About Us
Land Acknowledgement
Climate Paradigm Collaborative is privileged to operate from the unceded traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) peoples, also known as the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations. In addition to the land we operate from, we work with organizations occupying the territory of many other First Nations Communities on the land known as British Columbia. We are committed to understanding the various lands we work from and hold the intention of relationship building and consultation with local Indigenous communities while conducting our work as an active process of reconcilliation. We are committed to a process of continuous learning related to the history of colonialism and the land we live and work from.
Overview
Climate Paradigm Collaborative is a collection of interdisciplinary professionals who specialize in guiding product and consultancy-oriented organizations to position themselves within an array of potential climate futures (i.e. futureproofing). Our framework(s) integrate knowledge from systems and energy engineering, product development, climate psychology, transformational corporate coaching, clinical counselling, environmental philosophy, truth and reconciliation action, deep ecology, regenerative economics, improvisation, and naturalism.
We help organizations conceptualize accessible paths towards regenerative business models and meaningful social impact related to the climate crisis (polycrisis). We achieve this by helping those that we work with foster a mentally resilient workforce; embedding principles of heart, reconcilliation, and connection to nature within traditional design and decision making models.
Mission
Climate Paradigm Collaborative exists to accelerate the corporate paradigm shift associated with mitigating the worst potential outcomes of climate change. We empower & equip organizations committed to positive social impact and ecological integrity to embed these values into the core of their operations. We meet organizations and their leadership where they are at, offering tailored workshops, consultation, training informed by a carefully paced systems approach to social change that acknowledges nuanced social and economic dilemmas.
Vision
Climate Paradigm Collaborative envisions a future where individuals and organizations think within regenerative socio-economic frameworks. We envision a re-harmonized future where social well being and environmental integrity are given equitable priority alongside economic gain, allowing the interconnected web of life on earth to flourish. We envision a heart centered corporate paradigm built upon a collaborative ecosystem of organizations and their relationship to the earth.
History
Although incorporated in 2024, the conceptual framework, mission, and vision of Climate Paradigm Collaborative have been in development since the fall of 2017.
The seeds for Climate Paradigm Collaborative were planted while studying environmental philosophy and learning of the terms ‘technopoly’ and ‘anthropocentrism’. These terms define a technologically obsessed society who considers themselves separate from nature and holds subconcious / conscious belief that technology is the solution to all of humanities social, environmental, and economic issues. In the modern western world, these views fundamentally underpin a large majority of corporate and political decision making despite the impending threat of the climate crisis (polycrisis).
Through the combined study of engineering and environmental philosophy, it became apparent that humanity owned the technological and economic means to mitigate the worst effects of climate change, but there were social and psychological barriers in place preventing wide-scale implementation of these solutions.
In 2020 a precursor organization called ‘The Sustainability Association of Victoria’ was founded by Nick Couture and served as a platform for social enterprise think tanks, environmental philosophy workshops, and climate grief circles in downtown Victoria over the span of two years. This initiative eventually led to studying the frameworks and language offered by the field of Climate Psychology (i.e. how humans relate to climate change and other wickedly complex existential issues).
From these studies, a gap between the modern field of climate psychology and the field of professional engineering became an increasingly obvious opportunity for rapid and effective climate impact work, leading to the incorporation of Climate Paradigm Collaborative Inc.
Our Team
Nick Couture P. Eng
CEO - Lead Facilitator
About
Nick Couture is a registered professional engineer and climate facilitator with a collective 7 years of experience distributed across systems engineering, group facilitation, grief work, product management, sales engineering, marine data collection, industrial construction, and wind energy design. He holds certificates in climate psychology, truth and reconciliation action, and business strategies for a better world. Additionally, he has been a life-long student of environmental philosophy, regenerative economics, social enterprise development, earth listening, world religion / spirituality, and improvisational creative practice (dance, music, comedy).
Positionality
I am a white cisgender male settler living on and working from the unceded traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) speaking peoples, also known as the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations. I grew up in Winnipeg Manitoba on Treaty One Territory and went through post secondary education under a westernized system at the University of Manitoba. I acknowledge potential gaps in my understanding of systems change work as a result of the highly privileged position that I come from and am actively learning, growing, and porous to feedback related to my work and how it is being carried out.
Personal Mission and Relational Philosophy
I am striving to do everything I can to help people find a deeper sense of well-being, meaning, and grounded hope within an ever complexifying world. On a broader scale, my mission is to gently and humbly nudge society towards a paradigm shift which mitigates the worst effects of the climate crisis (polycrisis) on both the living earth and humanity. Finally, I am striving to help build resilience within our communities so that we can adapt to what we cannot mitigate. These ambitions are underpinned by concepts of de-colonization and a deep sense of caution around my own positionality, self-image, narratives, and that which I have yet to learn.
I work with all people meeting them where they are at, with compassion and a curiosity to learn where everyone is coming from. I work with understanding that most humans, regardless of position, privilege, or opinion at some level just want to feel safety, connection, and love, thus seeking to work without judgement.
Testimonials
Climate Adaptation and Science Fiction Workshop
I recently had the pleasure of attending a writing workshop co-facilitated by Nick and one of my colleagues on the vital topic of climate equity in adaptation planning. From the outset, Nick’s expertise and passion for the subject were clear, creating an engaging and informative environment for all participants.
A standout element of Nick’s contribution was his unique perspectives on climate change psychology. He provided valuable insights into how psychological factors shape our responses to climate change, deepening the participants’ understanding of the human aspect of climate adaptation planning. Nick emphasized that while we have the capacity to respond proactively to the impacts of climate change, it’s also natural to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the challenge, and it’s important to allow ourselves to process those emotions.
Throughout the workshop, Nick cultivated a collaborative atmosphere, encouraging open dialogue and embracing diverse perspectives. His dedication to ensuring that every voice was heard and valued made the experience both enriching and empowering.
Nick’s commitment to promoting climate justice, combined with his exceptional facilitation skills, makes him an invaluable asset to any educational or professional setting. I highly recommend his workshops to anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of climate equity and climate change psychology.
Lorenzo Magzul - Community Social Planning Council
Project Manager - Climate Equity
Socio-Environmental Workshops Hosted at theDock
With a steady hand Nick lead our group through a range of writing, thought and somatic exercises, each one building on the previous group or individual work. This allowed us to quickly and effectively envision a hopeful and realistic view of possible future. By prefiguring a future I actually want, it gave me the hope and strength to work towards building it!
Colin Richards - theDock Center for Social Impact
Community Manager