Lauryn Margarit reflects on the intersections of equity and climate change, and how they’ve led to earning her degree
When Lauryn Margarit reflects on her academic journey and the experiences that shaped her, the summer of 2023 stands out.
As wildfires ravaged parts of Canada, thick clouds of smoke blanketed the sky, making it difficult to breathe. For Margarit, this wasn’t just another climate event; it was a stark reminder of the intersectionality between environmental crises and social issues, particularly for those experiencing homelessness.
“Working in Barrie at the John Howard Society of Simcoe and Muskoka opened my eyes to how vulnerable people are to the effects of climate change,” Margarit shares. “The issue of climate change is so intersectional. I saw firsthand how those without stable housing were disproportionately affected by events like wildfires and extreme weather.”
Margarit began volunteering with the John Howard Society after completing her undergraduate degree, where she later became a full-time case manager. In this role, she provided support to individuals involved with the justice system, running programs on anger management, mental health, wellness and reintegration.
“It was a great opportunity to learn more about the struggles people face. I developed a real passion for helping others," she says.
Margarit also shares that it was during her time at the John Howard Society that her passion for environmental justice grew stronger, leading her to make a significant career shift by enrolling in the Master of Climate Change program at the University of Waterloo.
“I thought it was a complete 180 from what I was doing before,” she admits, “but it was a move fueled by a deeper desire to address the broader, often overlooked impacts of climate change.”
Over the past year, she learned just how interconnected social justice and climate change is. A course on climate adaptation became one of her favorites, as it highlighted the disproportionate impacts of climate change on under-resourced and marginalized communities, while teaching her to approach decision-making in a holistic and integrated way. For her final paper, she explored the marginalization of unhoused individuals and how it impacts their adaptive capacity in the face of climate change.
Reflecting on her time at Waterloo, Margarit highlights the community of support she found among her classmates, staff and faculty. She credits her co-op advisor, Chantel Godin, with providing essential guidance and calming her nerves as she applied for co-op placements and accepted a contract with Environment and Climate Change Canada, which has now turned into a full-time contract.
Now a policy analyst, she works on a team that’s preparing a climate risk data strategy to make federal climate data more accessible to communities and businesses.
“It's been a great introduction to the federal government and a huge learning experience,” she says. “Access to federal climate change-related data will be necessary for many Canadians, especially businesses and private sector institutions, in the coming years as new and emerging risks are identified. She emphasizes that to ensure the resilience of all Canadians in the face of climate change, federal climate data will become essential.
As she prepares to graduate, Margarit looks forward to continuing her work in climate policy, whether within the Government of Canada or with climate-focused non-profits. “I have a lot of different interests, so I’m excited to see where the wind takes me,” she says with a smile.
Margarit will receive her degree on Friday, October 25 with more than 150 of her peers who will also have their achievements celebrated in front of family and friends. Looking back on it all, she hopes her peers will take inspiration from each other.
“It’s inspiring to see so many people with the motivation to continue their education on a topic like climate change. We’re on the frontlines, and I hope we all feel inspired to make an impact.”
