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What is citizen science? 

Defining citizen science is a challenging task, with numerous interpretations available (Haklay et al. 2021). In general, citizen science is a collaborative research approach that involves the public in various aspects of the scientific process.  

The origins of citizen science can be traced back to amateur scientists contributing data to biodiversity observation. However, the concept has evolved significantly, particularly since the mid-1990s, when digital methods began enhancing public participation in scientific research in various ways. 

Citizen science can therefore be understood in multiple ways (Cavalier & Zachary, 2016). For instance, in the 1990s, Rick Bonney described citizen science from a volunteering perspective, where non-scientists (e.g., amateur birdwatchers) contribute data to projects such as the eBird project. Meanwhile, Alan Irwin conceptualised citizen science in a broader context (Irwin, 1995), stating:  

Citizen Science evokes a science which assists the needs and concerns of citizens – as the apologists of science so often claim. At the same time, Citizen Science implies a form of science developed and enacted by citizens themselves – and one important strand of this book will deal with the ‘contextual knowledges’ which are generated outside of formal scientific institutions.

Levels of participation in citizen science 

Based on Haklay’s (2013) framework for levels of participation in Citizen Science, we have adapted the levels specifically for climate assemblies, which are participatory processes where citizens contribute to climate-related decision-making. Below is a structured list: 

Level 1: Passive Participation 

This level of participation facilitates the engagement of a large number of people with minimal effort, potentially providing valuable large-scale data for climate monitoring. The training and expertise required for participation are low. However, engagement is often superficial, potentially missing deeper insights. Additionally, participants have no influence over decision-making, limiting their role to data collection. 

Level 2: Limited Contribution 

At this level, citizens begin to engage in data interpretation, which can improve data quality. Participants need to invest a moderate amount of effort, but the process remains largely expert-driven, with limited citizen influence on policy. Engagement remains one-directional, meaning citizens provide input but do not directly shape decisions. While this enhances data reliability, it does not necessarily empower participants in the decision-making process. 

Level 3: Collaborative Involvement 

This level encourages meaningful dialogue between citizens, scientists, and policymakers. It enables citizens to develop a deeper understanding of climate science and policy, fostering more inclusive and democratic decision-making. However, this approach requires more time and effort from both participants and facilitators. Effective facilitation is crucial to balancing diverse perspectives. While scalability can be a challenge, this level of participation is well-suited for ad hoc initiatives like climate assemblies, where citizen input is essential for shaping policy recommendations. 

Level 4: Collaborative Creation 

At this highest level, citizens have direct influence over research and policy, fostering long-term civic engagement and ownership of climate action. This approach strengthens democratic processes and trust in decision-making. However, it demands a high level of commitment and a steep learning curve for participants. Facilitators must be open-minded and prepared to manage potential conflicts between expert knowledge and citizen priorities. Strong facilitation and governance are essential to ensuring constructive collaboration and effective outcomes. 

We encourage to promote citizen science centred a community-led grassroots approach and overcoming extractive tendencies in Citizen Science by involving citizens beyond data collection 

Citizen Science and Climate Adaptation 

Climate change has gained increasing attention in recent decades. This is largely due to its significant effects on the economy—such as reduced crop productivity, salinisation, and coastal impacts—as well as on society, with heatwaves and extreme meteorological events being among the most evident symptoms of human-induced changes to the Earth. The consequences for both society and the economy have created a collective sense of urgency. 

To address this major anthropogenic issue, two core strategies have been established: climate adaptation and climate mitigation. 

 The European Commission defines Climate Adaptation as “taking action to adjust to its present and future impacts” resulting from climate change. In contrast, Climate Mitigation refers to achieving net-zero carbon emissions. As WWF explains, climate mitigation involves “transitioning from powering our world with fossil fuels to using clean, renewable energy. We also need to stop deforestation and restore our natural habitats until we reach net-zero carbon emissions.” 

