Transforming Climate Change Policymaking: From Informing to Empowering the Local Community

Abstract

Adapting to the impacts of climate change is such an all-encompassing problem that it is beyond the capacity of the entire public sector, let alone a single local government or agency. If a policy is to be effective, it will therefore need to constructively empower the local community to participate in building its own resilience. This chapter is based on a synthesis of findings from three research projects that were conducted over the last fifteen years and included comparative case studies from Australia, the USA, and the UK. A three-step policy proposal is derived from this synthesis that uses climate change knowledge to inform, engage, and support democratic local community-based adaptation. It entails the strategic use of the Internet, public participation events, and targeted local community grants. If adopted, this three-step policy could help to develop effective, efficient, and appropriate adaptation responses that tackle some of the unique challenges inherent in applying climate change knowledge by empowering local communities.