RESEARCH

Community Climate Resilience and Environmental Education: Opportunities and Challenges for Transformative Learning

This study examines two community-led climate resilience initiatives in Barcelona and found that while they successfully promoted individual agency and empowerment in young people, translating this into collective action was challenging due to weaknesses in fostering social connection and effective evaluation. The research underscores the need for community-based climate projects to strengthen local identity and incorporate comprehensive evaluation strategies to foster transformative learning and wider community engagement.

Program Types: Social

Population Groups: Children/Youth, General Population

Setting or Context: Community Gardens

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Increased Horticultural Knowledge, Increased Self-Efficacy, Community Building

Allied Profession Intersections: Education, Climate Psychology/Psychotherapy

Type of Activity: Outdoor Gardening, Edible Plant Gardening, Environmental Education

Evidence Type: Case Studies, Observational Research, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Program Effectiveness

Access: Paid

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Summary

This research explores how community-based climate resilience projects, which are local efforts to cope with and adapt to climate change, integrate environmental education to engage young people. The study focuses on two such initiatives in Barcelona, Spain: one involving kids gardening in tree pits (the soil around trees on sidewalks) and another that educates students about energy efficiency. Through interviews and analyzing project documents, the researchers examined how these projects try to promote critical thinking, responsibility, and action among young people to create more climate-resilient cities. The study found that while these educational activities did boost individual agency and empowerment, translating this into collective action was challenging.

The researchers found that connecting agency, empowerment, and transformative learning on a community level was difficult due to a lack of effective ways to strengthen social connections and local identity, as well as insufficient evaluation methods. The study emphasizes the importance of fostering a sense of community and ensuring that educational programs are designed to engage the wider community, not just the students. By highlighting these opportunities and challenges, the study aims to connect the fields of environmental education and urban community resilience to promote transformative learning and encourage climate action.

Link

Ruiz-Mallén, I., Satorras, M., March, H., & Baró, F. (2022). Community Climate Resilience and Environmental education: Opportunities and Challenges for Transformative Learning. Environmental Education Research, 28(7), 1–20.

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