Public engagement on climate change adaptation

This report, jointly prepared by Climate Outreach and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network, provides an introduction to public engagement on climate change adaptation; its primary intended audience is decision-makers involved in leading NAP processes in developing countries. Countries will not achieve their climate ambitions without bringing citizens into the policy-making process. Public engagement is critical to the long-term success of efforts to build climate resilience through national adaptation plan (NAP) processes. NAP teams should place people—their values and identities—at the centre of decision-making on adaptation. Building public support will be crucial for the adaptation actions prioritized through the NAP process to be implemented. 

The key take-aways of this report include:

• Public engagement is critical to the long-term success of efforts to build climate resilience through NAP processes.
• NAP teams should look to the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) elements to guide how they approach public engagement on adaptation.
• A collection of intersecting and overlapping considerations and elements can unlock the potential of adaptation actions prioritized through NAP processes.
• Imagery matters.
• Creative and innovative approaches to public engagement on adaptation are being implemented around the world.