Councils spreading climate conversations with Climate Fresk workshops across Aotearoa
Emily Mabin Sutton
GM Climate Club, Workshop Facilitator, and Independent Director.
Last year in Aotearoa, many of us have realised we are witnessing a pivotal moment in history – a moment where communities have to come to terms with behaviour change very rapidly in order to create the emissions reductions we need to get to a liveable world. We no longer live in the hypothetical “future state”- climate change is here, now, affecting us.
Councils across the motu are tasked with the role of communicating the realities of climate weather and risks to their communities, and empowering locals with the knowledge and solutions they need to prepare for what’s to come and change to bend the emissions curve.
Alongside the conversations around coastal adaptation, managed retreat, and emergency preparation; our team recommends to still focus the conversation around mitigation. It’s not too late to bend the curve and we all need to begin to understand the behaviour changes required and become active participants in the journey toward a sustainable future.
A key instrument at the heart of this transformation can be a series of climate workshops and community engagement. We have found Climate workshops to be a dynamic tool that not only educates but also inspires councillors, staff and community members to embrace climate action in all aspects of their work and beyond. Below, our Lead Facilitator delves into the invaluable benefits of leveraging climate workshops to navigate local community conversations in New Zealand.
Feedback from Pippa, climate action ambassador at Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, who ran workshops for staff and councillors in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle:
“Loved the Climate Fresk – it’s just a good way of seeing how it all fits together, even if the realisation of how big the consequences are can be a bit confronting. It’s really useful to do the Fresk with colleagues so you can work through the action plan together and help each other on the journey.”
Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau – Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
Stakeholders a Climate Fresk Workshop can help with:
1. Empowering Councillors with Crucial Context for Policy Decisions
Climate workshops serve as a cornerstone for building a deeper understanding of the climate crisis among decision makers. Combine your Governance and Executive Leadership Teams into one workshop to build morale and team culture. By providing a platform for interactive discussions and expert insights, these workshops empower councillors to grasp the complexities of climate change and its implications in policy decisions. This helps councillors come to the understanding before the “we wish we had known sooner” moments.
2. Cultivating Community Climate Champions
Through climate workshops, we have the opportunity to nurture a new generation of climate champions within communities. Facilitation training enable community ambassadors to become well-versed in the science of climate change, and be passionate advocates for climate action in communities. They become ambassadors for change, driving momentum toward our collective sustainability goals.
3. Empowering Staff to Make Changes
Reporting and re-organising for climate action can seem like a daunting change from business as usual, but with the right knowledge and tools, they become more manageable. Climate workshops equip teams with the skills needed to navigate climate strategy effectively, bringing everyone on-board to enthusiastically support sustainability targets.
Ultimately, we all need to do everything we can, as urgently as possible. By equipping teams, councillors and communities with the knowledge and skills needed, is a great step to ensuring your community is resilient and equipped for the future.