Environment

Strategic Priority

Sustain and restore natural resources in home and public spaces.

Signature Initiative

Bolstering climate resilience through education and outreach for a sustainable future.

Initiative Summary

Illinois Extension is committed to addressing the pressing issues of changing climate conditions by leveraging Illinois Extension’s resources, expertise, and partnerships to prepare Illinois for a more informed and resilient future.

Extension’s internal capacity will be strengthened with increased full-time staff devoted to climate change programming and with program area-specific climate change leaders across the state. Focus on reinforcing trusted connections with campus-based climate change researchers, external partners, and local community groups will expand Extension’s efforts in this climate initiative. Expansion of our internal and external capacity in this topic area will result in significant evidence-based publications and learning opportunities for the public.

Extension also plans to improve outreach efforts through the integration of climate education into all existing programming areas and through the expansion of the Illinois Extension Climate Stewards program. The workshops and training of Extension staff, Illinois residents, and local leaders, can build ecosystem and community resilience in our changing climate. These efforts will be community driven, leveraging existing resources and addressing the needs of our most at-risk Illinois communities.

Partnerships will be prioritized drawing on expertise at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Midwest Climate Hub, among other groups. These efforts will raise awareness of climate adaptation, mitigation and environmental justice, bolster climate resilient programming, and facilitate local community-based climate actions for a sustainable future.

Key Actions

Internal Capacity
1. Establish and hire a 100% climate change specialist and assess need and capacity for Extension faculty appointments and other Extension field staff necessary to support climate change programming.
2. Establish a statewide climate change action team (CCAT) with climate change specialists, campus experts, and program area staff.
3. Develop learning communities around integrating climate change content into field programming as part of required regional trainings on climate change.
Integrated Outreach
1. CCAT will conduct a needs assessment of current curricula, fact sheets, web content, and programs across all program areas and identify natural fits for climate change information. Develop a publication needs plan.
2. Update Master Gardener and Master Naturalist curricula with climate-related content.
3. Develop 10-15 new climate-related peer-reviewed publications and incorporate climate-related content into 10-15 other existing publications.
4. Develop standard institutional language on climate change to use in adapting Extension’s existing materials and creating new materials.
5. Assess the current format of Climate Stewards for accessibility and equity across the state and then launch and expand the Illinois Extension Climate Stewards program.
6. Provide credible educational programming and information about climate change matters to the public across all program areas, which includes marketing communications.
Aggregated Partnerships
1. Assess existing partnerships and educational/community efforts addressing climate change in Illinois and determine how Extension can best support and/or partner with efforts.
2. Expand current partnerships with state agencies (such as IDOA, IEPA, Prairie Research Institute, State Climatologist office, IEMA-OHS) and leverage resources to address climate change issues collaboratively and effectively in Illinois.
3. Strengthen the current partnership beyond Illinois with the USDA, Midwest Climate Hub, and National Climate Action Roadmap to engage regionally in climate-smart efforts.
4. Build new partnerships with local governments, businesses, non-profits, and external organizations including federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, private industries, and utility companies.
5. Assess current events and conferences on climate change for Extension professionals and the need to plan, organize, and deliver local/regional/national climate change conferences to facilitate knowledge exchange and networking.
6. Develop integrated regional/multi-state platform/workgroup for Extension climate change work.
7. Showcase active presence and excellence in Extension climate programming nationally.

Key Outcome Measures

Number of staff hired focused specifically on climate change and programming related to climate change.
Number of consultations by field staff to climate change specialist
Established process and procedures document to outline the duties and responsibilities of CCAT. Establish a process for nominating / replacing / term limits for CCAT staff.
Identified staff from the six program areas, Cook County Initiative, and 1/region. Each agreeing to serve on the team.
Establishment of nine to 12 learning communities (three to four per region) throughout the state meeting quarterly to discuss climate change integration into programming and troubleshooting.
Number and type of programs (direct and indirect outreach) with integrated climate change content and participants reached.
Number of Master Gardener and Master Naturalist trainees that have received the new curriculum.
Increase in the knowledge level of Master Gardener and Master Naturalist volunteers and Climate Stewards participants about climate change and actions.
Increase in climate change content in public programming by Master Gardener and Master Naturalists.
Increased MNs utilizing their climate knowledge for volunteering.
Number of participants completing the Climate Stewards program.
Reach and evaluation of Climate Stewards program.
Number, percent, and parity analysis of participants reporting increased knowledge and intent to take recommended actions, use information, and / or change behavior after completing an Extension program with integrated climate change content.
Number of marcom posts on social media that include climate-related information across program areas, including reach and engagement
A document and training on standard institutional climate change language.
Creation of a listing of current climate change resources for Extension staff to share with the public.
Presence of publications needs plan and assignment of specialists/ educators to write needed publications.
Identify gaps in Climate Stewards program to better fit the needs of Illinois residents and communities.
Plan developed to address gaps in the Climate Stewards program
Number of expert assistance related to climate change matters.
Partnership assessment report and plan developed.
Number of existing Extension partnerships identified.
Number of expanded partnerships and effective collaborations with state agencies.
Number of strengthened Extension partnerships, beyond Illinois.
List of extension professionals working with different partners.
Number of new partnerships at local, state, and federal levels.
Evaluation of the local/regional/ national climate change conference.
Number of regional platforms/ workgroups on climate change.
Number of new regional climate initiative/program involvement.
Number of Extension professionals contributing to climate-related initiatives beyond Illinois.
Number of programs adopted in other states.
Number of national coalitions Illinois Extension staff are part of.
Number of downloads of Extension climate change resources.
Number of Extension staff and campus researchers serving in national climate initiatives and curriculum development.

Key Impacts

Primary

Increasing awareness and providing credible education regarding climate change prepares Illinois residents, communities, and businesses to make informed decisions about their interactions with Illinois’ natural resources to mitigate climate change, foster ecosystem resilience, and steward a healthy environment.

Secondary

Increasing awareness and providing credible education regarding climate change advances climate-smart agriculture, optimizes resource management, fosters sustainable production methods, contributes to food security, strengthens community resilience, mitigates risks, plans and prepares for disasters, improves health and well-being, strengthens partnerships between diverse entities, leverages collective expertise, promotes efficient allocation and use of resources, provides opportunity for positive youth development and leadership, and increases Extension’s workforce capacity, skills, knowledge, and adaptability regarding environmental challenges.

Rationale

Illinois is experiencing changes in environmental conditions and severe weather patterns that include extreme heat waves, heavier rainfall causing more frequent floods, unusual seasonal variations, longer periods of droughts, and worsening air quality. These changes in climate have implications for ecosystems, natural resources, infrastructure, economy, human health, and well-being. Socially vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected by climate change impacts. The strategic planning process identified a need for climate-focused programming across Extension because Illinois residents have varying perspectives about the changing climate and its impact on their resources, well-being, and environments. Extension has the expertise and can develop more capacity and partnerships to engage in education and outreach with individuals, communities, and businesses to provide credible information, enable discussions, and present approaches and tools that facilitate locally relevant decisions.