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Community Engagement Presentation at SCPWG November 2008. Research Centre for Stronger Communities Research Fellow - Dr Diane Costello Director – Professor Daniela Stehlik. Resolving Issues. CHALLENGES: Climate Change & Energy Security! TACKLE - global economic crisis!.
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Community Engagement Presentation at SCPWG November 2008 Research Centre for Stronger Communities Research Fellow - Dr Diane Costello Director – Professor Daniela Stehlik
Resolving Issues • CHALLENGES: • Climate Change & Energy Security! • TACKLE - global economic crisis!. • COMPLEX ISSUES - appropriate solutions! • DIFFERS – Resilience & Vulnerability. • BENCHMARK –sustainability! • RESILIENCE: leadership; social & political competence!
Why Community Engagement? • MANAGEMENT -top-down! • DECISIONS • ground level needs! • NRM – “scientific management or experts for solutions”(Nelson et al 2008). • KNOWLEDGE - local & informal types (Brunner & Steelman, 2005) • SYSTEM “Centralised Expert Management”.
Bottom Up Processes • Policies/Programs– target communities! • INFORM -decision makers! • COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT • partnership • Adaptive governance: • Integration of science & local context & complementary roles 4000 Community Land Care Groups Local Agenda 21 – Local Sustainability
Shared Governance Processes • MIXED RESPONSES– • Policy – Implementation. • IDEAL! • POSITIVE: • Challengedecision-making! • NEGATIVE • Inclusive?–powerful - interests. • WORK IN PROGRESS • processes/outcomes.
Maribyrnong City Council Victoria • 1.Information Gathering– local knowledge; • 2.Information Provision– actively engaged – relevant information • 3.Consultation– decisions – impacts! • 4.Participation– empowering –participate! • GOAL: Planners/policy makers –cooperatively -future energy needs.
Community Solutions • 1.Valuable Input - community’s vision! • 2.Awareness & Social Change! • OUTCOME: own issues & solutions! • Climate Change & Peak Oil! • PUSH - energy conservation. • Policies, Programs & Technological Innovations – Efficiency & CO2! • Community Acceptance & Engagement! • FACTORS: enhance and impede – ADAPTATION! Energy Security!
FEEDBACK –Energy Issues • CONSENSUS“reliable electricity supply”! • RESPONSIBILITY“electricity supply & renewable energy sources”. • 1.Government Responsibility– Access! • UNFAIR - costs for connection! • 2.COMMUNITYForce - energy sources! • Low Emission Renewables – sustainable! • Frustration – Financial & Regulatory! • Sustainable Energy– Govt & Community. – • Reliable Energy- government! • Social & Economic sustainability – Long Term solutions! • Immediate solutions!
Climate Change Attitudes • UNDERSTANDING–FACTORS - enhance & impede! • Values, Attitudes & Perceptions: • RISK ANALYSIS– proactively –perceptions! • Lorenzoni, Langford, & O’Riordan’s (2002) FOUR: • DENY - humans affect; not important; • DOUBT - humans influence; is important; • UNINTERESTED– do affect; no overall importance; • ENGAGED - do affect climate & important.
Values & Change • ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES– green actions -value environment. • OTHER INFLUENCES - pro-environment behaviours – legal, practical, financial, peer, religious, or cultural. • SENSE OF COMMUNITY &ATTACHMENT TO PLACE! • High Levels -action community issues!. • Alienated/Excluded - empowered! • Welcome – Participation - volunteering!
Social Capital & Resilience • COMMUNITIES POSSESS! • “links & bonds to networks - family, community, society! • Bonding; Bridging & Linking – ACCESS “funds & resources”! • RESILIENT -Climate Change & Energy Crisis! • Political Power – facilitate change -infrastructure & development. • IMPORTANT - energy security!
Transformational Leadership • CHANGE - community engagement!! • EARLY ADOPTER –sustainability! • LEAD “discussion & debate”! • DECISIONS“best interests”! • MEDIATE“diversity interests”! • STRUCTURE process“short & long-term goals and objectives”. • LONG TERM SOLUTIONS – disenchanted! • COLLABORATION: • “local government, public, private & community organizations”!
Principles & Balanced Justice • COLLABORATION - processes & outcomes JUST! • Procedural justice “rules for participation & decision-making”! • Distributive Justice “outcomes are just”. • imbalances - never achieve justice. • Sustainability - inter-generational justice–“future generations”!. • Intra-generational justice–“current generations –ignored”. • Vulnerable sectors –costs imbalanced! • Balance Principles!
Societal Influence • IMPEDIMENT– Cheap Electricity! • Households– same – 1997 • SMEs 1991/92. • 90% - cost effective –subsidized! • TWO CLASSES - severe hardship! • hardship utility grant scheme! • ETS – CPRT 2010/12. • 20% MRET 2020 – PRICE RISE! • IMPACTS - low incomes & SMEs! • EQUITY -Planning carbon-constrained economy!.
Policy – Incentives & Access • FINANCIAL INCENTIVES - solar hot water & PVC panels! • POPULAR - lower incomes? • SMEs - “energy self-reliant”- feed in tariff - cost effective! – market impediment! • TECHNOLOGIES - sustainable living: • Energy efficient homes, buildings, appliances, retro-fitting - reduce heating, cooling & water needs; PHEV! • Capital Investment - ACCESS - wealthier groups –resilient! • ETS Equity Fund – Low & Middle Incomes!
PLANNING & EQUITY • ATTENTION: Erosion Disposable Incomes! • Global Financial Crisis; Unemployment; Cost of Living; • Vulnerable - Access technology! • SOCIAL POLICIES– Equity!
CONCLUSION • COMPLEMENTARY ROLE • -managing future transition! • VALUED - local knowledge! • DECISIONS -community interests! • EQUITY – planning! • GOVERNMENTS • social, scientific and physical Infrastructure; • process & outcomes fair to combat power imbalances.