Climate change advocacy: Embracing inclusivity, measurable impact, and cultural sensitivity

When you dedicate years to a cause, you begin to ponder deeply about its impact. As someone who has spent over five years volunteering and advocating for climate action, I’ve found myself asking some challenging questions.

Are we truly making a difference, or are we simply going through the motions of advocacy? What metrics have we been using to measure the success of our efforts, and are we genuinely reaching our core audience? These questions have led me to explore inclusivity in climate action, particularly regarding the most vulnerable populations.

Climate change affects us all, but it disproportionately impacts certain groups, including children, women, indigent communities, people living in flood-prone areas, coastlines, and areas prone to severe storms, as well as persons living with disabilities.

One question that has been on my mind is, how do we include children in the climate change conversation? The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the Lancet Commission have reported that no single country provides the conditions necessary to support children’s healthy lives today or ensure an environment fit for their future.

Children are increasingly exposed to extreme weather events. Research by (Thiery et al., 2020) shows a person born in 2020 is going to experience a two- to sevenfold increase in weather events during their lifetime compared to people born in the 1960s.  Additionally, nearly 90% of the burden of disease attributable to climate change is borne by children under the age of 5. Each year, over half a million young children die from air pollution-related issues, and many experience lasting damage to their developing brains and lungs. Pneumonia, the leading cause of death among young children, is exacerbated by climate change-related factors like undernutrition, lack of safe water, and indoor air pollution (UNICEF, 2021).

These statistics highlight the urgent need to incorporate children into climate advocacy, as they are among the most affected yet often the least considered.

To address this, we must actively involve children in our efforts. Educational programs should integrate climate change into school curricula, making the subject relatable and engaging through age-appropriate content. Campaigns should use child-friendly mediums like cartoons and storytelling, and schools should establish climate clubs to empower young people to take action. Additionally, leveraging digital platforms popular with younger audiences, such as YouTube and TikTok, can help spread climate awareness among children.

Overcoming Language Barriers and Addressing Cultural Contexts in Climate Advocacy

To overcome these challenges, strategies must be developed to make climate education relevant. Translating materials into local languages and conducting workshops in these languages can bridge communication gaps. Tailoring messages to align with local values and norms, as suggested by Social Change Theory, can enhance their effectiveness. Additionally, engaging local leaders and influencers to advocate for climate action can ensure that messages resonate within specific cultural and regional contexts.

Measuring the Impact-Metrics for Effective Climate Advocacy

To ensure our advocacy efforts are effective and reach the intended audience, it’s essential to establish clear metrics. These metrics help determine whether advocacy activities are achieving their goals and making a difference in the fight against climate change.

Key metrics include reach and engagement, which tracks the number of people reached through campaigns, workshops, and social media, as well as participation rates. Another important metric is behavioural change, which measures shifts in actions such as increased waste segregation or the adoption of practices like recycling and upcycling often assessed through surveys.

Policy influence gauges the impact on local or national climate policies, including new laws or amendments. Awareness levels are evaluated through pre- and post-campaign surveys to measure changes in climate awareness. Media coverage, analysed for both quantity and quality, indicates a campaign’s success in raising awareness, particularly when featured positively in reputable outlets.

Lastly, youth participation tracks the involvement of young people in climate-related activities and decision-making. These metrics collectively ensure that advocacy efforts make a tangible impact on climate action.

In my view as a climate change advocate and an aspiring development communicator, I believe it’s crucial to continually assess the inclusivity, effectiveness, and cultural sensitivity of our efforts. This includes breaking down complex concepts into understandable language, focusing on the most vulnerable populations, especially children, and tailoring our messages to the cultural and regional contexts in which we operate. Additionally, by establishing clear metrics to measure our impact, we can ensure that our advocacy is not only broad in reach but deep in effectiveness.

Hilda is the Leader, Offeibea Aku Network.
email: hildaakuasiedu@gmail.com