You are here

Support public engagement: Create an engagement strategy

Adaptation Strategies and Actions

Support public engagement: Create an engagement strategy

Adaptation type: 
Education and outreach

Strategy:

Support Public Engagement in Climate Change work

Involving the public in climate change science and policy is crucial for citizen understanding and partnership in adaptation efforts. The most appropriate kind of public engagement process depends on the specifics of the locations, issues, stakeholders and goals.

Action

Create a public engagement strategy using the steps below:

1) Evaluate and identify the:

  • goals and processes of the engagement
  • potential for authentic public influence on a decision
  • stakeholders: prioritizing equitable representation of salient characteristics such as demographic, knowledge-base, influence, and value

2) Adapt the engagement strategy to:

  • the context of the project and stakeholders
  • evolve in response to participant participation and mutual learning
  • support equitable and just communication and engagement with impacted stakeholders

3) Choose most appropriate engagement methods, for example:

  • Information materials: such as brochures, website posts, webinars, and video clips
  • Information portals: home page website links on home pages, may be interactive
  • Design charrettes: stakeholders collaborate to gather input for joing ownership of an issue or solution
  • Workshops: to desseminate information, tools, and techniques; and to build participant networks of support and practice
  • Public hearings: support transparency and accountability
  • Scenario planning: participants create alternative views of the future using significant events and trend analysis; can increase the breadth and depth of participants' knowledge, encourage knowledge exchange, and widen perceptions of future possibilities
  • Public opinion surveys: to involve interested participants in climate issues
  • Partnering with community-based organizations: such as schools and churches
  • Volunteer engagement: for environmental monitoring and stewardship activities

Guiding Principles:

  • Include the public as early and often as possible
  • Enable consensus versus confrontation
  • Support long-term relationships between agencies and stakeholders

Scope and Constraints

Time: 
Ongoing action

References

Innes, Judith E.; & Booher, David E.(2005). Reframing Public Participation: Strategies for the 21st Century. Institute of Urban & Regional Development. UC Berkeley: Institute of Urban and Regional Development. Retrieved from: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/4gr9b2v5

Click link above to view references.

My Favorites

Show my favoritesHide my favorites

More info

Bookmark your favorite pages here. See the "add this page link" to add a page to your favorites. Click the X to remove a page from the list.