engaging with communities on climate change adaptation

Part of the BRE Trust

Engaging with communities on climate change adaptationMindy Hadi, BRE1st November 2016

Communities Living Sustainably (CLS)

– Launched 2013 by Big Lottery

– £12m to 12 Community Groups around the country

• To build resilience to the environmental, economic and social impacts of a

changing climate.

• To help vulnerable people to adapt to climate change.

• To encourage behaviour change among individuals and communities

– Co-ordinated by Groundwork UK Learning Partnership

CLS Process

Initial research 2014

– Climate change resilience study highlighted a gap in activities in the area of climate change adaptation amongst CLS groups

– Some examples of good practice, mainly focusing on flooding

– Greater integration needed between community-led and statutory-led activities

– Need for accessible information and resources inc. examples of practical activities for communities

– Objectives: to explore the challenges faced by community groups in building climate resilience, identify support and resources and share lessons based on the activities of CLS communities

– 4 work streams:

• Stakeholder interviews and questionnaire to the 12 CLS groups• Carrying out ‘test bed’ workshops on climate change adaptation with

two groups• A workshop in Feb 2016 with key stakeholders for input and

feedback• Developing an Information Directory of guidance, case studies,

resources and tools for community groups

– Summary ‘key findings report’ of findings and lessons learned

2015/16 research programme

Survey of CLS Group Activities

– On-line questionnaire developed and sent to all 12 CLS groups, project leads and other partners

– Questionnaire covered:• About you and your community • Climate Change Adaptation in your community• Awareness and use of information on Climate Change

Adaptation• Gaining Community Buy-in• Vulnerabilities• CLS Community Resilience ‘Test beds’ volunteers

Key Findings

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Very Poor Poor Fair Good Very Good

Self-rated knowledge about climate change adaptation

Main concerns relating to climate change

Community interest

Barriers to community buy-in‘Greatest barrier to getting community buy-in on climate change is the challenge of developing long term response and maintaining interest’

Vulnerable groups in your local area

– People whose livelihoods are at risk (eg farmers, fishermen),

– People who are on a low-income, low skilled

– People in poor health

– People in poor housing

– Particular groups that face social exclusion• Older people• Single mothers• People with English as a second language• Recently arrived communities.• Those living in isolated, rural areas

‘’if for reasons of age, health, disability or severe financial insecurity, they are unable to safeguard their personal welfare or the personal welfare of other members of the household.’’ Irwell Valley

– Information directory for third sector and community organisations to help them to overcome barriers to resilience which can include lack of:– Local, understandable information on Climate Change– Resources for engagement and implementation support– Knowledge of the most effective methods for them

– Information overload!!

– Written for non-experts ie simple, non- technical language, no jargon

– Signposting of existing websites etc

– Colour coded for easy navigation

Aims of the information directory

Information Directory

Community groups need examples & tools

– 2016 Information Directory:

• Definitions

• Relevant policy background

• Role of community groups

• Tools and Resources

• Identifying vulnerabilities and risks

• Identifying resources

• Who can help

• Case Studies

Case studies

– Flooding and extreme weather are the two most common climate change risks faced by the CLS projects.

– Current lack of visible community-led adaptation activity in UK.

– Exemplar communities who are responding to the challenges of climate change by adopting adaptation measures eg preventing avoidable impacts through comprehensive preparation.

– CLS funding enabled projects to engage with their community

– Linked to challenges accessing vulnerable groups, fuel poverty, poor housing

Case study projects

– Five projects selected to act as good practice case studies in the directory

– All areas with high flood risk and experience of flooding:– Sustain Eden, Cumbria– Sustainable Sheppey, Kent– CLS in Dorset – One Planet Middlesbrough– Irwell Valley Sustainable Communities, Salford

Measures and activities

– Measures include: – Developing area-specific action plans for extreme

weather events.– Raising awareness through a wide variety of

means- workshops, schools, media etc– Establishing means to support vulnerable groups

(e.g. people over 75, families with young children, people with disabilities, small businesses, carers) in the event of an emergency such as an extreme weather event

– Collaborating on related projects across other community groups and statutory organisations to build resilience

Test beds

– Two CLS projects– Manor House PACT ‘Closer Neighbourhoods’– Sustainable Sunderland

– ½ day workshop session with groups/partners– Share information about Climate Change adaptation: what

does it mean at community level– In depth discussion about climate change adaptation issues in

their community– Try out some of the tools and guidance together eg ‘Climate

Just’ tool– Obtain feedback on directory, tools and session

Key Findings Report

To inform policy makers on supporting communities

– Project Leader questionnaire responses

– Information Directory

– Test Bed Workshops

– Feedback from partners

– Stakeholder Workshop

Question and risk levels

List of Categories

Visual of progress within each category

Community Assessment Tool (CAT)

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20

40

60

80

100

Climate Change &Resilience

Community

Ecology &Biodiversity

Governance

Local Economy

Resources

Transport & Mobility

Wellbeing

Apr-12

Apr-14

May-16

Resilience theme lessons learned

– Community groups are well placed to drive climate adaptation activities, particularly where these focus on vulnerable groups

– Communities can be creative and innovative messengers

– Local knowledge can adapt approaches in ways that are effective but difficult for national organisations

– There are many opportunities for communities to deliver low-tech and low-cost interventions

– Statutory bodies could be more creative in engaging community groups in their resilience planning activities

Lessons from wider project

– Trusted community organisations can support wide-ranging behaviour change, including among groups not normally reached by environmental campaigns

– Discussions about climate change and behaviour have to be rooted in real-life experiences relevant to the local context

– You have to start where people are- existing activities

– Holistic- making the links makes sense of interdependencies

– Sustaining volunteer involvement is a challenge – even with money available

– It all takes longer than you think!!!!

Thank you!

http://www.centre4resilience.org/communities-living-sustainably/.