Using Public Deliberation
and Environmental Issues Forums
to Achieve the 2030 Goals for Sustainable
Development: A Case Study in Missouri,
USA
Christine Jie Li, Christine Costello, Sara Thuston and Bora Simmons
Abstract The majority of Climate Scientists agree that mean global temperatures
have risen since pre-1800 levels and that this change is human caused. However,
public opinion polling in the United States suggests many are not convinced, questioning the scientific consensus about climate change. To achieve the 2030 sustainable
development goals, active participation of citizens, universities, and governments is
necessary to move toward a climate-friendly, socially resilient and economically
viable society. In collaboration with the Kettering Foundation, the North American Association for Environmental Education developed the—Environmental Issues
Forums (EIF). The goal is to test EIF as a model for enhancing public deliberation
and understanding on climate change, water, and energy. We conducted six forums
at three study sites: the Columbia Public Library, the Calvary Episcopal Church,
and the University of Missouri. This study addressed three research priorities: (1)
participants’ motivations for and perceptions of community-based forums focusing on climate change, (2) the effects of EIF forums and deliberation on fostering
community-based solutions and sense of hope, and (3) what actions participants value
to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The results suggest that participation in an
EIF deliberative forum was an effective model to build a constructive conversation
around community-based solutions.
C. J. Li (B) · S. Thuston
School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 105 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources
Building, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
e-mail: lij1@missouri.edu
S. Thuston
e-mail: setdn2@mail.missouri.edu
C. Costello
College of Engineering, University of Missouri, E3437N, Lafferre Hall, Columbia, MO 65201,
USA
e-mail: costelloc@missouri.edu
B. Simmons
National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education, 1585 E. 13th Ave., Eugene, OR
97403, USA
e-mail: borasimmons@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities and Sustainable Communities:
Meeting the Goals of the Agenda 2030, World Sustainability Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30306-8_31
511
and Environmental Issues Forums
to Achieve the 2030 Goals for Sustainable
Development: A Case Study in Missouri,
USA
Christine Jie Li, Christine Costello, Sara Thuston and Bora Simmons
Abstract The majority of Climate Scientists agree that mean global temperatures
have risen since pre-1800 levels and that this change is human caused. However,
public opinion polling in the United States suggests many are not convinced, questioning the scientific consensus about climate change. To achieve the 2030 sustainable
development goals, active participation of citizens, universities, and governments is
necessary to move toward a climate-friendly, socially resilient and economically
viable society. In collaboration with the Kettering Foundation, the North American Association for Environmental Education developed the—Environmental Issues
Forums (EIF). The goal is to test EIF as a model for enhancing public deliberation
and understanding on climate change, water, and energy. We conducted six forums
at three study sites: the Columbia Public Library, the Calvary Episcopal Church,
and the University of Missouri. This study addressed three research priorities: (1)
participants’ motivations for and perceptions of community-based forums focusing on climate change, (2) the effects of EIF forums and deliberation on fostering
community-based solutions and sense of hope, and (3) what actions participants value
to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The results suggest that participation in an
EIF deliberative forum was an effective model to build a constructive conversation
around community-based solutions.
C. J. Li (B) · S. Thuston
School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 105 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources
Building, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
e-mail: lij1@missouri.edu
S. Thuston
e-mail: setdn2@mail.missouri.edu
C. Costello
College of Engineering, University of Missouri, E3437N, Lafferre Hall, Columbia, MO 65201,
USA
e-mail: costelloc@missouri.edu
B. Simmons
National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education, 1585 E. 13th Ave., Eugene, OR
97403, USA
e-mail: borasimmons@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities and Sustainable Communities:
Meeting the Goals of the Agenda 2030, World Sustainability Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30306-8_31
511