Public Engagement and Communications - Curated Guidance for Stage 1 Assess where you are in public engagement and communications to determine which stage you are in and identify the key activities you need to undertake as an air quality manager to go to the next stage. The guidance below is for Stage 1. Additional guidance for Stages 2 through 5 is being developed for future iterations of AQMx. StageCapacityAvailability and transparency of dataObjectivesActivitiesSustainability Plan01.No dedicated staff for public engagement and communications activities in the air quality department, cross-government support availableNone or limited air quality monitoringData is not shared with the publicEngage and inform the public and key stakeholdersBuild trust in the air quality information and data providedShare information on air pollution local sources and impactsReach out to affected communitiesPlan awareness-raising activitiesDonor / project dependent budget02.Dedicated staff with limited expertise on public engagement and communications for air qualityAir quality data from one continuous monitor and / or low- cost sensorsAir quality data is made available to the public upon requestInform and consult the public and key stakeholdersDeepen trust in the air quality information and data providedEstablish a data transparency planSeek stakeholders’ input in decision making processesDeepen outreach activities with the publicDonor / project dependent budget03.Dedicated staff with some expertiseAccess to donor/project based budget for communications activitiesExtended monitoring network with some missing / incoherent dataAir quality data is available online but not regularly updatedConsult and involve the public and key stakeholdersBuild consensus on local sources and impacts of air pollutionShare data with researchers, the media and publicProvide health alerts during high pollution eventsBuild stakeholders capacity and involve them in the design of policiesSome central fundingMajor donor / project dependent budget04.Dedicated staff with strong expertiseSome access to central funding for communications activitiesExtended monitoring network providing robust dataAir quality data is available online and regularly updatedInvolve and collaborate with the public and key stakeholdersDeepen consensus on local sources, impacts and solutionsProvide comprehensive real-time and historic air quality data on digital platformFocus partners on reducing emissions in priority sectorsFinetune messaging and communications plansMajor central fundingSome donor / project dependent budget05.Dedicated staff with strong expertise and multi-disciplinary skillsSecured in-house budget for communications activities Extended monitoring network providing robust, real-time data for all the territoryOpen access of all air quality data (including raw data and data formatted to be user-friendly)Collaborate and empower the public and key stakeholdersFoster collaborative action for clean airWork with partners to design and implement comprehensive clean air plansInvest in media outreach and public awareness campaignsEvaluate and document impactCentrally fundedIn-house researchData alone is rarely enough to mobilize action. Technical understanding must be coupled with effective communication andengagement to ensure that data is put to use to raise awareness, change harmful practices and ensure that communitiesbreathe clean air. Even without access to regulatory-grade air monitoring data, jurisdictions can still move ahead with theinformation they have to build trust and inspire collective action. 01 Make a planConduct a situation assessment or SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to identify the needs and priorities of the air quality program and stakeholder community. Stakeholder mapping tools can also help to identify a wide range of actors who have an interest in supporting or blocking clean air action, ensuring you don’t miss anyone and enabling you to take note of the connections. Stakeholder Engagement Strategy Blueprint Clean Air Catalyst - A Step-by-Step Guide Guidelines, Tools & Models Household Energy Assessment Rapid Tool (HEART): A template for conducting a rapid situational assessment and stakeholder mapping 2022 Guidelines, Tools & Models Stakeholder analysis for designing an urban air quality data governance ecosystem in smart cities 2023 Scientific publications Air Quality Communications Toolkit 2024 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Complementary Method Profile: Stakeholder Analysis 2017 Guidelines, Tools & Models Previous Next Show Resources Hide Resources 02 Set goals for your planCompleting the situation assessment provides a roadmap for determining what kinds of public activities to pursue and what the overall objectives of engagement should be. A communications plan complements public participation planning by providing more detail on key messages, target audiences, timeline and priority communication channels. It is important that communications and engagement objectives align with other relevant departments and the overall priorities of the city or jurisdiction’s leadership. It should also scope out staff and budget needs. Public Participation Guide 2012 Online Training & Resources City Solutions Toolkit: Communications Planning for Cities 2019 Guidelines, Tools & Models Public Involvement Presentation Online Training & Resources Previous Next Show Resources Hide Resources 03 Gather existing data and informationGlobal and regional sources of air quality data