Climate Change Handbook: A Citizen's Guide To Thoughtful Action

The guide is a 28 page printed booklet (32 pages in e-booklet version) about climate change for the average American household audience. The guide's goals are to provide basic background on climate science, simple actions and best practices, suggestions for getting involved and a resource section. The team wanted to provide an understandable, relevant overview of the subject and provide enough information for the interested learner to seek detail and learning paths.

The location of the publication (library record and downloadable copies in three formats) is:
http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/handle/1957/20080
One of the e-copies is: http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/20080/CEO4b_Low_res_Large_paper.pdf?sequence=3

The three e-booklets are in Adobe PDF format. One is for quick printing. Another is larger in initial appearance for online viewing. The third will print as a booklet is the user is equiped to do so.
The booklet also includes pull-out Sopris Foundation carbon footprint counter. 5,000 paper copies were printed in January 2011.

Subjects Covered:
Basic Climate Science
What is My Carbon Footprint
Adaptation & Mitigation (including future careers)
How to Engage with Your Local Government
Local Government Action on Climate Change
Citizen Science, Phenology, and Climate Science
Taking Action (things you and your family can do)
Resources

Resources
USDA - NIFA provided the ability of the team to meet as often as it need to by teleconference. This was normally once a month, then quite abit more during the final months.

This is a NNSLE (National Network for Sustainable Living Education) project. NNSLE is an initiative of ANREP. Work on the publication was voluntary. This included the team, authors, and peer reviewers. The cost of the printed version was recovered by booklet sales.

Final design and editing was done by Sandra Arbogast, Diego Banuelos, Byran Bernart and Carlyn Davis of the Forestry Communications Group of Oregon State University.

The project team was comprised of a variety of educators, united by their interest and expertise in the subject areas. Nine extension faculty from seven universities, a European faculty member, a climate specialist from a municipality, and two climate change area specialists from USDA - NIFA.

Evaluation

What we have learned from educators uwhole are using the publication is that it is filled a gap in materials for its audience about a very important area that we all have to learn about. At this time the evaluation is by looking at its use and distribution. It is the only peer reviewed publication on its subject written for citizens of the United States, that we are aware of. As of two weeks ago there were less than 200 copies left from the initial print run of 5,000. Extension educators from around the country have told us that it is a unique product, with nothing like it being "out there." It has and continues to be added to online library collections, Extension resource collections, municipal, environmental organizations, and other resource listings on websites. The majority of copies have been distributed to citizens at local events and workshops around the country. Copies have also distributed in England and in the European Union. It is also being used as a handout at climate change adaptation workshops in the Upper Midwest.

Future Programming

The NNSLE team and the authors intend to periodically update the electronic version of the booklet. We hope that it will continue to be a understandable reference on climate change that can be used "in the town hall" and local library for learning and discussion.

As climate change progresses, our citizens and adult learners will need to adapt to the changes. As in past periods of rapid change we will be called upon to facilitate that learning.

We are discussing future related steps, and would invite participation in the discussion on these.

One will soon start, that being the creation of a listing of "fact-sheet" format pieces on climate change and other sustainability subjects, available on the web. Also, the drafting of a series of new peer reviewed ones.

Also, it would probably be good in the future to do "regional" versions of the our guide. As the climate change related data in down-scaled and our knowledge increases, guide booklets tailored to different regions of the country will be in order.

Files

Climate Change Handbook A Citizens Guide to Thoughtful Action-2011

Apel, Mark, Lauren McDonell, Jay Moynihan, Darien Simon, and Viviane Simon-Brown. December 2010. Climate Change Handbook: A Citizen’s Guide to Thoughtful Action. Contributions in Education and Outreach 4b, Forest Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis. Climate change is real. Average American households are a significant source of GHG emissions, as well as the ultimate end-users of most energy production. Therefore citizens have the potential to make a difference now and for future generations. This handbook provides climate science basics, including the historical changes in GHG releases, the roles that lifestyle and population play in the climate scenario, the significance of carbon footprints, and an overview of the current climate situation. A detailed carbon counter is attached to the guide. The guide then illustrates the difference between adaptation (taking steps to live with the changes) and mitigation (taking steps to slow the rate of change.) Adaptation examples include food, water, shelter, transportation, recreation, and careers. Mitigation focuses on effectively engaging with local government, through serving on advisory boards, communicating with public officials, and leading community climate change actions. One useful way to mitigate climate change is through citizen science efforts. Citizen scientists help professional scientists better understand the impact of the rate of change on plants and animals, which is crucial for preserving species; and for assessing potential insect and disease outbreaks in agriculture, natural resources and public health. Taking personal action is a key element of this handbook. Citizens are challenged to consume 20% fewer resources, to bring American consumption levels down to Western European levels. Readers are given 10 practical steps to take to make the changes, including a Jumpstart list to complete in a single weekend. The Resources section provides additional information, and readers are encouraged to contact the authors for further questions.