1. Does the initiative promote social or ecological diversity? 

For example, a variety of native species are included in tree-planting initiatives. Or, a variety of community organizations are included in municipal climate actions.

2. Does the initiative promote functional redundancy*?

*Functional redundancy is defined as the presence of multiple components capable of performing the same function (e.g., backup generators for the power grid).

For example, tree planting (e.g., live stakes), bundles of brush (e.g., live fascines), and seeding are all used for bank stabilization and erosion control.

3. Does the initiative promote response diversity*?

*Response diversity is defined as the ways in which elements differ from one another in their response to a disturbance.

For example, multiple departments within a municipality respond differently to flooding (e.g., public works manages stormwater, while the communications departments disseminate early warnings)

4. Does the initiative promote mechanisms for interaction between system components? 

For example, urban tree canopy corridors/connection between municipal parks (e.g., accessible walking trails between parks). Or, communication forums (e.g., newsletter, meetings, town hall, etc.) for relevant interested parties. 

5. Does the initiative promote regular interaction between system components?

For example, physical measure of ecological connectivity (e.g., 1km tree corridor or total distance of municipal trails). Or, regular contact (as appropriate) with interested parties is maintained throughout climate adaptation planning and implementation to provide updates and receive feedback. 

6. Does the initiative support positive feedbacks* or disrupts negative feedbacks? 

*A feedback is a mechanism, process, or signal that loops back to influence the Social-Ecological System (SES) component emitting the signal or initiating the mechanism or process. For example, introduced grasses in Hawaii promote fire, which further benefits the grasses at the expense of native shrub species, creating a self-reinforcing dynamic that is very difficult to break.

For example, replace hard engineered structures with more natural solutions to disrupt ineffective/damaging shoreline management. Or, appoint new leaders, who encourage a culture of innovation and collaboration, to disrupt patterns of climate inaction. 

7. Does the initiative promote the appropriate management of slow variables*? 

*A slow variable is a variable whose rate of change is slow in relation to the timescales of ecosystem service provision and management, and is therefore often considered constant. Slow variables include, for example, soil composition and phosphorous concentrations in lake sediments

For example, regulating ecosystem services (e.g., flood prevention, erosion control, pollination) are managed. Or, property and use rights are managed to maintain desirable system states or disrupt undesirable states (e.g., return land to traditional landowners/recognizing First Nations’ land rights or prevent re-zoning which allows commercial/industrial development).  Or, (Municipally owned) Infrastructure is managed to maintain desirable system states (e.g., all new municipal building must be carbon neutral/negative) 

8. Does the initiative take a complex adaptive system* approach? 

*A complex adaptive systems approach refers to approaches that look at the system as a connected whole.

For example, urban forest systems are managed holistically rather than by single species.  

9. Does the initiative recognize unpredictability, uncertainty, and variability? 

For example, goals and objectives acknowledge the uncertainty and variability inherent in future climatic conditions. 

10. Does the initiative promote willingness to experiment?  

For example, different species are experimented with for stabilizing banks to see what is most effective for shoreline flood prevention. Or, pilot adaptation initiatives through community projects (e.g., community gardens). 

11. Does the initiative promote knowledge sharing among actors and across scales? 

For example, climate adaptation outcomes are shared through social media and traditional mediums to reach a wide audience across scales.  

12. Does the initiative promote collaborative and long-term monitoring? 

For example, as part of a monitoring effort, residents are encouraged to record and share information about their experiences with pilot projects (e.g., community gardens) or climactic events (e.g., notable changes in shoreline flooding). 

13. Does the initiative engage relevant rightsholders and interested parties?

For example, community members are invited to attend public meetings or open houses and are encouraged to ask questions about, and provide comment on, restoration plans and alternatives.

14. Does the initiative bring together diverse types and sources of knowledge?

For example, partnerships are formed between research institutions, conservation organizations, industry, and others to explore potential solutions to identified problems. 

15. Does the initiative have multiple governing authorities at different scales? 

For example, a non-governmental organization, a Conservation Authority representative, and a landowner discuss and make decisions on the details of a small-scale restoration project on private property. 

16. Does the initiative have horizontal linkages*?

*Horizontal linkages refers to governance units’ links with others at the same scale on common issues.

For example, information and experiences are shared with community organizations in neighbouring watersheds. 

17. Does the initiative have vertical linkages*?

*Veritical linkages refers to governance units’ nesting within, and linkages with, scales above and below the focal scale.

For example, the organization leading a restoration initiative seeks advice from provincial and/or federal agencies as required. 

18. Does the initiative promote equitable access to goods and infrastructure?  

For example, a community hub is placed where varying modes of transportation are present. 

19. Does the initiative promote equitable access to environmental amenities and the distribution of environmental disamenities? 

For example, a community garden is strategically placed in a marginalized community where access to green space is lacking.  Or, disamenities or pollutants are not placed in marginalized communities.  

20. Does the initiative promote equitable access to services?  

For example, a new library is opened in an area where access to this service is lacking.  

21. Does the initiative promote equitable access to economic opportunities?  

For example, municipal farmers market subsidizes x number of stalls for marginalized groups.

22. Does the initiative acknowledge community members’ different intersecting identities, and recognize that these identities are shaped by historical injustices? 

For example, text within the initiative acknowledges the impact of historical inequities (e.g., the impact of colonial legacies on Indigenous peoples or systemic racism).  

23. Does the initiative foster respect for different groups? 

For example, text within the initiative explicitly uses the word “respect” in relation to diverse knowledge, culture, language, beliefs, worldviews or norms. 

24. Does the initiative promote equitable public participation in the development of the initiative? 

For example, surveys are sent out seeking information on how different interested parties have experienced climate change during the developmental phase of the initiative.  

25. Does the initiative promote efforts to increase ongoing public participation in city governance? 

For example, community members are part of the monitoring and evaluation process (e.g., part of the committee) and are able to influence the adaptive governance of the initiative over time. Or, the adaptation steering committee includes representatives of various community groups or interests (as long as the steering committee has decision-making authority). 

26. Does the initiative promote outreach to marginalized groups that often are underrepresented in traditional public engagement processes? 

For example, a description of outreach is included in the initiative.