Civic Engagement and Governance Progress Report - April 2007

From Common Energy UVic

Note: There is now an updated version of this progress report in the Going Beyond Climate-Neutral Progress Report - April 2007

Editors note: Boxes in blue are suggestions.

Boxes in this colour will be questions

The question posed to the Civic Engagement and Governance Working Group:

How can Common Energy work with the University, and engage citizens in university governance and regional planning?

As we began to edit, it became clear that within actions, rationals for the action are some time inserted. If each major action was followed by a statement of rational, the sections on Actions and Proposals will be come clearer.

1) How could student research benefit elements of your plan? In other words, how can we integrate with curricula?

2) Does your section of the plan create a path for going beyond climate-neutral?

To give this document creditability it is important to cite, - Where ever in the document you see a == bold C == pleas insert a citation. We are using footnotes and this code will put it into the document and keep track [1],

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Engagement 2.1 Actions 2.2 Proposals 3 Governance 3.1 Actions 3.2 Proposals 4 Conclusion

[edit] Introduction

Suggested introduction change

Civic engagement is essential for developing the best solutions to the climate crisis and for seeing those solutions implemented, as public policy will respond when civil society engages in the crisis ==C==. In order to establish climate-friendly policy and practice at UVic we must involve the broader university community, regional partners and governments. Ultimately, transforming the campus and the region will require integrated and innovative planning from the household level to the council chambers and beyond. Engaging civil society and governance partners will strengthen CE as new ideas and strategies for the implementation of the BCN plan are identified and incorporated into CE's emergent philosophy.

Move these two paragraphs to the introduction of the whole document

To accomplish this task we need a bold vision that can inspire people. We also need meaningful pathways through which people can engage in shaping a collective future so that they feel ownership and follow-through. How do we create this bold vision, one which engages and organizes people? One answer is to look at the cutting edge in social movement thinking. Such thinking emerges from the same complexity theory that informs our understanding of the uncertainty we face in mitigating climate change. Margaret Wheatley uses this theory to describe the process of change this way: “In spite of current ads and slogans, the world doesn’t change one person at a time. It changes as networks of relationships form among people who share a common cause and vision of what’s possible. This is good news for those of us who want... change... We don’t need to convince large numbers of people to change; instead, we need to connect with kindred spirits. This is why networks are so important. But networks aren’t the whole story. They need to evolve into intentional working relationships where new knowledge, practises, courage, and commitment can develop... From these relationships, emergence becomes possible. ” - Relationships: The Basic Building Blocks of Life, Margaret Wheatley

[edit] Engagement

In the relative microcosm of the University, the beyond climate-neutral goal gives the network an organizing principle for creating intentional working relationships. Now we are working to create connections with “kindred spirits”==C== in the region so we can build a system of influence. This system will ultimately shift the trajectory of the region and in doing so will create both the politics and the policies needed to move toward BCN. Therefore CE needs to increase awareness on campus of climate change issues, and offer ways individuals, groups, and departments can alter their own behaviour toward a more sustainable lifestyle.

However, awareness of an issue does not necessarily lead to behaviour changes; nor with increasing awareness, do people necessarily become more engaged in governance as a means to solve social or ecological problems, for example through attending council meetings, writing letters, and voting for change in elections==C==.

The key is mobilizing citizens to become interested in engaging in civic movements that address issues like climate change. Some strategies may include holding public information meetings, addressing local city council meetings, educating the board of governors at UVic about the CE project, and coordinating special events such as "car free day" in conjunction with local municipalities. By engaging people outside UVic, CE will be able to access the vast resources in the community, in addition to the ones on campus. The more people involved, the greater the capacity for sustainable change ==C==. We will provide tools to get people on campus involved in local governance structures and mobilized to act against climate change through comprehensive strategies targeting different populations. In this way, CE will offer a grassroots approach to organize mobilization to bring UVic beyond climate-neutral.

[edit] Actions

As we began to edit, it became clear that within actions, rationals for the action are some time inserted. If each major action was followed by a statement of rational, the sections on Actions and Proposals will be come clearer.

