These days, private citizens are often out in front of the effort to get local governments involved with environmental issues. The emphasis then, for local governments, is not necessarily how to get citizens involved but how to accomplish multiple environmental goals on limited budgets and manage public expectations at the same time.

We found in our research that communities fostering a sense of mutual responsibility, partnership and cooperation between government, business and citizen groups usually obtain the best results. Our sample comprehensive environmental policy provides a blueprint for municipal action on many of the important issues facing local governments today. How these goals are reached will depend in large part on citizen participation and support, and that, in turn, requires effective communication.

It has been widely reported that concern for their child's future is the number one motivating factor in adults' decisions to take action to protect the environment. Municipalities seeking to involve residents in their environmental efforts may consider focusing attention on the responsibility to protect the planet for future generations.

Resources:

The Municipal Research and Services Center offers a wide variety of strategies for encouraging effective communication with the public.  The strategies include convenient and informal meeting formats, speaker’s bureaus and presentations to existing groups, reaching citizens through technology and web sites, citizen guides and brochures, newsletters, newspaper columns and flyers.