Climate Education Partners' New Website, "Your Community Toolbox for Leading in a Changing Climate," is LIVE!

Furthering the work of Climate Education Partner’s (CEP) signature report, “San Diego, 2050 Is Calling. HOW WILL WE ANSWER?” – a first-ever collaboration among community leaders and world-renowned scientists – the new website, “Your Community Toolbox for Leading in a Changing Climate,” provides a resource for other cities and regional centers working to advance solutions that address the impacts of a changing climate.

SAN DIEGO – Climate Education Partners (CEP) has announced the launch of its new website, “Your Community Toolbox for Leading in a Changing Climate,” a comprehensive and multimedia resource for other cities and regions looking to incorporate climate change education and leader engagement into their climate action planning efforts.

From our beaches and bays, mountains and deserts and other natural and enhanced areas, the San Diego region’s quality of life is treasured by those who live, play, work and visit here. This quality of life is critical to the economy and the future generations who will depend upon and enjoy it as well. The changing climate in the region can and will affect that quality of life, as recently witnessed by unusual weather patterns, rising temperatures and other impacts from the region’s changing climate.

Over the past five years, Climate Education Partners leveraged a $5 million dollar investment from the National Science Foundation (NSF), working together with San Diego regional leaders, to provide science-based, locally-focused climate change educational resources and planning tools. Their work showcases regional leadership and highlights solutions taken at the local level.

Working together and driven by collaboration with leading scientists, the San Diego region has become an example of leadership in climate change education and action, and now has one of the country’s most ambitious climate action plans, adopted by the city of San Diego and championed by Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer.

“There are few places in the world as connected to their environment as San Diego so it should come as no surprise that we’re leading the way when it comes to protecting our natural beauty and quality of life,” said Mayor Faulconer.

“We’ve set ambitious goals with our landmark Climate Action Plan and continue to grow as the nation’s leader in solar installations. We’ve proven that you can protect the environment and create the green jobs of the future,” Faulconer said. “That’s why it’s so important that we continue to work together with groups like Climate Education Partners to help others join us in this effort. This new “Community Toolbox for Leading in a Changing Climate” will be an invaluable resource for other cities and agencies looking to advance their climate action efforts.”

“Your Community Toolbox for Leading in a Changing Climate” uses storytelling, presenting key questions, planning processes and lessons learned over the course of CEP’s planning and implementation stages. For cities and regions engaged in outreach efforts to diverse communities, the website describes how CEP translated climate science data into effective communications materials that were then tailored to specific audiences. Additionally, the Toolbox explains how CEP conducted regional leadership interviews and public opinion polls, and actually engaged leaders in the process of seeking solutions.

CEP Project Director and Co-Principal Investigator, Dr. Mica Estrada, is CEP’s lead behavioral scientist and spearheaded the development of the project’s surveying and polling activities. Dr. Estrada notes, “The goal of the Toolbox is to highlight and celebrate how the San Diego region exemplifies the positive actions communities can take when working together to address climate change. The Toolbox describes what we’ve done and how other cities and regions can build on what we’ve learned to protect their quality of life.”

Dr. Estrada continued, “We’re delighted to bring greater attention to our diverse community leaders who are answering the call to think and act in ways that will sustain our quality of life for future generations.”

The Toolbox also describes how CEP worked with leaders from sectors that are critical to successful planning and action, such as business, transportation and government, as well as sectors most affected by the changing climate, like Native American tribes, public health and Latino communities. CEP engaged regional leaders from these sectors who have served as ambassadors to the project. By working together, CEP has created resources that help communities understand the threats and also support their efforts to take action.

CEP is sharing the San Diego Region’s success story with broader communities, nationwide and internationally, in support of building successful and scalable solutions to effectively address the impacts of a changing climate.

Follow this link: https://arcg.is/1efX9C to access the website, Your Community Toolbox for Leading in a Changing Climate. CEP will disseminate it to interested parties and at upcoming events. The staff team and researchers are available to respond to additional inquiries and provide consulting support as requested.