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ENGAGING CHICAGO’S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
in the Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP)
©The Field Museum, ECCo, June 2011
Research TeamPrinciple Investigators:Dr. Jennifer Hirsch, The Field MuseumCommissioner Suzanne Malec-McKenna, City ofChicagoDr. Noshir Contractor, Northwestern UniversityDr. Alaka Wali, The Field MuseumDr. Lynne Westphal, USDA Forest Service,Northern Research Station
Project Team:Cherie LeBlanc Fisher, USDA Forest Service,Northern Research StationPatrick Yu-li Hsieh, Northwestern UniversityDr. Ruth Gomberg-Muñoz, Chicago CulturalAllianceLisa See Kim, The Field MuseumEdward Labenski, The Field MuseumRyan Lugalia-Hollon, The Field MuseumDr. Kate McClellan, The Field MuseumTroy Peters, The Field Museum/GlobalPhilanthropy PartnershipSarah Van Deusen Phillips, The Field MuseumAlison Saffold, Global Philanthropy PartnershipSarah Sommers, The Field MuseumSarah Suh, Northwestern UniversityMadeleine Tudor, The Field MuseumHua Wang, Northwestern University
Interns:Moses AdesolaKiona Baker-MitchellLaura BoothAlison CoatesAlison DivinoScott Alan EdsallJathel GarrettCatherine Grace GrahamIzabela GrobelnaCyrus HesterNadine IbrahimVincent JettDean JohnsonRicky Knuckles, Jr.Jessica LudwigSean MallinHarlem Marino Saavedra
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Project Managers:Dr. Lori Barcliff Baptista, The Field MuseumDr. Janette Bulkan, The Field MuseumDr. Rosa Cabrera, The Field MuseumDr. Christine Dunford, The Field MuseumMario Longoni, The Field MuseumDr. Willem Pieterson, Northwestern UniversityLindsay Young, Northwestern University
Sam McAleeseGeneva MorrisAsmah MubarakDeborah OlawaleDamian PeoplesAlyssa PflugerHannah PorstEmily SmithRebecca SmithBrenna TownleyIan WanJohanna WawroTaylor WegrzynYlanda WilhiteJuliana WilhoitDarian WilliamsCurtis WitekAlexandra Wong
Community PartnersSouth Chicago:Rosa Perea, Centro Comunitario Juan DiegoDinah Ramirez, Healthy Southeast ChicagoAngela Hurlock, Claretian AssociatesPatricia Zuniga, Claretian Associates, Northwestern AffiliateLeticia Estrada, Northwestern AffiliateNakia Mosby, Northwestern AffiliateJustin Hughes, Northwestern AffiliateCarnot Joseph, Northwestern Affiliate
North Kenwood-Oakland/ Bronzeville:Danielle Walters, Stateway Community PartnersDr. Clinton Nichols, Northwestern UniversityDr. Judith Singleton, Northwestern UniversityBeatrice Williams, Northwestern AffiliateKathy Wilson, Northwestern AffiliateRowkeena Ellis, Northwestern AffiliateEliayo Bruce, Northwestern AffiliateEric Williamson, Northwestern AffiliateCarolyn Mitchell, Northwestern Affiliate
The Polish Community:Rich Kujawa, The Polish Museum of AmericaJan Lorys, The Polish Museum of America
Pilsen:Jose Luis Gutierrez, Casa MichoacanZorayda Avila, Casa MichoacanGabriela Mendoza, Casa MichoacanRebeccah Sanders, Chicago Cultural AllianceMimosa Shah, Chicago Cultural Alliance
West Ridge:Modhurima Mukherjee, Indo-American Heritage MuseumNafisa Bandukwala, Indo-American Heritage MuseumMannan Bandukwala, Indo-American Heritage MuseumDorothie Shah, Indo-American Heritage MuseumRenuka Sharma, Indo-American CenterMimosa Shah, Chicago Cultural Alliance
Roseland:Angela Pace-Moody, The Energy Action Network-Chicago (EAN)Mettrice Davis, B.R.O.C.K. Social ServicesPhyllis Jones, B.R.O.C.K. Social ServicesWinona Stiff, B.R.O.C.K. Social ServicesBrenda Taylor, B.R.O.C.K. Social ServicesDorotha Tyler, B.R.O.C.K. Social ServicesBrenda Weil, B.R.O.C.K. Social ServicesCarolyn Thomas, God’s GangRuth Gardner-Woods, God’s GangDorothy Jenkins, Fernwood United Methodist ChurchBrenda Little, Fernwood United Methodist ChurchDerrick Red, Fernwood United Methodist ChurchRev. Al Sampson, Fernwood United Methodist Church
Forest Glen:Jennifer Herren Gatesman, Sauganash Chamber of CommerceMoira K. Pollard, Sauganash Community AssociationSue Williamson, Sauganash Community Association
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Research was commissioned by the Chicago Department of Environment
