Awareness - California Climate and Energy Collaborative

Barrier 2. Awareness, Education and Language Accessibility

Barrier Statement

Gaps in communication, education, and outreach limit communities’ ability to connect climate issues with everyday concerns and sustain broad, intergenerational understanding.

Filterable Database

How communities are experiencing this barrier

View the details on what communities have shared with SLECC from across the state.

Key challenge discussed in - Los Angeles

Insufficient ongoing education: Awareness-building is underfunded; one example showed millions of dollars broken into micro-grants for CBOs, but when funds were redirected toward resident stipends, CBO staff capacity to carry education forward was lost

Key challenge discussed in - Los Angeles

Intergenerational gaps: Schools vary widely in whether they integrate climate or environmental concepts, leaving younger and older residents with uneven exposure. Some communities rely on kids to translate complex concepts for parents

Key challenge discussed in - Los Angeles

Jargon and technical terms alienate the public: Residents often “don’t call it climate change” — they know the issues but not the terminology. Translation into Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and other languages is often literal, missing context. Visual tools (infographics, photos, murals) were emphasized as effective alternatives

Key challenge discussed in - Los Angeles

Lack of public understanding: Community members don’t always understand why they’re being asked to participate because there’s no primer linking technical issues to everyday concerns (e.g., public health, housing, jobs)

Key challenge discussed in - Los Angeles

Few organizations in some regions are working on climate issues, requiring extensive education and ramp-up.

Local Solution Opportunities

SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by local leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.

Local Solution

Maintain consistent community input during both planning and implementation.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

Local Solution

More in-person engagement; meet people where they’re at.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

Local Solution

Require agencies to budget for awareness and education as part of engagement processes, not an optional add-on

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

State Solution Opportunities

SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by state leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.

State Solution

Partner with school districts and higher ed to integrate climate concepts across curricula, ensuring intergenerational climate literacy

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

State Solution

Fund visual communication resources (infographics, videos, murals) statewide for use by local governments and CBOs

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

State Solution

Require all state-funded programs to provide plain-language primers and multilingual materials as part of engagement

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

Solution Spotlight

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Additional Resources

Please share any additional resources you would like to include by emailing eecoordinator@civicwell.org.