The method through which the community, local governments, and key stakeholders may work together to achieve climate action goals is called engaging people to take climate action. Effective public participation is thus important to success in preparing for climate change (Nerlich et al., 132). Engaging communities in climate change response policies is an important step in educating the public and gaining support for pursuing adaptation and mitigation options to control climate change. Climate change response programs often fall into two categories: adaptation and mitigation. Simply stated, mitigation tries to minimize and restrict greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Nerlich et al., 135). Mitigation techniques include energy conservation, the use of renewable energy, and the use of efficient transportation such as electric buses, shared automobiles, or bicycles. Adaptation, on the other hand, entails creating ways to meet existing or future consequences of climate change, such as landscape restoration, flexible agricultural practices, and more secure infrastructure (Ballew et al., 5). Climate change has been more of a worry in recent years.
More than half the population believes in human-caused climate change and sees it as an urgent issue that must be addressed right now. Most of them feel that human activity has had a role in climate change. Climate change may be communicated to the public in a variety of ways. Both the strengths and weaknesses of any method are reflected in the variety of applications for which they are intended. As part of its efforts to address the climate emergency, the government is placing an emphasis on citizen behavior and participation (Ballew et al., 10). As a result, the amount of concern about and personal involvement in climate change concerns varies across various demographics. When designing and facilitating public interaction, it is important to keep in mind the diverse starting positions that different groups may have in terms of climate change awareness and involvement.
Climate change must be made understandable and relevant to the general public in order to be successful in engaging the public. It has become more critical than ever before to educate the public on the dangers of human-caused climate change. For example, scientists studied the relationship between pro-environmental attitudes and conduct, the ideological underpinnings of climate change risk perception, the context in which low-carbon behaviors are carried out, and human values as they relate to climate change and mitigating it (Jones et al., 333). No systematic evaluation of human values in affecting public climate change involvement has been done, despite numerous important overviews and reviews of studies on public participation (Nerlich et al., 140). The general population will be impacted by climate change and by the choices taken by their governments, so it only makes sense to offer them a voice in decision-making and to give them a say in how to deal with the problem. Another tactic is choosing the right policy tools.
Behavioral economics, legislation, and networks are just a few of the many tools at our disposal when it comes to advancing our causes. As a result of public participation, it is possible to pick the most suitable policy instruments, which in turn may have an impact on society (Jones et al., 337). Presentations at departmental meetings and informal lunch-and-learn events may both be utilized to promote awareness. Consider inviting local energy organizations, non-profits, or provincial sustainability facilitators to speak at council and staff meetings (Ballew et al., 15). Climate change is discussed in these sessions, as well as the necessity for mitigation and the advantages of adaptation. Creating tangible products that can be implemented by workers and divisions Sustainable procurement and ethical purchasing are only a few examples of things that may be done, as are green fleets and municipal building renovations and infrastructure upgrades (Jones et al., 340). Trying out a new approach with a single department or area ongoing communication assistance such as newsletters and online reminders for corporations, memos to commissioners and interoffice correspondence, and monitoring of progress should be used to raise awareness.
Works Cited
Ballew, Matthew T., et al. “Climate change in the American mind: Data, tools, and trends.” Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development 61.3 (2019): 4-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/00139157.2019.1589300
Hansen, James. “Global warming twenty years later: Tipping points near.” Briefing to the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming (2008).
Jones, Charlotte, Donald W. Hine, and Anthony DG Marks. “The future is now: Reducing psychological distance to increase public engagement with climate change.” Risk Analysis 37.2 (2017): 331-341. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.12601
Nerlich, Brigitte, and Rusi Jaspal. “Metaphors we die by? Geoengineering, metaphors, and the argument from catastrophe.” Metaphor and Symbol 27.2 (2012): 131-147. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926488.2012.665795
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