Water and climate justice are a global priority in the face of the cascading impacts of anthropogenic climate change on freshwater systems and the communities who depend on them. Climate change is affecting the physical distribution and volume of water available globally. Water researchers are increasingly studying how water-related climate risks and impacts are produced by the interaction between socio-economic and political marginalization as well as physical changes in water dynamics. For instance, racialized and Indigenous peoples experience disproportionate impacts of climate change and water insecurity, in Canada and elsewhere. While attention to climate impacts and risks to water is growing, there remains a need for critical perspectives on the nuances and plurality of human water values and aspirations to advance responses at the conjuncture of water and climate crises.

The overall goal of the project is to enhance theory and practice at the conjuncture of water and climate justice to advance desirable water and climate futures, with particular attention to intersectional implications for Indigenous, racialized, and otherwise marginalized peoples. A three-day expert workshop and public panel will be held at the University of Manitoba’s campus in Winnipeg in 2024. The project will also include a public panel discussion with invited speakers and workshop participants.