are a helpful starting point for preparing messaging and informing communications and outreach. A great deal of information can be found on the types and levels of air pollution exposure by region, country and municipality (e.g. Open AQ, WHO, data from air monitors at U.S. embassies, etc.). Climate and Clean Air Coalition assessments give an overview of the main sources and sectors for the African, Asian and Latin American regions, as well as recommendations on the most effective measures to tackle these sources. And data on pollution impacts on health can be found on sites like BreatheLife and the University of Chicago’s Air Quality Life Index. As part of the data gathering process, refer back to Decision Support guidance which will include data gathering as well as developing an assessment framework to inform air quality actions. It is important for all stakeholders to buy-in to data, tools and assessment methods to be used so that identified solutions will be able to achieve buy-in for successful implementation. WHO ambient air quality database, 2022 update: status report 2023 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments AirNow DOS Database OpenAQ Explorer Database BreatheLife City Air Pollution Data Search Platform 2024 Database C40 Cities Air quality data explorer 2024 Database Previous Next Show Resources Hide Resources 04 Create simple and effective messaging and materialsStrive for messages and content that are understandable to a non-technical audience and as free as possible from scientific jargon. Think about tying messages to other cross-cutting issues that resonate with the public like health, road safety, climate resilience and green jobs. Have basic information ready to go on high pollution days to inform the public on what is causing them and what they can do to protect themselves. And finally, find creative ways to spread the messages - whether it be through social media, billboards or special events. Air Quality Communications Toolkit 2024 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Bay Area Regional Air Quality Messaging Toolkit 2019 Guidelines, Tools & Models Crisis Communication during an Air Pollution Event 2010 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Six Takeaways from Indore’s New Air Quality Monitoring Stations 2024 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Previous Next Show Resources Hide Resources 05 Foster knowledge exchange with local scientists and researchersConsider forming a working group and/or organizing a forum with the local scientific community to better understand what research on air quality has been undertaken and what is planned. Be sure to include government researchers from other departments such as climate, energy, municipal waste, public health, transport, and urban planning. Community empowerment, women’s groups and other civil society organizations may also be doing some relevant work to identify and address air pollution emission sources, or to better understand the socio-economic impacts. Casting as wide a net as possible can result in unexpected insights and concrete information that can deepen understanding of the location situation. Clean air action: applications of citizen science to identify and address air pollution emission sources 2022 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Citizen engagement in air pollution: transforming social, scientific and technical research 2021 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Previous Next Show more Hide 06 Consult with affected communitiesInitiating outreach to neighborhoods near pollution hotspots such as industrial parks, roadways and waste sites is needed toInitiating outreach to neighborhoods near pollution hotspots such as industrial parks, roadways and waste sites is needed to.Initiating outreach to neighborhoods near pollution hotspots such as industrial parks, roadways and waste sites is needed to better understand the impacts to these communities and barriers that are preventing action. Conducting surveys and/or group discussions can be helpful to better understand their perspectives and priorities to build more equitable and responsive solutions. Policy brief: Empowering communities in Asia to address air pollution and climate change 2022 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Grassroot Actions Against Polluted Skies: How Jakarta's Urban Villages Tackle Air Pollution 2024 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Charting the Course for Gender-Responsive Clean Air Action in Nairobi 2024 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Previous Next Show more Hide 07 Cultivate clean air championsIdentify potential allies for clean air within communities and sectors, share information with them, and raise their voices and stories in the public discourse. A pulmonologist at a local hospital who is seeing the impact of air pollution on patients’ lungs, the politician whose constituents are demanding clean air, a social media influencer, or a student who is learning about environmental issues can all be powerful change agents within their communities or at the city or national level in supporting policies and actions. Workshop Spotlights Role of Women and Girls as Clean Air Champions in Indore 2024 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Clean Air Catalyst Supports Indore Traffic Police to Combat Air Pollution 2024 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Previous Next Show more Hide 08 Engage with the health and climate sectors on awareness