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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)
0
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/.