ID: 1882
Presenting Author: David Atkins
Session: 756 - Assessing Integrity: The Role of Impact Assessment in High-Quality Nature-Based Carbon Projects
Status: pending
Co-creation is essential for community-scale nature-based climate mitigation projects and this talk focuses on engagement methods to support project success.
High-integrity nature-based carbon projects depend not only on sound science and robust methodologies, but also on meaningful, transparent, and inclusive engagement. In an era where misinformation and disinformation can rapidly distort perceptions of climate action, the way we engage local communities has never been more critical. This session explores how shifting from traditional consultation models to genuine co-creation can help safeguard the credibility and impact of nature-based solutions (NBS).
We will examine how poor or one-directional communication can lead to misaligned expectations, misrepresented benefits, and ultimately, mistrust in carbon markets. Conversely, co-creation, grounded in shared knowledge, participatory design, and continuous dialogue, can foster legitimacy, improve project outcomes, and reduce the risk of misinformation taking root. Drawing on technical insights and experiences, the session will highlight practical strategies for embedding meaningful interaction throughout the project lifecycle, from early engagement and baselining to monitoring and reporting.
Participants will gain tools to critically assess engagement practices, identify vulnerabilities to misinformation, and design processes that center transparency and collaboration. By reframing communication as a core technical and ethical component of project development, we can build nature-based carbon projects that are not only environmentally sound, but socially trusted and resilient in the face of disinformation.
David Atkins is Social Performance Lead at Shell where he works with staff to ensure quality delivery of SP requirements and capacity development across businesses including Nature-based Solutions.
Coauthor 1: Jade Littlewood