In the fight against climate change, effective communication is key to rallying support, driving action, and fostering resilience. For cities, towns, counties, regions, and tribal nations, sharpening their climate and sustainability messaging is not just a necessity—it’s a powerful tool for success. The 2024 Climate & Sustainability Communications Cohort, led by Anne Marie Cleary Rauker, ICLEI USA’s Senior Communications Officer, is helping local governments unlock that potential by equipping them with the skills, strategies, and resources to communicate with impact.
From August to October, this dynamic cohort brought together local sustainability staff to focus on crafting messages that inspire change, inform the public, and motivate climate action. The program supported local governments in connecting with their residents, sparking momentum, and building resilient, sustainable communities by teaching participants to communicate the urgency and hope behind their initiatives.
The Foundation of Climate & Sustainability Communications
The cohort kicked off with a foundational session on the essential principles of climate and sustainability storytelling. Understanding that climate action is not just about data but about people, participants learned the importance of connecting with their community’s values, concerns, and priorities. They explored how to define their communication goals and measure success through key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring their messages hit the mark.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding how U.S. communities perceive climate change and what influences their actions
- Outlining clear communication goals to reach diverse audiences
- Defining success with measurable outcomes to track progress
Resources:
- Defining Science Communication (AEIOU)
- Having the Climate Conversation
- What is a Key Performance Indicator (KPI)?
- Climate Opinion Factsheets
- Global Warming’s Six Americas
- International Public Opinion on Climate Change
- [Documentary Film] Path of the Panther
- [Documentary Film] Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story
- [Article] Climate Communications: 10 Research-backed Tips
- [Video] 4 Levels of Listening by Otto Scharmer
- [Documentary Film] Floodplain
- [Documentary Film] Watershed Leaders Network (2019)
- ICLEI USA Member Only Resources
Tools & Platforms
Guest Speakers:
- Joshua Low, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
- Ái Vuong, Filmmaker, TÁPI Studios
Telling Stories That Inspire Action
The second session highlighted the power of storytelling to communicate the urgency of climate change while also offering hope. Local governments learned how to craft compelling, relatable narratives that resonate with their communities. From sharing local impacts to using data storytelling, participants discovered how to engage both internal stakeholders and the public in a way that motivates change and builds lasting partnerships.
Key Takeaways:
- The art of creating compelling climate messages with local relevance
- How to leverage digital tools and visuals to amplify communication efforts
- Developing engagement strategies that reach diverse groups, from residents to elected officials
Resources:
- 6 tips to make climate communication less awful
- Addressing Climate Change Visually
- Global Message Testing Studies Conducted on Climate Change
- It’s a Matter of Trust: American Judgments of the Credibility of Informal Communicators on Solutions to Climate Change
- SMPDC’s Regional Climate Change Impacts Report, Biddeford CAP, Kittery CAP, and Kennebunk CAP.
- Jersey City Photo Contest and Community Voices profiles
- City of Cincinnati, OH X
- City of Fort Collins, CO Newsletters
Tools & Platforms
- Free images for storytelling
- Free graphic design platforms
- Canva
- Adobe Creative Cloud Express
- Visme
- VistaCreate (includes video editing)
- Snappa
- PicMonkey
- Free writing support
- Hemmingway editor
- Grammarly
- ProWritingAid (free passive voice check)
- ArcGIS StoryMaps
- What will climate feel like in 60 years
Guest Speakers:
- Brittany Montgomery, Sustainability Public Information Officer, City of Cleveland, Ohio
Putting It All Together—Creating a Communications Plan
In the final session, participants applied everything they had learned to explore making a comprehensive communications plan. They explored key components like audience targeting, message development, and resource allocation, while also learning how to use project management tools to keep their initiatives on track. This interactive session allowed participants to practice building a communication plan, ensuring they could immediately put their new skills into practice.
Key Takeaways:
- Building a clear communications strategy that resonates with diverse audiences
- Utilizing tools like SWOT analysis and project management platforms (Trello, Asana) to stay organized
- Hands-on experience developing a communications plan tailored to local climate projects
Resources:
- What is SWOT Analysis for a Communication Plan
- ICLEI USA Member Only Resources
- Strategic Communications Plan Template
- ICLEI USA’s Climate & Sustainability Communications Toolkit
Tools & Platforms:
- ICLEI USA’s Strategic Communications Plan Template
- Project management tools
Communicating Climate Action for a Resilient Future
The 2024 Climate & Sustainability Communications Cohort demonstrated just how vital effective communication is for advancing climate action. By helping local governments hone their messaging, our communications experts supported them to connect meaningfully with their communities, spark action, and build resilience in the face of climate challenges. With a stronger narrative, a clearer strategy, and the right tools, cities, counties, towns, regions, and tribal nations are better equipped to lead the charge toward a sustainable, climate-resilient future.
The cohort participants are now poised to tell their climate stories and inspire their communities to take action, push for policy change, and create lasting impacts that will shape a better tomorrow for all.