Public engagement in climate assessment: lessons and opportunities
摘要
Cyclical and sustained engagement throughout and beyond individual climate assessment cycles ensures that assessments (1) meet the user need of the moment; (2) reach the broadest possible decision-making community; and (3) evolve from cycle to cycle, building on feedback in each iteration. In short, engagement is critical for the creation of an assessment that is useful, usable, and used. There is a vast range of modes and methods of engagement, from highly interactive, to more passive forms—all of which, when implemented strategically, can contribute to a user-informed assessment. Public engagement can help assessments to grow as a process that brings people together in a “network of networks” that spans disciplines, geographies, and demographics. This paper draws on the experience of engagement specialists from several assessments across geographic scales (national, regional, state, Tribal, and local), highlighting key lessons learned and making recommendations for future assessors.