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Research Support
I. Research Approach…………………………………………………………………… 6II. Findings
A. Overall Findings1. Five Key Takeaway Points…………………………………………….. 152. Climate change perceptions and awareness………………………… 163. Community concerns and co-benefits………………………………… 234. Environmentally-friendly practices, values, and traditions………….. 285. Stakeholders, partnerships, and relationship-building………………. 34
B. CCAP Strategies1. CCAP Strategies 1&2: Energy…………………………………………. 402. CCAP Strategy 3: Transportation……………………………………… 473. CCAP Strategy 4: Waste Reduction…………………………………… 524. CCAP Strategy 5: Adaptation……………………………………………59
III. Communication and Dissemination……………………………………………… 67 IV. From Research to Action………………………………………………………… 75 V. Additional Resources……………………………………………………………… 81
Table of Contents
• Fall 2008: The City of Chicago Department of Environment(DOE) commissions The Field Museum’s Division ofEnvironment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo) to conductethnographic research on climate action
• Goal: Identify entry points for engaging diverse communitiesin the Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP)
• ECCo also explored entryways for community engagementin the Chicago region’s other climate action plan, ChicagoWilderness’ Climate Action Plan for Nature (CAPN)
Research Approach
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Research Purpose7
Research Approach
Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP)
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Five CCAP Strategies1. Energy Efficient Buildings
2. Clean & Renewable Energy Sources
3. Improved Transportation Options
4. Reduced Waste & Industrial Pollution
5. AdaptationWebsite: http://www.chicagoclimateaction.org
The CCAP lays out goals for reducing greenhouse gasemissions by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050, with an interimgoal of a 25% reduction from 1990 levels by 2020.
Goals
8
Research Approach
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Five CAPN Strategies for Communities1. Gardening2. Water Conservation3. Monitoring4. Environmental Stewardship5. Environmental Education
Website:http://www.chicagowilderness.org/pdf/CAPN_Brochure-FINAL_singlepages_WEB_6.21.10.pdf
The CAPN outlines ways to improve the health of regional naturalareas and to make them more resilient to changes in our climate. Itis complementary to the CCAP, but differs in that it focuses onclimate change impacts to biodiversity and addresses climatechange on a regional scale throughout the Chicago Wilderness area.
Goals
Climate Action Plan for Nature (CAPN)9
Research Approach
1 SOUTHCHICAGO
WEST RIDGESOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY
NORTH KENWOOD-OAKLAND/BRONZEVILLE
POLISHCOMMUNITY
FORESTGLEN
PILSENMEXICAN COMMUNITY
ROSELAND
23456
7
3
1
2
4
5
6
7
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Multiple Communities, One Study10
Stateway Community Partners
PILSEN’SMEXICAN
COMMUNITY
WEST RIDGE’SSOUTH ASIANCOMMUNITY
SOUTHCHICAGO
FORESTGLEN
POLISHCOMMUNITY
NORTHKENWOOD-OAKLAND/
BRONZEVILLE
ROSELAND
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS
Research Approach
Participatory Action Research
©The Field Museum, ECCo
11
ClimateAction
CommunityConcerns
Eco-FriendlyValues &Practices
SocialInnovations
CommunicationNetworks
Leaders &Stakeholders
Research Approach
Identify Entryways to Climate Action
©The Field Museum, ECCo
CreativeModels of
Engagement
Awareness &Knowledgeof Climate
Change
12
Online surveysFocus groupsVisual activitiesParticipant observationStory collectingSocial network surveys(North Kenwood-Oakland/Bronzeville,South Chicago)
Research Approach
Research & Analysis Methods
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Participatory mapping & photographyInterviewsMedia & literature reviewCoding, categorizing, rankingVisual analysis: word clouds,
asset mapsCommunity review & presentations
13
Five Key Points
Five Key Takeaway Points1. While the majority of residents are aware of and care about
global climate change, many do not connect it to their everydaylives in Chicago.
2. The cultural and social backgrounds of residents play large rolesin shaping their attitudes and beliefs about climate change,nature, and the environment.
3. Most residents already engage in a range of green practices intheir daily lives, from the mainstream to the creative andcommunity-specific.
4. Climate action programs will likely be most successful if they aredesigned and implemented with networks of trusted communityorganizations and leaders, build on cultural values, and identifyand scale up existing positive behaviors.
5. Most communities are interested in adopting climate actionprograms that provide recognizable, community-levelco-benefits, including but also beyond cost savings.
©The Field Museum, ECCo
15
PERCEPTIONS & AWARENESS
• Study participants expressed asense of responsibility toward theenvironment.
• Participants typically discussedclimate change in connection withchanges in weather patterns andother aspects of the natural world.
• Connections to salient disasterslike the BP Oil Spill or HurricaneKatrina were commonly made.
• Many also pointed to icons ofclimate change: polar bears,melting ice caps, and Al Gore.
Attitudes and Awareness
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Climate Change Perceptions & Awareness 17
PERCEPTIONS & AWARENESS
Many Chicagoans – especially those with recent immigrantbackgrounds – gain awareness of the impacts of climatechange through their global (e.g., India, Mexico) andtransregional (e.g., U.S. South) connections.
Global / Transregional Connections
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Climate Change Perceptions & Awareness 18
PERCEPTIONS & AWARENESS
• Though residents recognize the seriousness of globalclimate change and the importance of caring for thenatural environment, they generally do not connect it totheir lives in Chicago.
• In general, many Chicagoans view climate change as:
Climate Change in Chicago
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Climate Change Perceptions & Awareness
- invisible in Chicago- lacking urgency- someone else’s agenda- the fault of big business and/or government- something they cannot individually impact Word cloud representing words/phrases that
participants associate with “climate change”, withmore frequently occurring words appearing larger
19
Heritage and CultureBroader cultural frameworks inform residents’ understandings ofnature, the environment, and climate change.
religionnatural resourceshome/garden aesthetics
outdoor spaceglobal/local responsibilitykinship, family, & community
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Climate Change Perceptions & Awareness 20
Many residents’ perceptions of climate change areinformed by environmental action campaigns and greenpractices in their home countries.
Memory and ExperienceClimate Change Perceptions & Awareness
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Solar oven used on Indian rooftops 1970s water conservation campaign from Mexico City
21
• Identify and support culturallydiverse environmentally-friendlytraditions and values.
• Present climate change as atransnational and transregionalissue, addressing ethniccommunities’ connections totheir homeland cultures (“Thinkglobal, act local”).
RecommendationsClimate Change Perceptions & Awareness
©The Field Museum, ECCo
22
HeritageCommunity Concerns & Co-Benefits
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Heritage (ethnic, cultural, community, linguistic, etc.) is anothercommunity concern that can be creatively used as a springboardfor climate action, and one that ECCo’s anthropologists identifiedin all seven community studies conducted to date.
25
Nationally discussed co-benefitsEconomic
developmentand green jobs
Jobs: tradesand domestic
cleaning services
TransportationHealth
Cultural heritage(not raised as issue)
Polish community concerns in the Chicago area
Example of Concerns: Polish Community
Healthy livingHome
Community Concerns & Co-Benefits
Cost savings
©The Field Museum, ECCo
26
• Make climate change feel local, personal, and actionable.• When possible, tailor climate action programs to
community-specific assets and concerns.
