Just transition, double bind or both? Climate change action by North American community land trusts

Abstract Can socially or community-owned enterprise models systematically enable equitable climate action, as has been previously suggested by case study research? To empirically measure and test this proposition, we systematically surveyed all North American community land trusts (CLTs), which primarily serve lower-income households. We found that a majority of CLTs engage in climate action, with mitigation efforts more prevalent than adaptation efforts. Statistical analyses confirm CLTs’ rate of action cannot solely be explained by their climate hazards exposure. This suggests they can concurrently address economic precarity whilst enabling climate action, thereby enabling a “just transition”. Nonetheless, CLTs fail to engage in climate action as often as they would like, reflecting financial constraints shaped by policy choices. This suggests the simultaneous existence of a climate “double bind”, whereby CLTs must, to a degree, choose between economic security and climate goals. We conclude by identifying potential policies to address this double bind.