Inclusive Community & Stakeholder Outreach & Input

Objective

Climate Action Plans are more effective and equitable when written and implemented with input from diverse stakeholders who reside within a locality and represent all ages, income levels, races and ethnicities, and abilities.

Are you engaging the full diversity of stakeholders and equitably incorporating their input from planning through implementation?

Examples of Data Needed for Equitable Strategy Development (Qualitative and Quantitative)

Identification of vulnerable communities. Refer to:

  1. CDC Social Vulnerability Index 2018 at the census tract level (available on DNR website)
  2. EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool
  3. In process: Wisconsin Environment and Equity Tool (WEET). The tool will combine, analyze and visualize data online, so government and tribal agencies, community-based organizations, and the public can pinpoint Wisconsin’s most impacted communities. The tool will help all users better understand the challenges impacted communities face from pollution, a changing climate, socioeconomic factors, and other environmental and health hazards.

Examples of Equity-Based Municipal Strategies

Public Participation & Accessibility:

  • Host public meetings, workshops, webinars, surveys, and other methods of connecting with associated communities
  • Ensure participation from communities representing all demographics from different neighborhoods and commercial sectors
  • Ensure special efforts are made so meetings are accessible and affordable to attend for all

Advisory Committees:

  • Establish a community advisory committee comprised of diverse stakeholders, including residents, local government elected officials and staff, businesses, academia, philanthropic organizations, organized labor, faith-based groups, and other local interest groups.

Ongoing Input:

  • Ensure advisory committee helps guide the overall planning process.
  • Create a platform for valuable feedback throughout plan development.

Responsible Local Agency or Department

  • Sustainability
  • Planning & Community Development

Opportunities

  • Communities can reach out to many of the same stakeholders that they engage with during the comprehensive planning process

Obstacles

  • Lack of trust
  • Lack of resources to support community participation

Municipal Examples

  • Milwaukee City-County Task Force on Climate & Economic Equity
  • Dane County

Resources and Contacts for Technical & Policy Support