The primary goal is to identify, document, and analyze inspiring examples of community-led climate adaptation programs globally that successfully integrate principles of health equity and antiracism by addressing structural and historical harms.

This study is a collaborative effort between researchers from Florida State University and Rutgers Universit

Support for this project was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

You can review the full methodology overview on our Methodology page.

We focused on programs where the planning, execution, and governance are primarily driven by the local community members and organizations themselves. This is contrasted with traditional "top-down" adaptation funding, which often bypasses local leadership.

Climate change impacts are not felt equally; they disproportionately burden communities marginalized by historical policies and structural racism. Our study aims to highlight adaptation work that is effective because it intentionally addresses the root causes of vulnerability—the structural and historical harms—which is necessary for achieving genuine health equity.

Our research involved case studies from a diverse range of global communities demonstrating innovative, community-led approaches. Examples include:

Kake, Alaska

Vale do Ribeira Quilombos, Brazil

Organización Boricuá de Agricultura Ecológica, Puerto Rico

Please see our Case Studies section for the full list.

Climate change stressors (e.g., extreme heat, flooding, resource scarcity) directly impact community health. Health equity means everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Effective climate adaptation must be designed to reduce disproportionate risks and improve the health outcomes of the most vulnerable populations.

Antiracist adaptation explicitly identifies and works to dismantle the systems (like redlining, discriminatory resource distribution, or colonial policies) that have historically made Black, Indigenous, and communities of color more vulnerable to climate impacts. It ensures that adaptation benefits flow to these historically excluded groups first.

These refer to long-standing, systemic policies and practices (such as land dispossession, economic exclusion, and lack of political power) that have created the underlying conditions—like concentrated poverty, substandard housing, and inadequate infrastructure—that intensify the risks communities face from climate change.

We encourage policymakers and funders to use these case studies to shift climate finance models. Specifically, they should prioritize:

- Directly funding community-led initiatives.

- Requiring projects to explicitly address health equity and antiracist principles.

- Recognizing and valuing Indigenous and traditional knowledge in adaptation strategies.

We are continually learning from grassroots efforts. We welcome inquiries about community-led work that intersects with health, equity, and climate change. Please contact us via email at Garin.bulger@rutgers.edu or by using the Contact Form on our website.

While much climate research focuses on the physical science or large-scale policy, our project uniquely centers the lived experience of historically marginalized communities, making justice, equity, and antiracism the primary metrics for adaptation success rather than secondary considerations.