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”.

Centralised Expert Management- Nelson, 2008

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:  Challenge decision-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.COMMUNITY Force - 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 ” !.  I ntra-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.