A multimethod approach for building climate literacy and a climate portal in the context of spatial regional planning in northern Patagonia

Abstract

Integrating climate change considerations into planning at the subnational level is imperative for effective adaptation and risk reduction. Increased climate literacy among planners, supported by tools like climate portals can help this integration. This paper presents our approach to conveying a reasonable level of climate literacy and co-developing an online portal that provides useable climate information to planners. The approach was implemented in Northern Patagonia in collaboration with a Regional Government in preparation for their first-ever Land-Use Regional Plan. Our findings show that planners lack explicit experience in integrating climate considerations into planning but possess significant awareness of climate impacts. While national climate change assessments help identifying critical adaptation priorities, a coproduction approach was still needed for developing region-specific actionable climate information. By implementing the proposed multi-method approach, including interviews and simulated planning exercises, key features were identified and achieved: a learning process, through an interdisciplinary team, should be in place to promote usage, climate data must be at the relevant scale, contextual information should be included, the portal must be interactive so planners may incorporate their knowledge, and, since climate data can be understood in different ways, planning objectives can contextualize different interpretations. Hands-on workshops, integral to the co-production process, enhanced planners’ climate literacy by fostering practical understanding and use of climate indices. This collaborative approach highlights how tailored climate tools may bridge the gap between science and planning, providing critical support for effective climate adaptation.