Chicago Wilderness: Climate Change

I went to a really great conference on Tuesday hosted by Chicago Wilderness's education team. It was basically an introductory conversation regarding climate change education in Chicago, how we all might collaborate, and what resources are still needed. It was one of the best conferences I've been to in a LONG time, and I'm very excited that I will be serving on the Education Team's Climate Change Task Force for the next several years.

Some interesting resources I wanted to share:

Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Sciences
This is a very nice distillation of the basic tenets someone needs to understand in order to fully comprehend climate change and its impacts. I believe it comes from NOAA.

Climate Communications and Behavior Change
This resource from the University of Oregon (yeah, Daisy!) and the Social Capital Project focuses on some research conducted re: climate change education, primarily language. They use the term "climate disruption" to convey a greater sense of urgency, and talk about "apocalyptic fatigue" in regards to how people tire of being warned of their impending doom. Teehee.

EPA's Climate Change, Wildlife, and Wildlands Toolkit
Nifty resources for people working with youth.

Chicago Wilderness Climate Action Plan for Nature (CAPN)
This resource really focuses on the preservation of biodiversity despite climate change, and its role in climate change mitigation and adaptation in Chicago. It parallels the...

Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP)
...which is the focus of a lot of C3's work. CCAP focuses more on the built environment, energy efficiency, and people than CAPN which looks much more at the greenspace and the areas directly surrounding Chicago (going into Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan).

I also had the opportunity to visit the Field Museum's new Climate Change Exhibit. I think it did a GREAT job of explaining the issues without being TOO doomsday-y. I definitely want to visit again if anyone wants to go with me. It's only here until November 28th, though, so we'll have to get moving...

Maybe some of that might be useful to my cohort and/or colleagues!