It is also important to but action and proposals in chronological order

• Ongoing refinement of Common Ground process for facilitating engagement, aggregating knowledge, and benefiting from diverse perspectives.
• Attend local climate change forums hosted by the CRD and local municipalities to share with climate change initiatives at UVic and throughout the region, and to encourage local citizens to become involved in the CE project.
• Research and strategise around best practices for public education campaigns targeting students, faculty and staff.
• Organize a University Challenge between faculties, buildings, teams, etc. and programs such as "Bike to Campus" week.
• Provide tools on how to get involved. The "toolkit" could include council meeting dates, how to get on the speaker's list, where to send letters to local media and elected officials, how to organize a demonstration, how to form a neighbourhood organization, and how to link with other groups already working on the issues.
• Develop strategies for further campus and regional outreach throughout the summer.
• Discuss what the CE governance structure needs to look like in order to promote accessibility, engagement, transparency, and ownership; develop ideas for a balance between emergent structure, and the need for authority and direction.

[edit] Proposals

Can we create a proposal around engaging political science faculty or the MPA programs around curriculum?

• Support for the integration of Common Energy Curricula into classes. Much of CE's strength is drawn from the student body, which is already busy with schoolwork. Integrating the practical goal of moving UVic beyond climate-neutral into curricula will foster engagement and further UVic's institutional goals. The review we've completed of University Carbon Dioxide-Neutral Plans shows that other institutions are beginning to develop this approach.

[edit] Governance

One of the objectives of CE is to communicate with, educate, and engage different governance groups. The target groups include UVic governance and policy-making bodies, and regional governments and community groups working on related initiatives. In order to create policy change and bring the campus beyond climate-neutral, it will be necessary to create awareness of CE and investment in the climate issue within UVic's governance structure.

We need example for the first sentence and specify which GHG reduction initiatives in the second sentence

A great deal of action is taking place on climate change issues at the municipal and regional government level in the region around UVic. CE has an opportunity to significantly influence, and be influenced by, other greenhouse gas reduction initiatives occurring throughout the region. In some cases, the local governing body is ahead of UVic (e.g. Saanich, which has created a greenhouse gas reduction strategy and set targets). In other cases, the opposite is true. However, in all cases there is a much room for UVic to play a leadership role and provide guidance to other governance bodies.

[edit] Actions

• Continue dialogue with UVic's relevant decision-making bodies, including the Office of the President and Board of Governors, on how to involve the work of the CE initiative in the policy-making processes. How can CE and UVic governance work together to develop their goals?
• Create an inventory of where the CRD, member municipalities and non-profit/community groups are in terms of climate change mitigation policy and programs. List key contacts in each area and approach them on behalf of CE to strategize ways to work together.
• Make presentations at council and CRD meetings to inform and educate elected officials and key policy makers about the CE project.
• As the other working groups (e.g. energy, transportation) create their own plans and policy objectives, assist and coordinate the groups in the development of strategies to present plans to relevant governance bodies.
• Collaborate with the Environmental Law Clinic at UVic to research the potential impacts of the Trade, Investment, and Labour Mobility Agreement between BC and Alberta on climate change related decision making at universities and municipalities
• Collaborate with sister organizations - Common Energy UBC, for example. Work to create a provincial network and provide both research and experiential knowledge to interested initiatives.

[edit] Proposals

How do we say the centre power structure while implying governance structure, with different words?

• UVic create a new body that is coalition-oriented and uses existing and new student, governance, and centre structures such as UVSP, Sustainability Office, Faculties, BOG, Office of Community-Based Research, Community Relations and others to ensure UVic develops and implements policies and guidelines that will move UVic beyond climate-neutral.

[edit] Conclusion

Canadians have traditionally imagined a response to climate change focused solely legislation ==C== Hard policy changes that promote stronger protection of ecological systems, thereby mitigating the threats associated with climate change, have been the dominant model==C==. However, this strategy has not effectively spurred innovation, and is potentially too diffuse and disconnected==C===. As an organization CE proposes an innovative approach utilizing the capacities we as individuals have to build a network of change.

However, it is not individual actions that should be emphasized, and in fact promoting individualised responses to a global problem can be disempowering, especially in the face of societal roadblocks to significant changes ==C==. UVic can help to empower both individuals and CE, as universities possess comprehensive capacities of operating, learning, investing, mobilization and citizen development (see M’Gonigle and Starke 2006) which in turn can catalyse local and regional networks of change. Like Wheatley (2007) suggests, connecting networks of individuals can be empowering and facilitate the emergence of large scale networks of change. Locally, there are many places to look to for guidance on climate change actions. Through our actions and proposals, Civic Engagement and Governance is committed to helping CE strengthen network links in order to create the conditions to make change possible.

what local actions?