Dr. Alexandra Lesnikowski
- Assistant Professor, Geography, Planning and Environment
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Sign in to editResearch areas: Climate change adaptation, vulnerability, adaptation policy and governance, knowledge synthesis, comparative methods
Contact information
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Biography
Current RA openings
Posting period: 24 April 2025 – 8 May 2025
Principal Investigator: Dr. Alexandra Lesnikowski
I currently have 2 openings for research assistants to support a project on adaptation assessment in the electricity sector. The positions are as follows:
1. Research Assistant on Climate Risk Disclosure
Duties: Conduct a content analysis of climate risk disclosure regulations around the world, and a systematic review of evidence on climate risk disclosure and adaptation results in critical infrastructure sectors. Conduct and analyze interviews with key experts on this topic. Lead development of a publication on research findings.
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a related field, competency in Excel and R, experience in conducting literature reviews, comfort with basic statistics and data visualization.
Contract dates: 1 June 2025 – 31 May 2026
Hours per week: 20
Hourly rate: $30
Work location: Montréal, QC
Usual work schedule: To be determined with supervisor
2. Research Assistant on Information Systems for Adaptation M&E
Duties: Conduct interviews and document analysis on existing information systems within electricity utilities. Complete internal memos identifying key opportunity to integrate climate risk analysis and M&E into existing systems.
Qualifications: Master’s degree in a related field, prior experience in the fields of environmental assessment or climate change assessment, prior experience handling confidential or proprietary information and drafting briefs or memos are a plus.
Contract dates: 1 June 2025 – 31 May 2026
Hours per week: 5
Hourly rate: $45
Work location: Montréal, QC
Usual work schedule: To be determined with supervisor
To apply for either position, please send your CV, transcript(s), and 2 recent writing samples to Dr. Lesnikowski at alexandra.lesnikowski@concordia.ca.
Territorial Acknowledgement
Concordia University is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.
Employment Equity
Concordia University is strongly committed to employment equity within its community, and to recruiting a diverse faculty and staff. The University encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous persons, members of sexual minorities, persons with disabilities, and others who may contribute to diversification; candidates are invited to self-identify in their applications. As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a diversity survey. This information is voluntary and any information collected for this purpose is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources employees. Results will be aggregated and used to help Concordia achieve its goal to see all members of our community not only reflected, but welcomed, included and supported in their efforts to contribute to all areas of university life.
Immigration Status
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian and Permanent Residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University is obliged to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens.
Reconnaissance territoriale
L’Université Concordia est située en territoire autochtone non cédé. La nation Kanien’kehá:ka est la gardienne des terres et des eaux où nous nous trouvons actuellement. Le nom d’origine de ce territoire est Tiohtià:ke (ou Montréal). Celui-ci est historiquement connu comme un lieu de rassemblement pour de nombreuses Premières Nations. Aujourd’hui, la ville abrite une population diversifiée d’Autochtones et de gens d’autres origines. Nous respectons les liens continus avec le passé, le présent et l’avenir dans nos rapports avec les Autochtones et les autres membres de la communauté montréalaise.
Équité en matière d’emploi
L’Université Concordia valorise la diversité au sein de son personnel et s’engage à promouvoir un accès égal à l’emploi. L’Université encourage toutes les personnes qualifiées à soumettre leur candidature, incluant les femmes, les membres de minorités visibles, les Autochtones, les personnes des groupes d’orientations et d’identités sexuelles minoritaires, les personnes handicapées ainsi que toute autre personne pouvant contribuer à la diversité de notre communauté. À ce titre, elle invite les candidats faisant partie d’un des groupes désignés à s’identifier comme tels. Dans le cadre de votre candidature, il vous sera demandé de remplir une enquête sur la diversité. Cette information est volontaire et toute information recueillie à cette fin est confidentielle et ne peut être consultée par les membres des comités de recherche ou les membres du personnel des ressources humaines. Les résultats seront regroupés et utilisés pour aider Concordia à l’aider à réaliser son objectif, à savoir que tous les membres de sa communauté soient représentés et accueillis, mais aussi qu’ils se sentent inclus dans la vie universitaire et appuyés dans leurs efforts pour participer à tous les volets de celle-ci.
Statut d’immigrant
Si toutes les personnes qualifiées sont conviées à postuler, les citoyens canadiens et les résidents permanents auront toutefois priorité. Conformément aux exigences du gouvernement du Canada en matière de rapports, l’Université est tenue de recueillir de l’information sur le statut des candidats, à savoir s’ils sont résidents permanents ou citoyens canadiens.
Graduate student opportunities
For further information, visit the Concordia Climate Change Adaptation Lab website.
