Edinburgh Communities Climate Action Principles

01|Introduction

02|Activities

Background

Late2020theCityofEdinburghCouncil(CEC) publisheditsNetZerostrategywhereit recognisedthatinordertorealisethe ambitiousgoalofnetzeroby2030CECwould requiresignificantparticipationand collaborationfromcommunitiesandresidents fromacrossEdinburgh.

ShortlybeforeCOP26EdinburghVoluntary OrganisationsCouncil(EVOC)andOurFuture Edinburgh(OFE)weresponsoredbyCECto workinpartnershiptodevelopaforumor engagementspaceforcommunitiestoactively engageinclimatediscussionsandshared actions.

Thenewengagementspaceistaskedwith maintaininganongoingdialoguewithcitizens andcommunitiesaboutthetransformationthat needstohappeninthecity,ifwearetogetto netzerocarbonemissionsby2030.Itisalso intendedthatthespaceshouldproduce practicalactions,collectivedecisionsand deliverchangecollaboratively.

IncreatingtheforumEVOCandOFEdecided thatitwasimportanttounderstandthecurrent landscapeofclimateengagementinEdinburgh.

Thepartnershipfacilitated2onlineworkshops and1physicalworkshopintheOldFireStation onLauristonPlace.Theworkshopsexploredthe natureofwhatparticipantsfeltisneededand whatisdesiredfromanewspaceforclimate engagementinEdinburgh.Thefirstworkshop lookedatwhatpositivechangeshad happenedinthepastyear,whatkindsof spacesparticipantshadseenandliked,and whatthingstheyfeelareimportantfor engagingcommunitieswiththeclimate emergency.

Thesecondworkshopwasframedaroundwhat climateengagementmightlooklikeinthe futureandaskedparticipantstoimaginenew climateengagementspace(s)indepth.

Theresultsfromtheworkshopshavebeen reflectedinthisreport,givinganoverviewof thetheactivitieswhichtookplaceduring workshopsandshowstheresultsfromthat process.Thereportthensummarisestheresults intoEngagementPrinciplesforEngagementon ClimateActionasablueprintforwhatthe publiccanexpectfromtheemerging engagementspacewhichwewillcall ‘EdinburghCommunitiesClimateAction’.

Workshopactivity1:Letsdesignanewspaceforcitywideclimateaction

The‘Letsdesignanewspaceforcitywideclimateaction’tookplaceonlineanduseda combinationZoomonlinemeetingsandGoogleJamboardasawayofbrainstormingideas andcontributions.Theactivityarrangedparticipantsintofocusgroupswheretheywere askedtoconsiderandrespondtothethreequestionsshownbelow.(Thesecondquestion alsousedvisualaidstohelpparticipantshavetermsofreference).

Questions:

Whathaveyouseenwhichyouthinkhas hadapositiveimpactontheClimateand natureCrisisoverthepastyear?

Theexamplesbelow,eachshowadifferent approachtodiscussionandcollaborationon theclimateandnaturecrisis.Whatdoyou likeordislikeaboutthem?

Whatdoyouseeasthemostimportant thingstoconsiderincreatingaspacein Edinburghforcollaborationontheclimate andnatureemergency?

WorkshopActivity2:Whatdoesclimateengagementlooklike1yearfromnow

The‘whatdoesclimateengagementlooklike1yearfromnow’activitywasafarmorecreativeand involvedactivity.Participantswerearrangedintogroupsof5-8andaskedtoimagineEdinburgh1 yearfromnow.Theywerethenaskedtoimaginewhatkindofengagement,resourcesharingand collaborationcouldtrulysupportthecity’sNetZero2030ambitions.

Thegroupswerethenaskedtolookatawheelwithaclockfaceinthemiddleandquestionsonthe outside.Thewheelwasdividedinto4categoriessplitinto2sectorseachandgroupsweretasked withrecordingtheirthoughtsonpost-itnotesandstickingthemineachofthe8sectors.The categoriesaskedparticipantstoconsiderwherethespacemightbelocated,whatactivitieswould happenthere,whowouldbeinvolvedandhowcollaborationshouldhappen.

Asthegroupsworkedclockwisearoundthewheeltheparticipantswereaskedtoconsiderkey prioritiesforeachcategorywhichtheycouldpresentbacktotherestoftheworkshopparticipants.

