see short description

To become resilient and sustainable to the effects of climate change, a city and community – into which mitigation and adaptation efforts will be introduced and implemented – must understand how they are or will be affected by the social, ecological and economic impacts from a changing climate, how social practices contribute to climate change, and what kind of resources – including changes in behavior – are required to mitigate GHGs and achieve sustainable adaptation. However, simply having this knowledge is not enough to prompt action. Real action is achieved when a community is able to mobilize its citizens toward collective participation and invested engagement with climate change issues wherein social practices become modified. This paper seeks to show (1) how a community’s level of interaction with climate change issues can be assessed using anthropological ethnographic research methods, and (2) the steps a community can take to move toward invested engagement on climate change issues via social learning. Invested engagement means taking intentional action for change. Social learning is such a tool that can be used to influence social practices within a community that in turn can lead to intentional action or invested engagement to help a community become and remain resilient and sustainable against the effects of climate change.

Thirty Northfield, Minnesota citizens were interviewed to find out what they know about climate change, what actions they are taking, what they think the solutions are to the problems, and what barriers they have to more fully engage with climate change issues. The interview results are intended to promote and advance the community’s discussion and action on climate change. Analysis of the interviews showed that the interviewees are witnessing climate change, that most are taking at least some action such as recycling or lowering thermostats, that they can name barriers to their own inaction, that they say
communication about climate change remains confusing and is not widespread in Northfield, and that they are able to provide numerous suggestions for what the local and broader leadership should be doing. The analysis also showed wide individual variation within the group. Interviewees who were less knowledgeable about climate change were less likely to be taking action and do not participate in social groups where climate change is discussed. Conclusions are that the whole group would like more and better communication and education from our leaders, that they also expect our leaders to be part of creating solutions to climate change, and that the solutions the interviewees suggested provide a very thorough initial list of mitigation and adaptation strategies for the city’s future climate action plan.