Climate Justice

The climate crisis is deeply intertwined with housing justice, disproportionately impacting low- and moderate-income tenants. As extreme weather events like heat waves and severe storms intensify, tenants in poorly maintained housing face dangerous conditions. Many lack access to air conditioning or affordable heating solutions, while landlords impose barriers such as extra fees or outright bans on cooling systems. ACORN is fighting to ensure that climate action prioritizes vulnerable communities. Retrofits for energy efficiency must come with anti-eviction protections and affordability covenants to prevent landlords from using upgrades as an excuse to hike rents or displace tenants. Federal, provincial, and municipal policies must also address the absence of maximum heat bylaws, track heat-related illnesses and deaths, and invest in solutions like improved tree canopies and energy-efficient air conditioners for low-income tenants.