Changes in weather and climate, like higher temperatures and more rainfall, are straining state, local, and tribal governments around the world. Institutions and systems responsible for emergency management, energy distribution, transportation, infrastructure, public health, and more are struggling to adapt. Rural communities, in particular, are hard hit by these changes.
Yet these communities play a key role in the future of affordable food, energy, water, and more. Seventy-two percent of land in the United States is classified as rural, but rural residents are often left out of key climate discussions, resulting in apathy and distrust, which hinders climate progress. If we are to effectively respond to rising extreme weather and the changing climate, residents of both urban and rural communities must have the necessary information and opportunity to act.
So to provide a creative, resource-sensitive approach for bringing a community together around these issues, we partnered with the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy to create the Rural Climate Dialogues. The Dialogues use a Citizens Jury approach to give rural residents the resources and information they need to think critically and create sustainable community solutions. Their representative recommendations address actual community needs, which are presented to local, state, and national policymakers.
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
- Location: Itasca, Stevens, and Winona Counties, Minnesota
Scope: Community to Statewide
History: 2014-2016
No. of Dialogues: 3 + Statewide Convening
Length of Dialogues: 3 days in each community
No. of Dialogue Participants: 15-18 in each community
Targeted Participants: General public
Recruitment: Random selection
Target Outcome: Public report
Partners & Funders
We’re working with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy to conduct the dialogues, and funding is provided by the Carolyn Foundation, McKnight Foundation, and Bush Foundation.
Our Approach
The Rural Climate Dialogues took place in Stevens, Winona, and Itasca Counties in Minnesota from 2014-2016. We gathered a small, usually 15-18 people, representative group in each community to act on behalf of their friends and neighbors over 3 days of learning and discussion about the local impacts of climate change. Participants filtered critical information to share with the rest of the community, and developed recommendations to address top climate challenges and realize key opportunities. These recommendations served as a starting pointing for ongoing community conversations and action.
Stevens County Climate Dialogue
Before the Rural Climate Dialogue in Stevens County, residents were noticing weather changes including warmer winters, more precipitation, and stronger storms. In a largely agricultural community like Stevens County, these changes pose threats to the local economy and the quality of life for residents.
To lay the groundwork for the climate dialogue, in early May 2014 we worked with Morris Area High School students to raise awareness of extreme weather and climate issues in the community. Students also distributed energy surveys to their families and neighbors, which helped inform research by the Center for Earth, Energy, and Democracy.
Then in June 2014, we convened fifteen Stevens County residents for 3 days to assess the local impacts of extreme weather and climate patterns, identify community concerns and opportunities to address those concerns, and recommend actionable goals to address risks and build resilience through community action.
Request ReportsSince the dialogue, we’ve continued to work with Stevens County as leaders build resilience through incredible partnerships, individual actions and community programs, such as the Morris Model.
I have to admit when I came here when people talked about climate [change] I thought ‘oh, come on’ – did I ever learn a lot. I am grateful.
-Stevens County Climate Dialogue Participant
ITASCA COUNTY CLIMATE DIALOGUE
In recent years in Itasca County, residents witnessed warmer winters and warming lakes, a changing forest landscape, and stronger storms. These changes pose serious threats to the local economy, local recreational opportunities, and the overall quality of life in the area.
In May of 2015, eighteen Itasca County citizens met for 3 days to study and discuss local climate and weather challenges and solutions. Similar to the Morris Climate Dialogue, participants were randomly selected and stratified to include a balanced representation of the Itasca County population.
Request ReportsI learned a ton of information. I knew of climate change but I really had no idea just how much it affected me personally.
-Itasca County Climate Dialogue Participant
WINONA COUNTY CLIMATE DIALOGUE
Community members in Winona County, Minnesota, are experiencing changes in soil, land, crops, humidity, and the severity of storms. In fact, the area has witnessed three “one thousand year” rainfall events and subsequent flash floods since 2004. These floods can sweep away infrastructure, cause erosion and water pollution, and degrade water habitat, not to mention destroy property and injure residents.
To start engaging with the community around these issues, in February 2016 we hosted an event at Winona Senior High School where about 100 students heard from local experts and discussed their own priorities and concerns about local climate and weather issues.
Then in March of 2016, eighteen Winona County citizens gathered for 3 days to learn more about climate change and discussed the ways their community could become stronger and more resilient. Since then, the community has taken ambitious steps to put their plans into action, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down.
Request ReportsYou can go into a situation with your mind made up, but with the right information you can really change your mind, and I think that’s where we come in when we go home and talk to our neighbors.
– Winona Climate Dialogue participant
RURAL CLIMATE DIALOGUE STATE CONVENING
While each of the three Rural Climate Dialogues produced unique action plans about how their community could respond locally to climate change, a common priority stood out: the need to strengthen connections between local efforts and state agencies and programs. To help make this possible, we hosted a state convening of selected rural residents from each community, state agency representatives, and nonprofit organizations on September 8-9, 2016, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
At the convening, dialogue participants shared their climate action recommendations with state agencies, which included: pursuing a clean energy future, strengthening infrastructure to be more climate resilient, and improving rural land stewardship. State agency staff presented on a number of key climate issues for rural Minnesota, such as resilient transportation, health impacts of climate change, and energy efficiency. Each presentation included how state agency programs were working to address these challenges, including opportunities for rural communities to access funding and other state resources.
Participants spent the two days working across communities, occupations, ages, and more to determine the top priorities, actions, and potential obstacles to achieving resilience in rural Minnesota.
Request Rural Climate Dialogues Reports
We’re delighted you’re interested in our work! Please submit your contact info and we will contact you with resources. By submitting your information you agree to receive latest updates from us via our newsletter.
