On Earth Day and throughout the year, AAAS programs highlight the scientific evidence on climate change – and share how that evidence informs local, state and regional responses to climate change’s effects.
How We Respond is a project launched in 2019 that, through a report and multimedia stories, highlights 18 communities around the country that are incorporating scientific evidence into innovative solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change at the local, state and regional level.
The project builds upon an earlier AAAS effort – 2014’s What We Know report, which collects and presents the evidence of human-caused climate change, including rising sea levels and more intense and frequent weather events like heat waves, heavy rainfall and wildfires.
How We Respond tells a diverse set of stories, ranging from farmers in Sheridan County, Kansas, who are incorporating new water management practices to community partners to local officials in Phoenix who are tackling projects that address high temperatures and heat-related illnesses.
The stories continue to resonate and reach new audiences, said Emily Therese Cloyd, director of AAAS’ Center for Public Engagement with Science and Technology.
“Since debuting How We Respond in the fall of 2019, the Center for Public Engagement has used the spotlights and report in workshops and seminars that train scientists and engineers in how to communicate about climate change solutions and we’ve collaborated with STEM educators within and beyond AAAS on resources that teachers can use to bring these stories to their classrooms,” said Cloyd.
AAAS will also continue to tell new stories of community collaboration in responding to the local effects of climate change.
Said Cloyd, “Over the next few months, we'll be working with AAAS’ Local Science Engagement Network and others on several new How We Respond spotlights that highlight how scientists and communities are identifying and implementing locally relevant climate solutions.”
[Associated image: David Hondula]