Climate Master Extension Outreach Research Project

The purpose of this research project is to increase climate change literacy and to determine best practices and methods in supporting both climate adaptation and mitigation activities for diverse groups and communities. More specifically, results will assist in designing an innovative approach to conducting community-based educational outreach to better understand how communities and leaders cope with changes in climate, extreme weather events, energy, conservation, preparedness, and the impact of informed decision-making. The research objectives are as follows:

1. Determine if a volunteer-based “Climate Master” outreach model is a feasible and practical strategy for climate communication.
2. Inventory current community-based climate and sustainability initiatives and best practices.
3. Synthesize literature on individual and community preparedness; the impact of informed decision-making; and identifying attitudes, behaviors, individual experiences, and socio-economic backgrounds that lead to climate resilient decisions.
4. Develop a framework for training the trainers.
5. Design and test climate change communication modules and strategies for different groups.
6. Develop an effective method for two-way information flow.

The “Managing for Climate Change: Climate Master Outreach and Extension” study is part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded research project. As a part of this project, New Mexico State University (NMSU) partnered with University of Arizona (UA) to conduct two focus groups. Anne Mottek, principal, Mottek Consulting, working directly with UA County Extension Agent Chris Jones, conducted the focus group portion of this study.

Please find the links to the full report and appendices as listed below.