Thelearningsfromthisactivityhavehelpeddevelopadeeperunderstandingofcommunityclimate engagementaspirationsandtodeveloprobustprincipleswhichcanbeusedasaroad-mapforthe futureclimateforum.

03|Results:workshopfindings

Designinganewspace

Oncetheactivitieswerecompletedtheresultsfromthefirstactivitywerecombinedandcomments andarrangedintofourkeyareasoflearning.Thefirstcategorywasthe‘locationandaccessibility’ or‘where’theforumislocated.Thesecondcategorywas‘inclusionandsocialvalues’or‘who’,the thirdcategorywas‘activities’orwhat’andthefinalcategorywas‘collaborationsandwaysof workingtogether’or‘how’.Onceallthecommentswherecategorisedtheywereabletoberefined intoasetofdesignprincipleswhichcouldinformthedevelopmentofthethecommunityclimate forum.

Thesecondsetofresultsprocessedfromthefirstactivitywerederivedfromthefollowingexamples ofdifferentengagementspaceswhichparticipantswereaskedtoreviewandcommenton.These resultshavebeenusedtohelpunderstandwhatspacesandapproachesarepopularandto determinequestionsthatshouldbeconsideredwhenusingspecificspacesandapproaches.

Temporary&pop-upspaces

Creativetemporaryspaceswherelocalscan discussissues,accessmaterialsandmeetothers

ParticipantsFeedback:

OnlineEngagement

Onlinedigitalengagementhasbeenused significantlythroughoutthepandemicasanother wayofhavingfacetofacecontactwithpeople withoutbeingthereinperson.

ParticipantsFeedback:

Usingdigitalengagementtoolsonlinewas positivelyreceivedbyparticipantsandwasseenas awayofinvolvingmorepeopleandbeing inclusive.Otherkeypointswerethat:

•on-lineengagementscaleswell,reachespast physicalchallenges,makingaccessmore availableandcouldhavethemostimpact.

•Onlinemeetingsgiveaccesstopeoplewho struggletomeetinperson

•Onlinemeetingsaregoodenablingadifferent levelofaccessibilityandhelpingovercome traditionalbarriers(notjustphysical)

•Onlinemeetingsaregoodatincludingkidsin aninterestingbutalsoinformativeway!

KeyQuestions:

•Onlinelivingcarriesaheavycarbonfootprint andisdetrimentaltoourwellbeing.Ithasits placebuthowcanwemanageitinahealthy andenvironmentallyrespectfulway?

ParticipatoryWorkshops

Participatoryworkshopsarespaceswhere participantscanapproachissuesininteractiveways usingtoolsandapproachestofostermeaningful discussion.

ParticipantsFeedback:

Participatoryworkshopswereapopular engagementapproachformakingcontentfunand approachable.Otherpointswerethat:

•Deliberativeworkshopscouldbeamoreregular alternativetocitizens'assemblies

•Theycouldbereallyusefulforgeneratingand refininggoodideas

•workshopscouldbegoodforoffering participatoryactivities,games,encouraging informallearningandpromotinglocalinitiatives

•Experienceofpreviousworkshopshadbeen positiveandcouldbeagain.

KeyQuestions:

•WilltheCouncilrecogniseresults,opinionsand ambitionofthepeople?

•Howcanworkshopsachievegooddiversity whenfacilitated?

•postCovidinpersoneventsmightbeless inclusiveinthemediumtermbutmightbevital anyway.Howcanweensurethattheprocesses aresafe?

Temporaryandpop-upspacesreceivedmixed reactionsbutitwasfeltthatthesecouldbe combinedwithmorepermanentoptionstocreate ayearroundfocusonclimateissuesin communities.Someofthekeyconsiderations raisedwerethat:

•Pop-upspacescouldeffectivelyengageand informpeopleacrossthecityaslocallybased outlets

•Pop-upspacescouldbeagoodopportunity forcommunitiestoengagelocallyinan excitingnewway

•Pop-upsinlocalspacescouldbegreatfor connectinglocalpeopleusingthespace.

Keyquestions:

•Howcantemporaryspacesleadtothe buildingoflongertermlongerdiscussions andactions?

•Whatdotemporaryspacesofferwhich permanentbuildingsandspacesdonot?

