B2: Communication and capacity building strategy for climate action

The first step towards the development of a target group specific communication and capacity building strategy was a KAP analysis (knowledge, attitude, practices), which established a baseline, in terms of understanding the private sector´s knowledge about climate change, as well as its attitude towards the topic and the practices already in place. The analysis also included a capacity needs assessment, which served as input for ADAPTUR´s capacity building and training program. The findings were also used to train counterparts, consultants, and project members in better understanding the private sector and to improve their communication skills by using the right words, concepts and messages.

 

The training program comprised several topics about climate change vulnerability, climate-proof investment, cost-benefit analysis, national/subnational policies related to climate change, EbA solutions, public-private cooperation, financial mechanism, etc.

 

At the same time, a press campaign was launched in cooperation with local media and journalists. The ADAPTUR website was introduced with regular newsletters, best-practices, case studies and messages from industry leaders. It also contained a resources section with studies, tools and information material.

  • A good understanding of the industry context and the private sector´s challenges, priorities, needs and restrictions.
  • Create attention by linking climate change with business interests.
  • Recognition of private sector work culture and values (fast decision making, time is money, etc.). Offer cooperation and training formats that are suitable for the private sector.
  • Cooperation with industry leaders, known journalists and lead consultants as change agents to position the relevance of adaptation for the sector.
  • Plan some time for understanding your target group and awareness raising before you initiate the first direct contact. Preparing the ground and being well prepared may save you time later.
  • Work together with a professional agency to develop and implement your communication strategy.
  • Identify possible change agents in the private sector that could motivate other businessmen/women to engage in the project.
  • Encourage peer-to-peer dialogue and exchange between private sector actors to build a relationship, increase trust and learn from each other.
  • Offer planning and training formats that are suitable for the private sector context and consider local needs and realities (e.g. business executives normally do not have time to participate in day-long participatory workshops).
  • Recognize realities, limitations, concerns and existing risks for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors especially during pandemics like COVID-19 or other crises.
KNPS
East Asia
Korea National Park Service
- KNPS
KNPS
East Asia
Korea National Park Service
- KNPS
Involvement of emerging heritage professionals and researchers

By providing job and research opportunities, the HeRe Lab plays a key role in empowering emerging heritage professionals and researchers in Italy. The Lab supports emerging professionals in working long-term within the World Heritage field, a working area that is still unstructured and underdeveloped in Italy. This makes HeRe Lab a pioneering example in the country.

Emerging professionals and researchers are involved in relevant  research projects and they are directly contributing to: drafting of Management Plans of World Heritage properties located in Tuscany; Heritage Impact Assessments; museums-related activities; international conferences and projects, as well as a wide range of activities directly related to heritage research and practice.

The involvement of emerging heritage professionals, one of the strengths of the model, is made possible by means of the creation of ad-hoc research stipendia (in Italian ‘borse di ricerca’) to financially support researchers in their activities. The  application for the research grants is a very competitive process overseen by University professors, who guide the selection process depending on the professional figures required to tackle practical needs arising from the field.

The Laboratory is acknowledged as a good practice and a leading example of youth development, as the participation of emerging heritage professionals in research directly contributes to the sustainable development by fostering economic growth and encouraging youth empowerment.

Moreover, the inclusion and involvement of young professionals allows for the application of state-of-the-art research methodologies, also following innovative and intergenerational takes on heritage practices.

The Lab acts as a platform that allows emerging professionals to grow and exchange ideas and solutions with senior researchers and heritage professionals.

Creation of a multidisciplinary team

The success of HeRe Lab lies in its multidisciplinary team, made up of professionals dealing with a wide variety of fields such as World Heritage, urban planning, architecture, art history, development, and economics.. The University of Florence acts as a catalyst for their involvement, through the participation of different faculties in the Lab and in the use of holistic approaches for the creation of sustainable solutions for challenges affecting the historic centre. The Lab has also played an important role in advocating for sustainable strategies in the development of the city, by taking into account urban green spaces, social inclusivity, tangible and intangible heritage protection, economic growth, sustainable tourism, as well as the requalification and enhancement of architectural elements.