The European Environment Agency highlights the distinction between these two concepts. On the one hand, adaptation requires anticipation, prevention, and minimisation of the adverse effects of climate change. It involves implementing measures that help people and nature thrive in a world with rising temperatures, reduced freshwater availability, sea-level rise, and extreme meteorological events. On the other hand, mitigation aims to reduce the severity of climate change by cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This is achieved by lowering the carbon footprint of economic activities and restoring ecosystems so they can act as carbon sinks. 

The role of Citizen Science 

Citizen science plays a pivotal role in climate adaptation by engaging the public in data collection, environmental monitoring, and the co-creation of bottom-up solutions to climate-related challenges. This collaborative approach not only strengthens scientific research but also empowers communities to actively contribute to building resilience against climate impacts. 

Citizen science enhances climate adaptation efforts in multiple ways, including: 

• Enhanced Data Collection: Citizen scientists generate valuable data across diverse locations and timescales, filling critical gaps that traditional research methods may not cover (eg, I-CHANGE, CitiObs). 

• Community Engagement and Empowerment: Involving local communities fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility for their environment, encouraging proactive adaptation measures (eg, ACTION, CitieS-Health, WeObserve). 

• Integration of Traditional Knowledge: Many citizen science projects incorporate indigenous and local knowledge systems (Hecker et al. 2018; Tengö et al. 2021; Albagli & Iwama, 2022), enriching scientific understanding and informing culturally appropriate adaptation strategies. 

• Environmental Monitoring: Continuous citizen-led monitoring helps track climate trends, detect environmental changes, and provide long-term datasets crucial for adaptation planning (Manzoni-Brusati et al. 2019). 

• Rapid Response to Environmental Changes: Citizen scientists can supply real-time observations during extreme weather events or environmental emergencies (Calyx, 2020), supporting immediate decision-making and response efforts (See, 2019). 

By engaging in these initiatives, individuals contribute valuable data and local insights, enhancing the effectiveness of climate adaptation strategies across various sectors and ecosystems. Citizen science thus serves as a powerful tool to bridge the gap between scientific research, policy-making, and community-driven adaptation efforts. 

References

• Albagli, S., & Iwama, A. Y. (2022). Citizen science and the right to research: building local knowledge of climate change impacts. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 9(1). 

• Calyx, C. (2020). Sustaining citizen science beyond an emergency. Sustainability, 12(11), 4522. 

• Cavalier, D & Zachary, E. (2016). The Rightful Place of Science: Citizen Science. 

• Haklay, M., 2013, Citizen Science and Volunteered Geographic Information – overview and typology of

  participation in Sui, D.Z., Elwood, S. and M.F. Goodchild (eds.), 2013. Crowdsourcing Geographic

  Knowledge: Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) in Theory and Practice . Berlin: Springer. pp

  105-122 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-4587-2_7

• Haklay, M. et al. (2021). What is citizen science? The challenges of definition. The science of citizen science, 13. 

• Hecker, S., Haklay, M., Bowser, A., Makuch, Z., Vogel, J., & Bonn, A. (2018). 8. The value of indigenous and local knowledge as citizen science. In Citizen science: Innovation in open science, society and policy (pp. 110-123). University College London. 

• Heigl, F., Kieslinger, B., Paul, K. T., Uhlik, J., & Dörler, D. (2019). Toward an international definition of citizen science. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(17), 8089-8092. 

• Manzoni-Brusati, M., Vohland, K., Schade, S., Tsinaraki, C. and Dusart, J., Citizens Science and Environmental Monitoring, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2019, ISBN 978-92-76-09557-6, doi:10.2760/39, JRC117665. 

• See, L. (2019). A review of citizen science and crowdsourcing in applications of pluvial flooding. Frontiers in Earth Science, 7, 44. 

• Tengö, M., Austin, B. J., Danielsen, F., & Fernández-Llamazares, Á. (2021). Creating synergies between citizen science and Indigenous and local knowledge. BioScience, 71(5), 503-518.