•Whathappenswithinformationgainedfrom eachpop-up.Willinformationbecollated andshared?

ClimateCafe's/permanentlocalclimatecentres

ClimateCafesareopen,inclusivespacesfor peopletogettogethertotalkandplanactionon climatechange.Theyareusuallybasedin communitiesandcanactasahuboffunclimate activities.

ParticipantsFeedback:

ClimateCafe’s/permanentlocalclimatecentres havebeenwellreceivedbyparticipantswhosaid that:

•Theywouldbegoodforengagingaudiences whoarenotyetinvolvedinclimateactions.

•Positivespacesforpeopleonlowincomesto accessadviceonsavingmoneye.greducing foodwaste,accesstocheaperandnutritious food,moreefficientheatingsystems.

•Agoodopportunityforlikemindedpeopleto cometogetherandbuildoneachothers ideas.

•AFlexibleoptionforsomepeoplewhomight wanttobeinvolvedatdifferenttimesbutwho areoftenunabletoattendregularmeetings.

•Aplacewherepeoplecanplanpractical actionsnowandtalkaboutotherideasforthe futureincomfort.

KeyQuestions:

•Thesespacesmighthavehighoverheads, howcouldweensuretheirlongterm sustainability?

Questionnaires

Onlinequestionnairesarefrequentlyusedasa waytogatherquantifiable(countable)information inordertodeterminehowpopularsomethingisor tolearnhowpeoplefeelaboutaspecificissue.

ParticipantsFeedback:

Questionnaireswerenotparticularlypopularbut participantscouldseetheirutilityasatoolfor gaugingopinionsenmasse,(seecomments below):

•Couldbeinterestingtoexploredigitaltools includingopenideagenerationtools, participatorybudgeting(adaptedforcarbon budgeting),

•cheapandrelativelyeasy

•Involvingthepublicinkeydecisionsand encouragingfuturedebate.

•Allowingpeopletothinkthroughsolutions/ theiradvantagesanddisadvantagesina'free space'createdbyexperts.

•Theyseemsomewhatold-school,newer technologycouldbemoreproductive

•Notveryexcitingandhardtogetreally nuancedinformation

•Selfselectingsounlikelytogetadiversityof viewswithoutalotofhardwork

KeyQuestions:

•Howdoweachievemaximumdiversitywhen usingquestionnaires?

•Wheredotheresultsgoandhowarethey used?

•Whosetsquestionsandanalysesresponses?

•Couldquestionnairestakeacommunityaction researchapproach?

Localandneighbourhoodevents

Localandneighbourhoodeventscantakemany formsbutexamplesmightbestreetparties, marketsandfestivals.

ParticipantsFeedback:

Localandneighbourhoodeventswereconsidered tobeareallyeffectiveandpositivewaytoengage communities.Somethereflectionsbelowhighlight this.

•Festivalsandlocaleventscouldbeaninclusive opportunityforpeopletomeetandgettoknow eachother.

•Communityfestivalsandevents,couldprovide spectacleandexcitementforclimateaction

•Acommunityroadshow,movingaround differentcommunitiescouldbereallybeneficial inengagingallcommunities.

CitizensAssemblies

Citizens’assembliesarerandomlyselected groupsofpeoplewhoarebroughttogetherto learnaboutanddiscussanissueorissues,and reachconclusionsaboutwhattheythinkshould happen.

ParticipantsFeedback:

Citizensassemblieswerepopularbuttherewasa strongconcernaboutthelevelofcommitment andprofessionalsupportrequiredtoimplement.

Otherkeypointswerethat:

•Citizensassembliesifutilisedproperlyarean essentialwayforcitizenstoinfluencepolicy makers.-weneedurgentpolicychanges

•Aregoodtowidenout/furtherdemocratise decisionmakingprocessesbutalsostop narrowperspectivesbeingtaken.

•CommunitiesofInterestneedtobe considered,particularlyincontextof20 minuteneighbourhoods;forinstancepeople withdisabilitiesorcarersareoftenvery isolatedwheretheyliveanddependon servicesthatarecitywideetc.

•Needguidancefromreliablesourcesof information

•Examplesfromelsewhereindicatethatthey needtobedonecarefullyandarerelatively resourceintensive.

•Thereneedstobeanunderstandingofthe extenttowhichthereisacommitmentthat outputs/recommendationsbeactedon.