RecommendationsCommunity Concerns & Co-Benefits
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Health and food in West Ridge Housing in North Kenwood-Oakland/Bronzeville
27
Even if they are skeptical about climate change, residents engagein environmentally-friendly practices for a variety of reasons:
Environmentally-friendly Practices, Values, & Traditions
Beyond Environmental Action
cost savingssense of responsibilitycultural traditions/heritageindividualistic principles
community beautificationhealthyouth developmentsocial pressure
©The Field Museum, ECCo
29
Environmentally-friendly Practices, Values, & Traditions
Creative Solutions to Environmental Problems
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Many residents and communityorganizations find their ownsolutions to environmentalproblems
Examples, clockwise from top: growing your own produce; usingair conditioning drippings to water garden; using stuffed toys aswindow insulation; litter-free zone in Auburn-Gresham, acommunity-level recycling initiative
30
Environmentally-friendly Practices, Values, & Traditions
Mainstream Practices
Communitiesare also activelyparticipating inclimate actionstrategiesencouraged bythe City, oftenthroughcommunityorganizations.
©The Field Museum, ECCo
31
Barriers to Community Participation in Climate Action
Environmentally-friendly Practices, Values, & Traditions
• Practical barriers include: - concerns about new technology (e.g., safety, functionality, aesthetics) - perceived cost of green living - personal safety concerns (e.g., public transportation or walking)• Some practices carry stigmas insome neighborhoods; they areseen as indicators of rural life, lackof education, and low social class: - raising chickens - hanging clothes to dry - gardening
©The Field Museum, ECCo
32
• Start where people are at:showcase and reward thepractical and creative wayscommunities are alreadyengaged in climate-friendlypractices.
• Create campaigns thataddress particular fears &concerns and that framestigmatized practices in apositive light.
• Link environmentally-friendlypractices to larger, structuralsolutions.
Environmentally-friendly Practices, Values, & Traditions
Recommendations
©The Field Museum, ECCo
33
• Community-BasedOrganizations (CBOs): socialservice agencies, communityand business associations,local art centers, advocacygroups, CDCs, etc.
• Property managers• Religious institutions• Local media• Local businesses• Schools/universities/colleges• Neighborhood government• Women’s organizations
Stakeholders, Partnerships, & Relationship-building
Stakeholder Groups
©The Field Museum, ECCo
35
North Kenwood-Oakland/Bronzeville:Brokering Organizations Connect Outside & Inside
Polish Community:Support from Suburbs & Poland
Stakeholder ModelsStakeholders, Partnerships, & Relationship-building
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Forest Glen: Pursuing Multiple Avenues
Stakeholders work differently in different communities
36
• CBOs serve as trusted alternatives to City/outside organizations.• Some CBOs are highly trusted but are not seen as potential
sources for environmental or climate change information
Stakeholders, Partnerships, & Relationship-building
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)
©The Field Museum, ECCo
North Kenwood-Oakland/Bronzeville
37
Social Justice and EnvironmentalismSome stakeholder groups seeenvironmental issues in terms oflocal social justice issues:
• Food• Health• Pollution• Green space• Education• Safety• Immigration
Stakeholders, Partnerships, & Relationship-building
©The Field Museum, ECCo
38
• Engage local organizations as community experts and provide themwith the tools to connect their work with climate action.
• Identify and work with a variety of stakeholders, including those thatserve as cultural brokers between their communities and outside(powerful) institutions.
• Identify and work with:– CBOs with a broad geographic sphere of influence (e.g., Bronzeville
Alliance)– Umbrella organizations (e.g.Chicago Wilderness, Chicago Cultural
Alliance)– Organizations that collaborate with CBOs that work city-wide (e.g.,
Heartland Alliance, The Resource Center, etc.)• Incentivize participation in climate action programs through reciprocal
marketing with CBOs and businesses.• Offer and incentivize regular networking opportunities for community
leaders and members to share climate action ideas and best practices.
Stakeholders, Partnerships, & Relationship-building
Recommendations
©The Field Museum, ECCo
39
CCAP STRATEGIES 1 & 2Energy Efficient Buildings
Clean & Renewable Energy Sources
©The Field Museum, ECCo
40
Ranking Energy Practices
High Rankingusing CFLs
turning off lights & appliancesopening windows & using drapes
using energy-efficient devices
Low Rankingretrofitting
using renewable energybuilding green
hot water systems
©The Field Museum, ECCo
CCAP Strategies 1 & 2: Energy
Unshaded windows provide passive heating Solar water heater
41
• Practical barriers to making larger energy-related changesinclude upfront cost and renter-landlord arrangements.
