Co-creating climate future pathways for northwestern Ghana: The use of the Three Horizons framework

Abstract

The impacts of climate change affect all social groups, even if not to the same extent. However, increasingly the interests and perspectives of some vulnerable groups (e.g. school children, traditional leaders, women groups, and smallholder farmers), especially at the sub-national level, are often not captured and prioritised in designing climate resilience interventions. This study addresses the question of how assembling relevant stakeholders and providing a ‘safe space’ for effective communication helps in the co-creation of solution pathways that reflect their priorities for impactful development planning. We used qualitative data from 57 stakeholders in northwestern Ghana brought together in a one-and-half-day workshop to co-identify current signs of the climate crisis and imagine desirable climate future pathway using the Three Horizons (3 H) framework. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Applying the 3 H framework along with a scenario building exercise proofed a useful approach to collaborative sharing of ideas and perspectives on climate change and resilience planning. Bringing different stakeholders together enables the effective visioning of their desired future, and to co-identify the pathways to achieving it. Thus, the 3 H framework, when integrated into climate resilience planning, enables vulnerable social groups to think creatively about positive transformative change. We recommend that the 3 H framework should be integral to planning of climate resilience interventions at the national and subnational levels.