•

KeyQuestions:

•Howcanassembliesreachbeyondinitial participantselection?

•Howcantheprocessavoidbecomingtoo technocratic?

•Howcanthecostsofassembliesbe mitigated?

•Woulditbedifficulttogainbuyinfromthe publicatthisstage?

Forums

Openspaceswhereanyonecanjoinindiscussions, learnaboutissuesandengageindialoguetofind solutions.

ParticipantsFeedback:

Forumswereapopularengagementtoolandthere wassupportusingtheminacreativeway.Therewas concernaboutthembecomingtalkingshops though.Seecommentsbelow:

•Goodideabutneedtopayattentiontodiversity intheroom

•Neededforeducationandpracticalskillsfor careerdevelopment

•Forumsthatenableongoingdiscussionswould behelpful.Notjustone-offeventswithdifferent participantsateach.

•Areallygoodspacetohearpeoplesconcerns

•Needaclearfocus,coulddoaconnectedseries indifferentcommunities.

•Needsflexibleandcreativeformats

•Canbegreat!Canbehardtogetadiversegroup ofpeopletoattend.

•infoonsmallchangesyoucanmakeareagood hooktogetpeopleengaged.

•Thereisaplaceforthemoreformalisedforum approachwhereactionsandprogresscanbe tracked.

•Needtoavoidatalkingshop,guidelinescould behelpful

•postCovidinpersoneventsmightbeless inclusiveinthemediumterm-butstillvital

•couldbereallygoodbutworrythatcouncilwill notrecogniseambitionofthepeople

KeyQuestions:

•Howcanworkshopsachievegooddiversity whenfacilitated?

•HowdowemakesurethattheforumsareCovid safe?

•WilltheCouncilrecogniseresults,opinionsand ambitionofthepeople?

•Howdoweensurepragmaticactionandavoid talkingshop?

WHAT-ACTIVITIES

PrinciplesIntroduction

Thissectionexplorestheprinciples distilledfromtheworkshopswhichhave beenseparatedintofourdistinct categoriesofprinciple.Undereach principleheadingtherearebulletpoints whichrelatetotheprincipleand conversationpointsduringtheworkshops. Theprincipleswillguidethedevelopment ofanengagementspaceforcommunity climateactioninEdinburgh.

WWHO

TAHW WOH

WHERE-LOCATION&ACCESSIBILITY

Localfocusbuildinginto citywidecollaboration

•Localfocustranslating intocitywideshared actions

•EngageLocally(using communitycentres, religiousbuildingsetc)

•Engageusingsmall spacesortemporary structures(pop-ups)

•Engagefromcitycentre andcommunity/town centres

Makingparticipationaccessible toall

•Combineonlineand physicalengagement methods

•Engageinplaceswhere peoplealreadyaccess services

•Engagepeopleinthe workplace

•Useavarietyofpublic engagementapproaches

Progressiveofcollaboration Style

•Faircollaborationwith localdecisionmaking

•Energisingandfun processes

•Workingtogether strategically

•Co-developmentand involvement

•Buildingcapacityand notextracting

HOW-COLLABORATION&WAYSOFWORKINGTOGETHER

CapacityBuilding

•Opportunitiesfor upskilling,education, andtraining

MeasuringSuccess

•Monitoringand Evaluation

PracticalAction

•Focusonpractical solutions

Workingconstructivelywith importantstakeholders:

•Workingwithand receivingsupport fromgovernmentand localauthority

•Involvinglocal businesses

Crosscuttingcollaboration:

•Meetingpeoplewhere theyarewithchallenges whichrelatetothem

•Approachingthrough crosscuttingissuesbreakingsilos

Constructiveshared actions:

•Startingwithsmaller actionsinitiallyto buildconfidence

•Focusonpractical solutionstogether

•Collectivefundingand procurement

ConnectingandSharing

•Showcasing successfulprojects& raisingawareness

•Informationand resourcessharing

•Supportandadvice

•Connectingpeople& efforts

Collectivebargaining

•Engagingand persuadinglarger organisations

Inclusivevalues

•Transparency andopennessin forumprocesses andactivities

ScaleofActivities

•Needtoengage withcriticalmassto affectcitywide change

DiversityofGroups

•Seekhelpfromgroups& individualswithexperience

•Involveinfluentialpeople& groups

•Needtobewelcomingto diversityofgroups

•Engagewithlocalbusinesses

WHO-INCLUSION&SOCIALVALUES

SocialDiversity

•Involvemixofsocial diversitiesIncluding:Cultural diversity;Racialdiversity; Religiousdiversity;Age diversity;Sex/Gender diversity;Sexualorientation; Disability)

