The transformations needed to respond to climate change require widespread political engagement as decisions need to be made in democratic ways that are simultaneously inclusive and sustainable. While individual behaviour change is considered a central strategy to mitigate climate change, public engagement is still limited.
Community engagement is important to any climate policy, not only because communities deserve to have perspectives incorporated into policies that will affect their futures, but also because it actually makes policies and programs more effective and sustainable over the long-term.
Governmental entities that are able to actively engage their residents in every phase of climate policy will be able to tap into wide range of experiences and perspectives that will help elucidate exactly where and how policies may succeed or fail.
Revamp Rave Network held the thirteenth session of the Second Virtual cohort Programme training on climate change themed “Climate Communication and Community Engagement” on the 30th of July 2022. The session was taught by Kayode Egbeleye — Capacity Building and Climate Change Communication Expert, NCCRP and Micheal Simire — Environmental Science Journalist and Lead EnviroNews.
Kayode defined Community as a group of people based on interest or geography, including stakeholders, citizens, businesses and more and Engagement encompasses both inclusion and agency feeling that one is included in important civic and social activities and able to contribute meaningfully and Community Engagement as a strategic approach to the relationships, communication and interactions between community members and an organization to try to influence outcomes for both.
He explained that Community Engagement is a two-way process which includes the aspirations, concerns, needs and values of citizens and communities which are incorporated at all levels and in all sectors in policy development, planning, decision-making, service delivery and assessment and Governments, business and civil society organizations involve citizens, clients, communities and other stakeholders in these processes, and linking the term community to engagement serves to broaden the scope, shifting the focus the individual to the collective, with associated implications for inclusiveness, to ensure consideration is given to the diversity that exists within any community.
Mr Simire explained the three aspect of engagement strategies and activities. They include the Digital Engagements, Webinars, Social Media, Website , Face-to Face Engagement, Strategic Audience scoping, Understanding audience needs and perspectives. The Second aspect includes Community gardens, Solidarity purchasing groups, Community-supported agriculture, Alternative food networks, Recycling, Engage the un-engaged communities on the urgency of climate action and the need to close the attitude-behaviour gap nd many more. The third aspect includes creating a digital community platform to bring stakeholders and similarly minded individuals about climate change as well as organise awareness of local walking/cycling networks, promoting local parks as family-friendly safe places to cycle and many more.
The two potential dividends in engaging a community on climate change includes assisting citizen and communities to develop informed understandings of climate change trends, impacts and implications and maximizing opportunities for citizens and communities to contribute to public debate about climate change issues and actions but not limited; and the second aspect includes encouraging social innovation and skill sharing, informed by local knowledge and tailored to local conditions.
Nevertheless, more practical support, capacity-building measures and financial resources must be provided at the community level for climate action to thrive need to be provided