CBU Researchers Foster Collaboration for Climate Solutions

Researchers in CBU’s Shannon School of Business (SSOB) will engage in a three-year project that highlights community collaboration at its core. Dr. Kate Kish and Dr. Mary Beth Doucette are leading a project titled Sustaining Our Island: Unama’ki Collaborative Climate Solutions.

Supported by a Partnership Development grant of nearly $167,000 from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the project builds on Dr. Doucette’s previous research, Exploring the goal of Net-Zero in Unama’ki, which examined public perceptions of the quest for net-zero. She says the current study responds to the community’s recommendation to find ways to unify efforts across Cape Breton.

“There are an increasing number and variety of renewable energy development projects taking place in Unama’ki Cape Breton. However, efforts to share information among organizations and within the broader community have been limited and piecemeal,” says Dr. Doucette. “Preliminary research indicates a strong sense that a collaborative approach would have the greatest potential to enhance our resilience to climate change.”

As they build on the findings in this foundational research, the researchers will compile case studies, then translate the details into vignettes that highlight successful climate adaptation initiatives. These may include spotlights on the development of solar gardens, transitions to heat pump technologies and community-based initiatives. “Our key objectives are to identify successful collaboration models, empower Indigenous leadership, implement community-led renewable energy projects and establish data and knowledge-sharing tools that enable communities to track their progress,” says Dr. Kish. She says that while progress includes infrastructure and retrofit, climate change resilience is known to be advanced when supported by efforts to foster environmental behaviour change.

“The project team will examine the processes, challenges and successes associated with unique projects and initiatives, using Two-Eyed Seeing to present rich insights beyond traditional economic factors,” says Dr. Kish. “Translating these findings into visual vignettes will engage, educate and celebrate the power of collaboration.”

Among the newer faculty at CBU, Dr. Kish brings experience with the application of ecological economic principles. For the past number of years, she has been a lecturer at the Haida Gwaii Institute’s Plants, People, and Place summer program. Haida Gwaii, a remote archipelago in British Columbia, has been featured in numerous documentaries due to its unique forest and ecosystem. It’s also the heart of the Haida Nation.

“Like Cape Breton, Haida Gwaii provides an incredible backdrop for place-based education and opportunities to learn and grow with the wisdom of Indigenous ways of knowing and being,” she adds. “Thanks to the collaborative nature of the CBU community and the deep connections across Unama’ki, we have a strong foundation to make an impact through this research.”

Project partners include the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, ACAP – Cape Breton, New Dawn Enterprises and Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design. The project is also gaining expertise from Dr. Doug Lionais, Associate Professor in the SSOB, as a collaborator on the project.

“The aim of this partnership is to take stock of, bolster and create a unified response to community-led climate adaptation initiatives in Unama’ki,” Dr. Doucette explains. “We are grateful for research funding that recognizes the incredible potential this collaborative approach offers.”

Dr. Mary Beth Doucette is Associate Professor, Community Economics, Tourism and Indigenous Business Department, and the Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies. She is Mi’kmaq/Canadian from Unama’ki Cape Breton and a member of the Membertou Mi’kmaw community. Her scholarly research is focused on Indigenous-led business community economic development, policy administration and curriculum development. Dr. Doucette’s current research projects focus on governance and administration in Indigenous-led organizations.

Dr. Kate Kish is Assistant Professor at CBU’s Shannon School of Business in the MBA in Community Economic Development. She holds a Ph.D. in Social and Ecological Sustainability. Her research focus includes data for environmental behavior change, exploring the transformative potential of makers and makerspaces and understanding the role of communities in shaping the commons. Dr. Kish also serves as president of the Canadian Society for Ecological Economics (CANSEE). The Society is planning for its biennial conference, set to take place in Cape Breton in 2026.