DiversityofOpinions

•Opentoarangeof opinionsandlived experiences

•Approachablediscussions (nottootechnical)

AnewspaceforClimateEngagementinEdinburgh

FromthePrinciplesforEngagementonClimateActionwewillestablishanewspacefordialogue, communityengagement,collaborationandlearningforEdinburghwhichwillhavefourcoreworkingareas tobeginwith.Thesereflecttheneedforthirdsector(communitygroups,charitiesandsocialenterprises) andengagementwithlocalgroupsatvariouslevels.Thiswillinvolveaadiversityofapproaches,appropriate tothedifferentstakeholdergroups.ThenewclimateengagementspacewillbeknownasEdinburgh CommunitiesClimateActionandwillbeco-producedwithcommunitygroupsacrossthecity.Belowisthe initialaimandfocus,aswellascoreworkingareasofEdinburghCommunitiesClimateAction.

EdinburghCommunitiesClimateActionvision:

CommunityClimateActionEdinburgh’svisionisforcommunitiesandgroupsacrossEdinburghtobeworking towardnetzeroby2030.Toachievethis,thegoalofCommunitiesClimateActionEdinburghwillbemaximise communityparticipationandleadershipinlocalnetzeroactionswithinEdinburghbyworkingwith communitygroupsandorganisationsandusingadiverserangeofengagementapproaches.

FocusofEdinburghCommunitiesClimateAction:

1.Dialogue:increasedopportunitiesforgroups,communitiesandstakeholderstoinfluencepolicyand exploreissuestogetheratastrategiclevel.

2.CommunityEngagement:facilitatingandencouragingengagementswhichcansupportlearning, increaseddialogueandcommunity-ledclimateactionswithincommunitiesthroughworkshopsand otherparticipatoryapproaches.

3.Collaboration:connect,empower,andsupportcommunitiesandgroupstotakeactiononclimate togetheracrossthecity.

4.Learning:ImprovedknowledgeandunderstandingaswellasenhancedCapacityoforganisations, groupsandcommunitiestodelivereffectiveclimateinterventionsacrossEdinburgh

PotentialWorkAreasofEdinburghCommunitiesClimateAction:

2.CommunityClimateForum

TheCommunityClimateForumwillbeaspace forandshapedbygroupsandorganisations acrossthecitytodiscussandplanstrategic climateactionsandpolicies.Thecitywideforum couldbeaspacewherekeyclimateissues facingthecityareexploredandwaysof addressingthemidentified.Resources,learning andskillscouldalsobesharedwithintheforum.

4.LocalClimateEngagementProjects

EdinburghCommunitiesClimateActionwill encourageandsupportasmallnumberof communityengagementprojectswhichare developedwithlocalgroupsthatcontributeto achievingacommunitylednetzeroactions. Thesemightincludeexploringcreationofclimate actionspaces,netzeroneighbourhood workshopsandsupportingfacilitatorstoengage communities.

3.ClimateLearningRoom:

TheClimateLearningRoomwillbeaperiodicset ofthemedworkshopsfocusingonaspecificissue (e.gretrofittingtenements)withdifferent stakeholdersfromacrossthecitywhowanttobe orshouldbeinvolvedinaddressingthatproblem atastrategic,policyandpracticallevel.

1.MappingGroups&Projects

Mappingwillbeundertakenasawayof connectingwithgroupsandtheiractivities. EdinburghCommunitiesClimateActionwillalso explorecommunity-ledmappingatalocallevelas awayofdeepeningunderstandingofgroups, resourcesandactivitiesacrossthecity.

5.CollaborationTeams

CollaborationTeamswillbeaprojectareaof EdinburghCommunitiesClimateActionforum whichlookstocreateofsmallcollaboration teamsbetweenthirdsectorgroupsandother organisations.Theaimwillbeforgroupsacross thecitytoworktogetherpracticallyonshared prioritiesandprojects.