Exploring Interfaith Climate Action through Community-Based Research and Collaborative Process Co-Design in Southern California

More science communication and top-down policies are not enough to confront the climate crisis, and on their own often leave marginalized communities behind. As such, new modes of information output, research approaches, and knowledge production are needed. One example of such an approach is in Southern California, where a research initiative called the Wildland-Urban Interface Climate Action Network (WUICAN) is attempting to meet the all-encompassing threat of climate change with a networked response that is collaborative, extensive, and attentive to centers of knowledge production. WUICAN is a consortium of Tribal leaders, community-based organizations, university researchers, and faith groups engaged in climate action that centers community needs and challenges hierarchical structures. By developing new models of co-governance, capacity building, and a focus on community-based research, this approach seeks bottom-up collaboration over top-down solutions. A critical component of this initiative is an Interfaith Climate Action Working Group, which I will explore in my discussion.