• Many residents feel they lack the expertise to deal withcontractors/inspectors and are wary of contractor scamsand home energy “inspections.”
• Aging or deteriorating housing stock precludes someresidents from getting retrofits.
• Co-delivery programs become problematic whenremediation resources have not been identified.
Barriers to Structural ChangeCCAP Strategies 1 & 2: Energy
©The Field Museum, ECCo
42
Barriers to Structural Change• Some residents are taking actions based on marketing
(e.g. windows) and on their own perceptions of theirhomes’ needs instead of pursuing energy audits.
• A lack of centralized, actionable information on energyefficiency beyond mainstream measures leaves residentsunsure of how to proceed.
• Many communities are beginning to organize aroundgreen jobs but are concerned that they will be left out of thelarger movement.
• Many residents express concern that “going green” is onlyfor the wealthy and that large-scale green efforts, such asretrofitting programs, are run by powerful institutions andgovernment agencies with ulterior motives.
CCAP Strategies 1 & 2: Energy
©The Field Museum, ECCo
43
Residents who retrofit their homes do so for a variety of reasons:
Retrofitting
comfortbeautificationnoise abatement
cost savingsmaintaining property valueenvironmental impact
©The Field Museum, ECCo
CCAP Strategies 1 & 2: Energy
‘Hybrid House’ in Bronzeville with solar panels, geothermal heat pump, andtraditional root cellar and garden
44
A handful of home and business owners in each community haveturned to clean and renewable energy sources, such as solarpanels, geothermal wells, and alternative fuels. However, mostresidents remain deterred by high up-front costs.
Clean and Renewable Energy
©The Field Museum, ECCo
CCAP Strategies 1 & 2: Energy 45
• Develop retrofit programs that use trusted local contractors andliaisons from recognized local organizations during energyaudits and construction.
• Enlist influential and trusted homeowners to get energy auditsand share their experiences with their communities.
• Provide comparative informational tools that allow residents toprioritize energy efficiency steps, locate qualified providers, andeasily utilize rebate and credit programs.
• Create retrofit programs that connect energy efficiency to theother benefits people see in retrofitting.
• Make retrofitting a talked about status symbol.• Support and reward those who are turning to clean and
renewable energy sources.
Recommendations
©The Field Museum, ECCo
CCAP Strategies 1 & 2: Energy 46
• Most residents are happy to take advantage ofenvironmentally-friendly transportation options as long asthey are convenient and inexpensive.
• Participants who live or work in the suburbs found littleincentive in taking public transportation, mostly because ofaccessibility/convenience issues.
• Public transportation is not as big of a concern to residentswho own cars.
CCAP Strategy 3: Improved Transportation
Public Transportation
©The Field Museum, ECCo
48
CCAP Strategy 3: Improved Transportation
Barriers to Using Public Transportation
©The Field Museum, ECCo
• Safety concerns
• Infrequent/inconsistent service
• Poor proximity to routes
• Transporting work materials
• Rising fares & service cuts
• Respiratory health concerns
49
• Walking• Biking• Bike and Car
sharing• Carpooling• Choosing
hybrid models& avoiding gasguzzlers
CCAP Strategy 3: Improved Transportation
Other Reported Strategies
©The Field Museum, ECCo
50
• Increase residents’ access to public transportation byestablishing more routes and standardizing schedules.
• Work with communication outlets and violenceprevention programs, like CAPS and Safe Passage, toencourage safe use of the CTA.
• Work with CBOs to implement programs that encourageoutdoor activities such as walking and riding bicycles,and connect these practices to healthy living.
• Address residents’ concerns about respiratory health byexpanding the City’s clean fleet of buses and cars.
CCAP Strategy 3: Improved Transportation
Recommendations
©The Field Museum, ECCo
51
• Water contamination and poor air and soil quality, results ofindustrial pollution, have become galvanizing health issuesfor many working class communities.
• Better waste management is routinely associated withneighborhood beautification.
