People are not equally impacted by the effects of the changing climate. Understanding societal inequities and ways to identify and address them will lead to greater resilience for the community as a whole. Inequities can be associated with poverty, age, race, gender, health, education, disabilities, and social status. For example, some households and businesses are located in settings that are more vulnerable to flooding, heat exposure, or pollutants. Some are not able to moderate their living space to reduce impacts from extreme temperatures, cool their homes with air conditioning and fans, or repair buildings that harbor mold following a flood.

It is important to consider how different cultures are connected to different communities and species of animals and plants in decision-making processes. Learning about the breadth of views and perspectives associated with species or locations will enrich the entire community.

Identifying equitable policies and programs that are suitable to a community begins with garnering many perspectives among a diverse group of people who are gathered together for discussions about the problems and potential solutions. Because equity is such a critically important topic, the authors of this menu suggest considering equity with each item on this resilience menu. Like a glass of water during a meal, equity should be included with each course of the menu.