Research activities
Climate change vulnerability
Adaptation governance and policy
Urban climate action planning
Adaptation assessment, monitoring and evaluation
Teaching activities
URBS 480 Impact Assessment
URBS 230 Urbanization: Global and Historical Perspectives
GEOG 478 Climate Change: Science, Impacts and Policy
URBS 498 Planning Cities for Climate Change
HENV 660 Climate Change and Sustainability
Publications
Journal articles
Carriere, Zacharie and Alexandra Lesnikowski. 2024. Climate change adaptation readiness
and the transformative potential of co-operative housing in Nova Scotia, Canada. Environmental
Governance and Policy. 34: 724–739.
Lesnikowski, Alexandra, Sebastien Jodoin, Jean-Philippe Lemay, Verity Thomas, Kasia
Johnson. 2024. Human rights in climate change adaptation policies. Climate Policy.
24(8):1050-1064.
Biesbroek, Robbert, Alexandra Lesnikowski. 2023. Unpacking symbolic policy-making for
the first Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement. npj Climate Action. 2:50.
Berrang-Ford, Lea, AR Siders, Alexandra Lesnikowski, Alexandra Paige Fischer, Max W Callaghan, et al. 2021. A systematic global stocktake of evidence on human adaptation to climate change. Nature Climate Change. 11(11): 989-1000.
Ulibarri, Nicola, Idowu Ajibade, Eranga K Galappaththi, Elphin Tom Joe, Alexandra Lesnikowski, et al., Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative Team. 2021. A global assessment of policy tools to support climate adaptation. Climate Policy. 22(1): 77-96.
Thomas, Adella, Emily Theokritoff, Alexandra Lesnikowski, et al. 2021. Global evidence of constraints and limits to human adaptation. Regional Environmental Change. 21(3): 1-15.
Araos, Malcolm, et al. 2021. Equity in human adaptation-related responses: A systematic global review. One Earth. 4(10): 1454-1467.
McDowell, Graham, Madison Stevens, Alexandra Lesnikowski, Christian Huggel, Alexandra Harden, Jose DiBella, Michael Morecroft, Praveen Kumar, Elphin Tom Joe, Indra D Bhatt. 2021. Closing the Adaptation Gap in Mountains. Mountain Research and Development. 41(3): A1-A10.
Lesnikowski, Alexandra, Robbert Biesbroek, James D. Ford, Lea Berrang-Ford. 2021. Policy implementation styles and local governments: The case of climate change adaptation. Environmental Politics. 30(5): 753-790.
Lesnikowski, Alexandra, James D. Ford, Robbert Biesbroek, Lea Berrang-Ford. 2019. Characterizing climate change adaptation policy portfolios: Comparative measurementthrough policy instrument mixes. Climatic Change. 156(4): 447-469.
Conevska, Aleksandra, James D. Ford, Alexandra Lesnikowski. 2019. Assessing the Adaptation Fund’s responsiveness to developing country’s needs. Climate and Development. DOI:10.1080/17565529.2019.1638225.
Berrang-Ford, Lea, Robbert Biesbroek, James D. Ford, Alexandra Lesnikowski, AndrewTanabe, Frances M. Wang, Chen Chen, Angel Hsu, Jessica J. Hellmann, Patrick Pringle,Martina Grecequet, J.-C. Amado, Saleemul Huq, Shuaib Lwasa, S. Jody Heymann. 2019.”Tracking global climate change adaptation among governments.” Nature Climate Change 9:440-449.
Lesnikowski, Alexandra, Ella Belfer, Emma Rodman, Julie Smith, Robbert Biesbroek,John D. Wilkerson, James D. Ford, Lea Berrang-Ford. 2019. ”Frontiers in data analytics foradaptation research: Topic modeling.” WIREs Climate Change 10(3): e573.
Biesbroek, Robbert, Lea Berrang-Ford, Alexandra Lesnikowski, Stephanie Austin, andJames D. Ford. 2018. ”Data, concepts and methods for large-n comparative climate changeadaptation policy research: a systematic literature review.” WIREs Climate Change 9 (6):e548.
Conevska, Aleksandra, James D. Ford, Alexandra Lesnikowski, and Sherri Harper. 2019.”Adaptation financing for projects focused on food systems through the UNFCCC.” ClimatePolicy 19 (1): 43-58.
Biesbroek, Robbert, Alexandra Lesnikowski, Lea Berrang-Ford, Martinus Vink, and JamesFord. 2018. ”Do Administrative Traditions Matter for Climate Change Adaptation Policy?A Comparative Analysis of 32 High Income Countries.” Review of Policy Research 35 (6):881-906.
Lesnikowski, Alexandra, James D. Ford, Robbert Biesbroek, Lea Berrang-Ford, MichelleMaillet, Malcolm Araos, and Stephanie E. Austin. 2017. “What Does the Paris AgreementMean for Adaptation?” Climate Policy 17 (7): 825-831.
