. Don’t settle for surface-level sustainability claims—prove your business impact.
Connect the dots. Understand how climate intersects with housing, health, and employment. Build solutions that address root causes.
Start from systems. Climate catastrophe is linked to colonialism, racial hierarchies, and a separation from nature. Businesses must commit to reconciliation and reparations as part of real climate action.
A Call to Reorientation
We already have the technology and knowledge to avoid climate collapse. What holds us back is the inertia of the very systems that created the crisis.
Alicia’s challenge to entrepreneurs is clear: rethink how you do business. Sustainability is not just about cutting emissions—it’s about recognizing that we are part of nature and building businesses rooted in equity, imagination, and care.
Watch the Full Interview
Discover Alicia Richins’ powerful insights on climate justice in Canada and learn how your business can lead the transformation.
🎥 Watch here: YouTube Interview
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