activitiesAir pollution, climate and health are cross-cutting issues that share common root causes and solutions. That is why it is important to find common cause with stakeholders working on public health issues or plans to address climate change. Organizing workshops to introduce these key stakeholders to air quality priorities and enlisting them to support data collection or training for their network can start to build momentum for action. Air pollution: Effects on your body 2021 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Environmental and Health Impacts of Air Pollution: A Review 2020 Scientific publications Salute to ASHAs for their crucial role in “Clean Air, Clean Indore” Campaign 2024 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Nairobi City County Assembly Members Focus on the Links Between Clean Air and Climate in Two-Day Clean Air Catalyst Workshop 2023 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Previous Next Show more Hide 09 Start a media dialogue:Air quality is a technical topic that most newsrooms are ill-equipped to cover. Partnering with media training organizations or local journalism schools to offer ‘Air Pollution 101’ briefings and field visits to the media is an effective way to build interest and a baseline of knowledge. City Solutions Toolkit: Engaging the Media in Air Quality Communication 2019 Guidelines, Tools & Models Air Pollution Journalist Training: Effective Use of Data in Reporting 2018 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments The Air We Breathe - Information Ecosystem Assessment of Air Pollution in Indore 2021 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Clean Air Catalyst Partner Internews Leads Workshop, Trains 30 Journalists to Report on Air Pollution in Nairobi, Kenya 2023 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Previous Next Show more Hide 10 Commit to collecting and sharing reliable air quality dataAs data from local researchers and others is evaluated, and jurisdictions start their own monitoring programs, it is important to decide on policies and plans to put that data to use. The goal should be to increase the availability, quality control and integration of a common set of official and non-official sources of data that can be utilized for further research and decision- making. Establishing a more concrete, shared understanding of the localized sources and impacts of air pollution among a wide range of stakeholders – from elected officials to public health managers, community organizations and the general public – builds trust in the government’s commitment to tackling air pollution and is needed to increase support for targeted clean air actions. Accelerating City Progress on Clean Air 2020 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Open Goverment Data Toolkit Guidelines, Tools & Models The Importance of Open Data for Improving Air Quality 2023 Guidelines, Tools & Models OpenAQ AQI Hub 2024 Database Previous Next Show more Hide Curated Guidance Developed by
Stakeholder Engagement Strategy Blueprint Clean Air Catalyst - A Step-by-Step Guide Guidelines, Tools & Models
Household Energy Assessment Rapid Tool (HEART): A template for conducting a rapid situational assessment and stakeholder mapping 2022 Guidelines, Tools & Models
Stakeholder analysis for designing an urban air quality data governance ecosystem in smart cities 2023 Scientific publications
WHO ambient air quality database, 2022 update: status report 2023 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
Six Takeaways from Indore’s New Air Quality Monitoring Stations 2024 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
Clean air action: applications of citizen science to identify and address air pollution emission sources 2022 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
Citizen engagement in air pollution: transforming social, scientific and technical research 2021 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
Policy brief: Empowering communities in Asia to address air pollution and climate change 2022 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
Grassroot Actions Against Polluted Skies: How Jakarta's Urban Villages Tackle Air Pollution 2024 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
Charting the Course for Gender-Responsive Clean Air Action in Nairobi 2024 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
Workshop Spotlights Role of Women and Girls as Clean Air Champions in Indore 2024 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
Clean Air Catalyst Supports Indore Traffic Police to Combat Air Pollution 2024 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
Salute to ASHAs for their crucial role in “Clean Air, Clean Indore” Campaign 2024 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
Nairobi City County Assembly Members Focus on the Links Between Clean Air and Climate in Two-Day Clean Air Catalyst Workshop 2023 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
City Solutions Toolkit: Engaging the Media in Air Quality Communication 2019 Guidelines, Tools & Models
Air Pollution Journalist Training: Effective Use of Data in Reporting 2018 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
The Air We Breathe - Information Ecosystem Assessment of Air Pollution in Indore 2021 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
Clean Air Catalyst Partner Internews Leads Workshop, Trains 30 Journalists to Report on Air Pollution in Nairobi, Kenya 2023 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments