Building the Roadmap
Behind the Scenes
Big changes take time. Systemic change at the intersection of climate change and neurological health equity requires persistent, evidence-based advocacy — and a long-game strategy. We are building it now, from the federal consultation room to the international climate table.
We advocate for brain health equity to be embedded in climate and health policy — at the municipal, provincial, federal, and international levels. The evidence exists. Now it needs to reach the people who make decisions.
Driven by Clinical Authority & Global Reach
Dr. Bhavini Makwana
Dr. Makwana is Brain-CE’s clinical co-founder and the primary driver of its systemic change pillar. A physician and associate professor at the University of Calgary, her work at the intersection of sustainability and health systems gave Brain-CE its foundational clinical lens. She guides health system engagement, co-leads Brain-CE’s governance and policy advocacy, and directly oversees the organization’s relationships with health authorities at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels. Her 2025 publication in Healthcare Management Forum on building climate-resilient and low-carbon healthcare systems in Canada is a landmark contribution to the field.
Dr. Burcin Ikiz
Dr. Ikiz is Brain-CE’s international policy connector. An eco-neuroscientist at Stanford and Columbia, she facilitates Brain-CE’s critical partnership with the International NeuroClimate Working Group — aligning Canada’s emerging climate-brain-health agenda with global efforts and creating pathways for joint international submissions and engagement at COP. Her dual academic appointments at leading US institutions give Brain-CE a credible transatlantic presence and access to networks shaping global climate-neurological policy.
Featured: Federal Policy Submission
Technical Submission to Environment and Climate Change Canada — Draft 2026–2029 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy
Brain-CE submitted formal evidence-based recommendations to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) on the Draft 2026–2029 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS), in partnership with The ENRICH Project. The submission proposes four neurological health Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) as sentinel intelligence for Canada’s national resilience framework — a first of its kind intervention connecting climate, brain health, and environmental justice at the federal level.
Canada’s current FSDS monitoring framework for environmental racism prevention relies on a perceptual national survey indicator that cannot detect hyper-local risk exposures — creating an observability gap where aggregate national progress can be reported even as equity-denied communities face escalating, undetected harms. Brain-CE’s submission proposes to close this gap by embedding neurological and mental health outcome data into the federal sustainability governance framework.
Working in partnership with The ENRICH Project and Dr. Ingrid Waldron (McMaster University), the submission integrates community ground-truth data from 260 participants across 13 African Nova Scotian communities with Brain-CE’s clinical neurological evidence base — translating lived experience into federal policy recommendations.
The submission introduces the concept of “Equity as Infrastructure” — treating integrated community health data as the interoperability layer between the Building Canada Act and the National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act — and proposes four Physical Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) as sentinel intelligence for FSDS risk management.
Active Systemic Change Work
Much of this pillar’s work happens behind the scenes — in drafts, meetings, coalition-building, and consultations. The groundwork being laid now will produce visible impact. Here is what is currently in motion.
Planetary Health Alliance Partnership
Formal collaboration with the Planetary Health Alliance to place “climate, brain health, and equity” on the national and international political agenda — placing Brain-CE’s evidence base within a global planetary health advocacy infrastructure. Science-to-Policy training workshop in development for Brain-CE fellows to build internal advocacy capacity.
FSDS Technical Submission — ECCC (February 2026)
Brain-CE’s first formal federal policy submission — to Environment and Climate Change Canada on the Draft 2026–2029 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. Proposing four neurological health KRIs as sentinel intelligence for Canada’s national resilience framework, in partnership with The ENRICH Project. Technical lead: (Andy) Sabrina Guerrier.
↑ See full details aboveCOP31 Strategy — Canada’s Neurological Voice
Neurological health has never appeared on a COP agenda. Brain-CE is developing a comprehensive strategy for COP31 2026 — exploring both the green zone (civil society events) and blue zone (NGO observer credentials) pathways, in collaboration with the International NeuroClimate Working Group and Dr. Burcin Ikiz.
Alberta School Air Quality Policy Brief
A policy brief targeting Alberta Education and Alberta Health on school air quality standards during wildfire season — developed through Project M (Pediatric Brain Health Campaign) as the downstream policy output of the campaign’s evidence synthesis. Target: submission prior to the 2026 wildfire season.
Federal Policy Brief — Climate & Neurological Health
A comprehensive evidence brief synthesizing Brain-CE’s full research base for federal policymakers — targeted to MPs, Health Canada, and relevant parliamentary committees. Being developed alongside the E4D advocacy campaign infrastructure.
Community-Based Research Policy Outputs
Policy briefs and advocacy tools emerging from Brain-CE’s community-led research with Indigenous, rural, and racialized newcomer communities — designed to be self-determined, community-owned, and submitted to the City of Calgary and Alberta Health as part of the Project N and Project C outputs.
WHO ATACH Engagement
Brain-CE is tracking the WHO’s Action to Address Neurological Conditions and their sequelae Across the Climate crisis and Health (ATACH) initiative as a future engagement pathway. Joining ATACH would connect Brain-CE’s Canadian evidence base to the WHO’s global neurological climate-health agenda and create opportunities for jointly advocating for neurology’s inclusion in international climate health governance. Under development with Dr. Ikiz.
International NeuroClimate WG — Joint Submissions
Dr. Burcin Ikiz facilitates Brain-CE’s ongoing partnership with the International NeuroClimate Working Group — aligning Canadian research and advocacy with global efforts and developing joint international submissions for COP31, WHO processes, and peer-reviewed policy journals.
Where We’re Headed
Brain-CE Founded & Launched
National non-profit incorporated. Board assembled. Founding article published in The Conversation Canada. Official launch event at Hunter Hub, University of Calgary.
FSDS Technical Submission to ECCC
Brain-CE’s first formal federal policy submission — proposing four neurological health KRIs for Canada’s 2026–2029 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, in partnership with The ENRICH Project. Technical lead: Sabrina Guerrier.
PEACH Conference — Health Systems Audience
Brain-CE presents at PEACH Ontario 2026: two lightning talks and a co-creation workshop bringing the neuro-climate-equity conversation to Canada’s health systems change community.
COP31 — Canada’s First Neurological Voice
Brain-CE present at the UN Climate Change Conference — the first time neurological health equity will have a dedicated Canadian advocate at the COP table. Joint strategy with the International NeuroClimate Working Group and Dr. Burcin Ikiz.
Community Research Policy Outputs
Policy briefs for City of Calgary, Alberta Education, and Alberta Health emerging from Brain-CE’s community-based participatory research — grounded in the lived experiences of equity-denied communities.
WHO ATACH & Global Neurological Health Governance
Formal engagement with WHO’s ATACH initiative — connecting Brain-CE’s Canadian evidence base to global neurological climate-health advocacy and creating pathways for international co-authorship and joint governance submissions.
Canada is Lagging Behind
The UK, Australia, and the EU have begun integrating brain health into their national climate adaptation strategies. Canada has no equivalent — and our current federal monitoring framework cannot detect the hyper-local neurological risks that equity-denied communities are already facing. Brain-CE’s systemic change work exists to close this gap.
Be Part of the Change
Policy change doesn’t happen by itself. Join Brain-CE’s advocacy network — as a fellow, a partner organization, a clinician willing to lend their voice, or a funder investing in the pipeline.