• In some communities, school and youth programs, such as“no-trash lunches” in Forest Glen and the Litter Free ZoneInitiative in Auburn-Gresham, have played a catalyzing rolein waste reduction.
• Many residents continue traditions of using naturalmaterials; others have switched to using green householdproducts, which they view as healthier for their families andbetter for the environment.
CCAP Strategy 4: Waste Reduction
Pollution and Litter
©The Field Museum, ECCo
53
• In some communities CBOs coordinate community recyclingefforts.
• Many residents are motivated to recycle because it is free,easy, and helps to maintain neighborhood beauty and health.
• Some expressed a desire for greater access to electronic andappliance recycling programs.
• Some small businesses have created composting partnershipswith local gardeners and area farms.
CCAP Strategy 4: Waste Reduction
Recycling
©The Field Museum, ECCo
54
• Cutbacks and differences in recycling programs from neighborhoodto neighborhood have led to confusion and skepticism.
• Some communities without easy access to recycling resent being “leftout” of the City’s Blue Bin recycling program.
• Many residents pointed to the City’s failed Blue Bag program as anindication that Chicago’s recycling services are untrustworthy andthus not worth participating in.
• Some residents cited preoccupation with more immediate concernsas a reason for why they don’t recycle.
• Others perceive green consumption/consumerism to be asenvironmentally responsible as reusing and recycling.
• Some residents expect City assistance to take on practices thatbenefit the common, rather than the individual, good or for which asubsidy has been offered in the past (e.g., rain barrels).
CCAP Strategy 4: Waste Reduction
Barriers to Waste Reduction
©The Field Museum, ECCo
55
• Traditions of frugality, negative perceptions of wastefulness,vintage fashion and design trends, and artistic movements havedriven residents to reuse and repurpose.
• Residents varied as to which items they were motivated torepair or reuse.
• Clothing donation drop boxes are available in mostcommunities.
CCAP Strategy 4: Waste Reduction
Reusing and Repurposing
©The Field Museum, ECCo
56
• Residents commonly cited easy, at-home water conservationpractices as part of their daily routines.
• Residents are becoming more aware of the benefits of usingrain barrels, rain gardens, and native plants at home.
• While some residents pointed to Lake Michigan as evidence ofunlimited water supplies, others recognized it as a valuable andfinite resource.
CCAP Strategy 4: Waste Reduction
Water Conservation
©The Field Museum, ECCo
57
• Offer inter-generationalprograms that focus on sharingpractices related to recycling,repurposing, and reusing.
• Provide easy access to recyclingprograms for all residents orhelp CBOs implement their ownlocal recycling programs.
• Support businesses that offerrepair services.
• Publicly celebrate residents whopractice waste reduction.
CCAP Strategy 4: Waste Reduction
Recommendations
©The Field Museum, ECCo
58
CCAP Strategy 5: Adaptation
Adaptation: Perceptions and Awareness
©The Field Museum, ECCo
• Our researchers defined climate change adaptation aseverything we can do to reduce the impacts of climatechange on the Chicago region that occur as the result ofextreme weather events.
• Adaptation often fell last in communities’ rankings of CCAPstrategies because of poor understanding of the word andconfusion of the terms “adaptation” and “mitigation.”
• While adaptation is still an unclear concept for many,adaptation strategies, such as creating more green spaceor gardening, are of high importance in most communities.
60
CCAP Strategy 5: Adaptation
Urban Agriculture & Community Gardens• Many community organizations
are using urban agriculture as away to address a myriad ofissues including food access,job creation, youth development,education, beautification, crimeand safety, and senior well-being.
• Residents are sometimes waryof gardening in their yards forpractical reasons such as spaceconstraints and poor soil qualityor due to social stigma (seeSlide 32).
©The Field Museum, ECCo
61
CCAP Strategy 5: Adaptation
Local, Seasonal Food• Farmers’ markets thrive in many neighborhoods and provide
access to fresh meat and produce in “food desert” areas of thecity. They also connect sustainable food production to jobgrowth, healthy living, and appreciation of nature.
• Cultural preferences for “natural” food and home-cooked mealshave led many to adopt organic, seasonal, and local diets.