Lesnikowski, Alexandra, James D. Ford, Robbert Biesbroek, Lea Berrang-Ford, and S.Jody Heymann. 2016. “National-Level Progress on Adaptation.” Nature Climate Change 6(3): 261-264.
Ford, James D., Simon E. Tilleard, Lea Berrang-Ford, Malcolm Araos, Robbert Biesbroek,Alexandra Lesnikowski, Graham K. MacDonald, Angel Hsu, Chen Chen, and LiviaBizikova. 2016. “Opinion: Big Data Has Big Potential for Applications to Climate ChangeAdaptation.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113 (39): 10729–32.
Araos, Malcolm, Lea Berrang-Ford, James D Ford, Stephanie E Austin, Robbert Biesbroek,and Alexandra Lesnikowski. 2016. “Climate Change Adaptation Planning in Large Cities:A Systematic Global Assessment.” Environmental Science and Policy. 66: 375-382.
Ford, James D., Lea Berrang-Ford, Robbert Biesbroek, Malcolm Araos, Stephanie Austin, andAlexandra Lesnikowski. 2015. “Adaptation Tracking for a Post-2015 Climate Agreement.”Nature Climate Change 5: 967–69.
Lesnikowski, Alexandra, James D Ford, Lea Berrang-Ford, Magda Barrera, and Jody Hey-mann. 2015. “How Are We Adapting to Climate Change? A Global Assessment.” Mitigationand Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 20 (2): 277–93.
Berrang-Ford, Lea, James D. Ford, Alexandra Lesnikowski, Carolyn Poutiainen, MagdaBarrera, and S. Jody Heymann. 2014. “What Drives National Adaptation? A Global Assess-ment.” Climatic Change 124 (1–2): 441–50.
Lesnikowski, Alexandra, James D. Ford, Lea Berrang-Ford, Magda Barrera, Peter Berry,Jim Henderson, and S. Jody Heymann. 2013. “National-Level Factors Affecting Planned,Public Adaptation to Health Impacts of Climate Change.” Global Environmental Change 23(5): 1153–63.
Ford, James D., Lea Berrang-ford, Alexandra Lesnikowski, Magda Barrera, and S JodyHeymann. 2013. “How to Track Adaptation to Climate Change: A Typology of Approachesfor National-Level Application.” Ecology and Society 18 (3): 40-54.
Paterson, Jaclyn A., James D. Ford, Lea Berrang-Ford, Alexandra Lesnikowski, PeterBerry, Jim Henderson, and Jody Heymann. 2012. “Adaptation to Climate Change in theOntario Public Health Sector.” BMC Public Health 12 (1): 452.
Lesnikowski, Alexandra, James D. Ford, Lea Berrang-Ford, Jaclyn Paterson, Magda Bar-rera, and S. Jody Heymann. 2011. “Adapting to Health Impacts of Climate Change: A Studyof UNFCCC Annex I Parties.” Environmental Research Letters 6 (4): 044009.
Book chapters, reports, scientific assessments
Lesnikowski, Alexandra, Anna Newton, and Meaghan Oxley 2023. Monitoring and Evaluation
for a Resilient Energy Sector. Ouranos: Montreal, Quebec.
Lesnikowski, Alexandra and Timo Leiter. Assessing progress on climate adaptation in Canada: Building blocks and best practices for a robust monitoring and evaluation system. A scoping paper for the Canadian Climate Institute. 2022.
O’Neill, Brian, Maarten van Aalst, Zelina Zaiton Ibrahim, et al. Chapter 16: Key Risks Across Sectors and Regions. Sixth Assessment Report. Working Group II: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2022. [Contributing Author]
Harper, Sherilee L., Rebekka Schmitter, Aamir Fazil, Manon Fleury, James D. Ford, Alexandra Lesnikowski, Deborah McGregor, Jaclyn Paterson, Ben Smith, Hannah Tait Neufeld. Chapter 8: Climate Change, Food Security, Food Safety, and Health. Climate Change and Health Assessment. Health Canada. Government of Canada. 2022. [Contributing Author]
IANAS. Taking action against climate change will benefit health and advance health equity in the Americas. (S.L. Harper J.N. McNeil, Eds.) Inter-American Network of Academies of Sciences (IANAS) and InterAcademy Partnership (IAP). 2022. [Lead Author]
Biesbroek, Robbert, and Alexandra Lesnikowski. 2018. “Adaptation.” In Governing Cli-mate Change: Polycentricity in Action?, edited by & J. Forster A. Jordan, D. Huitema, H.Van Asselt, 303–19. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Senbel, Maged, and Alexandra Lesnikowski. 2015. “Climate Change Planning and Neigh-bourhood Design for Low-Carbon, Resilient and Health Communities.” In Canadian Cities inTransition, edited by Pierre Filion, Tara Vinodrai, Ryan Walker, and Markus Moos. Oxford,UK: Oxford University Press.