Online discussion: Equitable community engagement in climate adaptation and disaster planning

Climate adaptation planning is on the rise and with it comes the need to determine best practices in building public support for the implementation of these plans.

Talking at people about the risk they face from climate impacts doesn’t tend to work; successful community engagement in climate adaptation requires taking the time to build relationships, to listen to the needs and interests of constituencies, and to consider the underlying inequities that influences the ability to respond proactively to climate impacts or in the wake of a disaster. Fortunately, practitioners are learning about the steps that need to be taken to ensure equitable and inclusive public engagement in adaptation planning and disaster response.

The conversation is exclusive to Climate Access members and will include tips on how to design a community engagement process from start to finish, respectful methods for engaging indigenous and tribal groups; and ways to address the human and civil rights dimensions of disaster planning and response programs.