The involvement of professionals with diverse backgrounds is the result of the participation of different faculties of the University of Florence, by means of the Council Deliberation n. 506/2015, which formalised the inter-institutional partnership between the University and the Municipality of Florence. Each faculty contributes through its own pool of professionals, researchers and resources.

The Departments involved are: Architecture; Economics and Management; and History, Archeology, Geography, Fine and Performing Arts.

The pool of professionals working for and in collaboration with the laboratory has allowed for a more comprehensive understanding of the significance of the site, its attributes and challenges. This has also  contributed to the establishment  of sustainable solutions aimed at addressing the issues affecting the site considering  the wider urban context through the application of methods and research from different disciplines.

Supporting the formulation of institutional recommendations at regional scale

This Building Block aimed to develop a regional roadmap on MSP and sustainable blue economy agreed by the seven beneficiary countries, as well as neighboring countries involved in another regional activity focused on blue economy (WestMED Initiative): Algeria, France, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, Libya, Portugal and Mauritania. National Focal Points were invited to provide recommendations according to their relevance to five specific themes; these recommendations were then compiled in a survey and prioritized by the National Focal Points and other National Experts. The most voted recommendations were selected and rephrased (when necessary) to compose the regional roadmap.

  • Increasing relevance of MSP and sustainable blue economy in the national, regional and international agendas

  • Pre-existing collaboration between governmental institutions at national and regional levels

  • Building capacity: Before proposing regional meetings, it is important to provide capacity building at national level so that national representatives are better prepared for regional discussions

  • Building cooperation: Before proposing an activity to develop regional recommendations, it is important to organize prior meetings at regional level so that national representatives can meet and get used to working with each other

Showcasing key results through a simplified and interactive storytelling tool

This Building Block aimed to develop a multilingual storytelling tool to showcase both existing conditions and scenarios for the pilot in the Western Mediterranean. The objective was to present the data and information in a simplified and interactive way, and as such to turn complex concepts into notions easily understood by all stakeholders.

  • Professionals with previous experience in developing an online storytelling tool with spatial data visualization

  • Technical reports with the necessary data and information published in advance

  • Teamwork: Those involved in the development of the reports need to work in close collaboration with those responsible for developing the tool to ensure that the key results are properly selected and displayed

  • Structure: Organize the story through different themes, titles, taglines and sections

  • Be concise: Limit the size of the texts to the key messages. If the user is interested in learning more, reports with the full information should be available

  • Technical terms: Whenever possible, avoid using difficult and/or technical language (including acronyms) that might be incomprehensible for a wider audience. If it cannot be avoided, better to add the meaning

  • Responsive web tool: Depending on the type and format of the content, it might be difficult to ensure that the tool is sufficiently responsive across different internet browsers, resolutions and electronic devices

  • Beta version: It is recommended to develop a beta version (pre-release) and then ask some users to play with it before the launch

Building scenarios for MSP and sustainable blue economy

This Building Block aimed to analyze potential future conditions of the Western Mediterranean in order to build three scenarios by 2030: trend scenario; conservationist scenario; and integrated scenario. The developed scenarios DO NOT represent official proposals for the area; instead, they are a starting point for a multi-sectoral and cross-border dialogue about the desired future. A technical report was developed and made publicly available.

  • Existing regional publications on maritime sectors trends

  • Existing regional policies about MSP or blue economy covering at least some of the beneficiary countries

  • Potential areas of development: Identify them based on literature to the extent possible, while using “real-life logic” when it does not exist.

  • Transparency: Justify the goals and assumptions of each scenario, as well as how they were developed. If they are not official proposals, make it clear whenever presenting the scenarios in order to avoid any issue, such as a governmental stakeholder upset because it was not involved in the process

  • How to use: Develop some guidelines with suggestions on how to use and adapt the scenarios during dialogue and negotiation with stakeholders at national and regional levels