HR: 08:45h
AN: ED31D-04    [Abstracts]
TI: Communicating the Urgency of Climate Change to Local Government Policy Makers
AU: * Young, A
EM: ayoung@iclei.org
AF: ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, 15 Shattuck Square, #215, Berkeley, CA 94704 United States
AB: What are the challenges and obstacles in conveying scientific research and uncertainties about climate change to local government policy makers? What information do scientists need from local government practitioners to guide research efforts into producing more relevant information for the local government audience? What works and what doesn't in terms of communicating climate change science to non-technical audiences? Based on over a decade of experience working with local governments around the world on greenhouse gas mitigation, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability has developed a unique perspective and valuable insight into effective communication on climate science that motivates policy action. In the United States practical actions necessary to mitigate global climate change occur largely at the local level. As the level of government closest to individual energy consumers, local governments play a large role in determining the energy intensity of communities. How can local governments be persuaded to make greenhouse gas mitigation a policy priority over the long-term? Access to relevant information is critical to achieving that commitment. Information that will persuade local officials to pursue climate protection commitments includes specific impacts of global warming to communities, the costs of adaptation versus mitigation, and the potential benefits of implementing greenhouse gas-reducing initiatives. The manner in which information is conveyed is also critically important. The scientific community is loath to advocate for specific policies, or to make determinate statements on topics for which research is ongoing. These communication hurdles can be overcome if the needs of local policy practitioners can be understood by the scientific community, and research goals can be cooperatively defined.
UR: http://www.iclei.org/us
DE: 6309 Decision making under uncertainty
DE: 6334 Regional planning
DE: 1620 Climate dynamics (3309)
DE: 1630 Impact phenomena
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting