About This Project

The project addresses the power of data to amplify voices and perspectives of vulnerable urbanites and expand public discourse about a need for climate change adaptation. ND-GAIN and collaborators will host a workshop to glean insight on the climate justice narratives per current data, present tools to increase data accuracy and engagement, and identify solutions and data needed to empower communities in shaping their narratives and holding the public and private sectors accountable.

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What is the context of this research?

The social consequences from climate change have important implications for the wellbeing of urbanites. Even though changes to our climate as a physical phenomenon have no motivated bias toward groups, the policies responding to climate disruptions can be biased (Friel et al, 2011). More vulnerable populations tend to suffer the harshest impacts from climate disruptions (Braubach and Fairburn, 2010; Eriksen and Brown, 2011; Marino and Ribot, 2012). Because of varied vulnerability and distribution of people relative to risk, resulting inequities from climate change can be tied to social structures and policies. This project addresses the potential for communities to measure climate risk and capture the attention of policymakers with data.

What is the significance of this project?

There is currently a knowledge gap in understanding the relationship between social equity and adaptation to climate hazards in urban areas, thereby making it difficult to adapt to risks faced by already vulnerable populations. This workshop will start filling the gap by facilitating dialogue among relevant stakeholders in order to understand limitations of current data and develop tangible, implementable strategies to empower communities in shaping their narratives and holding governments and the private sector accountable. By building on its Urban Adaptation Assessment project (gain.org/uaa), ND-GAIN has the network and expertise to gather this group of researchers and practitioners together and glean insights into equity and adaptation.

What are the goals of the project?

ND-GAIN and collaborators at University of Minnesota have already been approved to host the full day workshop alongside the National Adaptation Forum (NAF) which will take place in May 2017 in Saint Paul, MN. Due to the network created while developing its Urban Adaptation Assessment project (gain.org/uaa), over 30 potential stakeholders have already been identified. By gathering these researchers and practitioners together, this project has the following expected outcomes: a plenary at NAF to present workshop findings, creation of new knowledge disseminated through a webinar series, and concrete recommendations for novel "whole community" tools/frameworks and data needed to accurately share the climate narrative and enhance decision-making.