©The Field Museum, ECCo
62
CCAP Strategy 5: Adaptation
Land Stewardship• For some residents,
environmental stewardship is amoral responsibility – a way tolive in accord with nature.
• Cultural/community heritagecan provide entryways intocommunity-specific stewardshipinitiatives by reinforcing claimsto the land.
• Residents without easy accessto natural areas have becomestewards of the land in otherimportant ways, e.g. throughcommunity gardening initiatives.
©The Field Museum, ECCo
63
CCAP Strategy 5: Adaptation
Connecting to NatureChicagoans connect to and usenature in a variety of ways, including:
©The Field Museum, ECCo
- bike trails- gardens- parks- vacations to natural areas- connections to farms/farmers- Lake Michigan- fishing- paddling- nature preserves- land ownership
64
CCAP Strategy 5: Adaptation
Environmental Education• Residents turn to both formal and
informal educational sources tolearn about climate action.
• Many noted that they learn aboutclimate science when their childrenlearn about it at school.
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Examples, L to R: children in Forest Glen making pledges to climateaction; children’s art showcasing the ecological importance of butterflies;educational workshop about energy efficient cultural traditions
65
CCAP Strategy 5: Adaptation
Recommendations• Provide empty lot owners with incentives for leasing unused land to
organizations for beautification and gardening purposes.• Reinforce links between cultural heritage and stewardship.• Support programs to plant trees in public areas to provide both cooling
shade and neighborhood beautification.• Create new arenas for intergenerational learning about adaptation
strategies.• Encourage residents and business owners to plant climate-friendly
gardens that showcase native plants and edibles.• Work with local organizations to integrate climate change information
into financial education classes.• Connect local concerns about flooding and water contamination to
green infrastructure as a strategy for storm water management.• Encourage residents to find relief from hot days in shady natural areas
like forest preserves and parks.©The Field Museum, ECCo
66
Word-of-mouth is an essential source of community news andprovides credence to information that residents receivethrough other channels.
Word-of-MouthCommunication & Dissemination
©The Field Museum, ECCo
68
Many communities have long-held traditions of conveying messagesand community identity through public art in visible public spaces.
Public ArtCommunication & Dissemination
©The Field Museum, ECCo
69
Demonstrating rather than merely communicating greenstrategies is key to engaging residents.
Communication & Dissemination
Green Demonstration Sites
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Green roof in Forest Glen Reclaimed wood staircase in Bronzeville
70
• Create word-of-mouthcampaigns through informalcommunications networks.
• Educate local opinion leaders onclimate change and deploy themas climate action ambassadors.
• Provide support for communitiesto develop green demonstrationsites, including through publicarts programming.
Communication & Dissemination
Recommendations
©The Field Museum, ECCo
71
• Residents turn to a range of community/ethnic newspapers,radio shows, and local and international televisionprograms for information and news.
• Local media provides communities with extensive coverageof salient international and local events, whereas nationalmedia is a source of more generalized information.
• Topics covered in local media outlets can serve as potentiallinks to climate action topics.
Communication & Dissemination
Established Media Outlets
©The Field Museum, ECCo
72
• Though most participants reported using the Internet, themajority do not actively seek general climate changeinformation, in part because they are unsure where tolook.
• Some residents consult the Internet for green DIY projects.• Many CBOs expressed a desire to increase their online
presence.• Older residents (40+) prefer to receive information by
email, word-of-mouth, and mailings than by socialnetworking sites or texting.
Communication & Dissemination
Digital Media
©The Field Museum, ECCo
73
• Link climate action to topics that already receive significantcoverage in local media
• Pitch media stories about Chicago’s climate action work tointernational media outlets.
• Work with CBOs to drive website usage and to providecommunity-specific information about climate action resources.
