Collaboration Between Climate Scientists and Community Organizers Produces Effective Public Workshops, Leading to Impactful Constituent Meetings

Scientists have detailed knowledge about climate change impacts, while community organizers have the skills and ability to mobilize constituents and inspire them to take concrete action. This session details an exceptionally productive collaboration between climate scientists and community organizers to reach out to constituents represented by a moderate Republican legislator in coastal Florida. Based on the success of our initial effort, we are planning additional workshops in Fall 2019 and will present the results of these meetings.

We organized a public workshop on effective climate communication and local impacts of climate change in Bradenton, a city in the broader Tampa Bay region of Florida. We chose this community because it is exceptionally vulnerable to sea level rise and a moderate Republican represents the district. Historically, this decision-maker has had a poor voting record on environmental issues and has been silent with respect to policy solutions to climate change. A key element to the success of this effort was the collaboration between academic scientists with content expertise and community organizers with experience in organizing, motivating community members, and training them to take concrete action. Rather than simply presenting the science and the impending climate crisis, we explored various approaches via simulations, role-plays, and the discussion of solutions. In the workshop, we trained participants in the most effective ways to talk about solutions and how to effectively communicate with decision makers. We then met with the representative and his staff to discuss policy solutions the representative could take to address climate change.

The project is a collaboration with social and physical scientists from Eckerd College, a small liberal arts college, and organizers from Environment Florida Research & Policy Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Florida's air, water and open spaces. Environment Florida RPC investigates problems, crafts solutions, educates the public and decision-makers, and helps people make their voices heard in debates over the quality of our environment and our lives.