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Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET)

Worldview in Energy and Climate Engagement

WECE visual

The Worldviews in Energy and Climate Engagement (WECE) project examines how local governments can better engage the public on climate action and energy transformations in an increasingly polarized social landscape.

As communities across B.C. navigate the shift to clean energy, they must also navigate barriers created by differing worldviews, economic pressures and misinformation. WECE collaborates with local governments and community partners to better understand and help prepare for these challenges.

Developed in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions and the Community Energy Association, the three-year project will build a province-wide community of practice and produce practical resources that support more productive public engagement for climate and energy solutions.

True to its name (pronounced “We See”), the project aims to uplift shared perspectives and locally grounded approaches to climate and energy solutions across B.C.

Major Milestones

  • The Project Launched with 27 participants, consisting of project team members and partners, as well as external partners and interest-holders in climate change and energy communications and engagement (April 23, 2026). 
  • Participated in a Community Energy Association Peer Network event on community resilience in the Kootneys (May 25, 2026). 
  • The project team attends various community energy peer network sessions and other community events with key actors in the field (June 2026.) 
  • The team expands to include two Research Assistants at University of Victoria, along with additional Faculty support at University of British Columbia (June 2026). 

People

  • Walter Merida, Mechanical Engineering, UBC, Project Co-lead 
  • Thomas Homer-Dixon, Cascade Institute, Royal Roads University, Project Co-lead 
  • Shandell Houlden, Cascade Institute, Royal Roads University, Project Co-lead 
  • Gail Hochachka, UBC, Key Project Contact  
  • Megan Badri, Mechanical Engineering, UBC, Postdoctoral Fellow 
  • Peyvand Forouzandeh, Mechanical Engineering, UBC, Postdoctoral Fellow 

Partners and Collaborators

Strategic Research Areas