RecommendationsCommunication & Dissemination
©The Field Museum, ECCo
74
Research to Action
Creative Models for Engaging Residents
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Art & Heritage
Gardening/Urban Agriculture
Green Demonstration Communities
Youth Development/EducationRecycling/Repurposing
These five topics are especially promising for their ability to mobilize residentsaround social and environmental/climate change-related concerns:
76
Key Results IResearch to Action
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Founded in September 2009 by DOE in part asa response to ECCo’s CCAP research.Engages 27 community organizations in scalingup energy efficiency efforts in their communitiesand becoming environmental ambassadors.http://fieldmuseum.org/explore/department/ecco/EAN
A two-year, community-intensive version of theEAN that aims to scale up energy efficiencyefforts and residential retrofits by targetingparticular blocks and community networks andconnecting energy efficiency to othercommunity concerns.http://www.claretianassociates.org/display.aspx?pointer=10493
77
Key Results IIResearch to Action
©The Field Museum, ECCo
Chicago Region Initiative for Better Buildings(CRIBB)
Draws on CCAP and quantitative research tobuild a market for retrofits within the Chicagoregion. $25M initiative funded by the U.S.Department of Energy and led by the ChicagoMetropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)with the City of Chicago Department ofEnvironment http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/policy-updates/-/blogs/291266
Translates Field Museum research intocommunity education and organizing tools thatground climate change in Chicagoneighborhood culture. Helps communitiesmobilize residents around CCAP, CAPN, andcommunity concerns.http://fieldmuseum.org/explore/department/ecco/making-climate-change-local
78
Key Results - OverviewResearch to Action
©The Field Museum, ECCo
NOVEMBER 2, 2009 Mayor Richard M. Daley launches the Energy Action Network-Chicago(EAN) at the Chinese American Service League in Chinatown. The EAN was formed on thebasis of ECCo's research, and ECCo serves on the EAN Leadership Team.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2010 City of Chicago celebrates the 2nd anniversary of the CCAP at TheField Museum, focusing on engagement. ECCo staff participate in a panel discussion andtour Mayor Daley around the Climate Change Exhibit.
SPRING-WINTER 2010 April 21, 2010: CMAP and the City are awarded a $25M RetrofitRamp-Up grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, based on a proposal that highlightsECCo’s research as a unique engagement strategy. December 2010: ECCo is chosen aspart of the Communications Strategy Team.
DECEMBER 17, 2010 ECCo presents webinar on its CCAP engagement strategy to theClean Air Partnership, which serves as the secretariat for a network of municipalities acrossthe Greater Toronto Area and Southwest Ontario working collaboratively to develop andimplement clean air and climate change actions.
MARCH 1, 2011 ECCo launches the Chicago Community Climate Action Toolkit project,which engages four study communities—Forest Glen, Pilsen, South Chicago, andBronzeville—in developing locally-led climate action programs. The Boeing-funded projectwill result in a Web-based toolkit to be shared with partners across the region.
MARCH 1, 2011 ECCo develops first draft of Community Adaptation Strategies for theChicago Wilderness Climate Action Plan for Nature, based in part on CCAP engagementresearch findings.
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Key Results – Overview (cont.)Research to Action
©The Field Museum, ECCo
MARCH 11, 2011 ECCo receives an Environmental Justice Award for its community-basedclimate action work at “The Culture of Climate Change” conference, sponsored by TheGraduate Center at the City University of New York.
APRIL 30, 2011 Claretian Associates and Spanish Coalition for Housing launch the SouthChicago Retrofit Project with an event attended by 300+ residents. The project was formedon the basis of ECCo's research in the community, and ECCo serves as a project adviser.
SPRING 2011 U.S. Department of Energy requests short write-up of ECCo’s research-to-action strategy to feature as a best practice on its newly launched website.
MAY 2, 2011 ECCo presents webinar on its CCAP engagement strategy to University ofNotre Dame Climate Change and Adaptation Research Symposium.
JUNE 2011 ECCo releases comparative visual report analyzing findings from seven studiescompleted to date, by CCAP strategy.
JUNE 29, 2011 The Energy Action Network-Chicago receives the Victorine Q. Adams Awardfrom the National Fuel Funds Network in recognition of institutional innovation andachievement.
OCTOBER 2011 ECCo publishes article on its CCAP engagement work in EnvironmentalAnthropology Today (New York: Berghahn Books): “Linking Climate Action to LocalKnowledge and Practice: A Case Study of Diverse Chicago Neighborhoods.”
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For More Information, Visit Us on the WebAdditional Resources
http://fieldmuseum.org/climateaction
©The Field Museum, ECCo
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