Riga’s Climate Assembly

This section presents a detailed account of the practical application of the Citizen Science Toolkit during a biodiversity monitoring activity integrated within the Riga Citizens' Assembly. The Riga Citizens' Assembly, running from September to November 2024, aimed to involve residents in the city's green planning. It brought together 35 citizens and experts to collaboratively develop ideas for sustainable urban development

Here we present our citizen science intervention aimed at demonstrating how citizen science can be effectively embedded into participatory climate governance processes, fostering citizen engagement, environmental awareness, and data-driven decision-making. The experience also served to validate the Toolkit’s general guidelines in a real-world setting, illustrating good practices and insights for future implementations. 

Context and co-design process 

Preparations before the assembly 

To ensure the Toolkit’s relevance and effectiveness for the assembly, a collaborative co-design process was undertaken. This iterative adaptation, with the organisers and a facilitator representative, aligned the Toolkit’s general recommendations with the assembly’s specific objectives, climate goals, and the local urban context. In this case, we use a local citizen science project as inspiration, DabasDati.lv.

The key objective was to leverage citizen science to inform Riga’s Greenery Plan, a strategic urban initiative aimed at climate adaptation through enhanced biodiversity and green infrastructure. The adapted Toolkit emphasised participatory observation, data collection, and capacity building, connecting citizens directly with their urban ecosystem. 

A critical preparatory step before the activity was the delivery of the CLIMAS Training Module for Inclusive Facilitation and Inclusive Climate Assemblies. This training was designed specifically for facilitators who would lead the citizen science activity during the assembly. The module aimed to: 

• Explain the concept and value of citizen science, 

• Clarify the objectives and structure of the upcoming biodiversity monitoring activity, 

• Equip facilitators with skills to support inclusive engagement and effective group dynamics. 

This training ensured facilitators could confidently energise participant groups, handle questions about the data collection process, and foster an inclusive environment where diverse voices were heard and respected. 

Additional preparatory actions included: 

• Translating all materials (inspired by DabasDati.lv, such as monitoring biodiversity cards, field-trip sheets, and surveys) into Latvian to ensure accessibility. 

• Organising participant groups beforehand with careful attention to diversity and inclusivity, mirroring the assembly’s stratification approach. 

• Reviewing field trip logistics (e.g., starting points, routes) to accommodate accessibility needs and participant comfort. 

• Establishing clear protocols for collecting and processing the data gathered by facilitators and participants during the event. 

Activity overview 

The Citizen Science activity, titled “Biodiversity Observation for Riga’s Greenery”, took place during the assembly’s first session, in the Creative Community VISKAĻI, on 21 September 2024. The 2.5-hour session combined educational, observational, and evaluative components designed to engage citizens in hands-on biodiversity monitoring. 

Structure of the activity 

1. Introduction and warm-up (10 minutes): 
   Participants received a briefing on the purpose of the activity, the role of citizen science in biodiversity monitoring, and an overview of the materials and methods inspired by the local DabasDati.lv platform. Facilitators explained the field trip plan and assigned participants to different groups, each focusing on a specific organism group (plants, invertebrates, birds, reptiles/amphibians, mammals). 

2. Field trip (1 hour 25 minutes): 
   Each group co-defined assessment criteria for their assigned species and discussed potential observations before the excursion. Facilitators energised the groups to observe and collect data on various species within Riga’s urban environment. Groups assigned three key roles: 

   1. Note-taker: Records all relevant information during the activity, 

   2. Photographer: Captures photos of the activity and observed species, 

   3. Spokesperson: Shares the group’s insights with the rest of the participants. 

3. Knowledge Pill (45 minutes): 
   Biodiversity expert Rūta Sniedze presented a detailed overview of Riga’s city meadow project, explaining its role in enhancing urban biodiversity. She emphasised the importance of citizen data collection via platforms like DabasDati.lv, and discussed how such data can inform climate adaptation strategies and support urban ecosystem improvements. 

4. Evaluation and Feedback (10 minutes): 
   Participants completed questionnaires to provide feedback on their experience and suggestions for future improvements. 

Facilitators reviewed the “Data Collection Card” with participants, clarifying the types of data to collect and addressing questions collaboratively. Groups then actively searched for species, while the note-taker synthesised collective discussions onto the data card. The field trip ended with each group spokesperson presenting a summary of observations and reflections. 

Good practices and lessons learned 

Inclusive facilitation and preparation 

• Facilitator training via the CLIMAS module was pivotal in ensuring inclusive, confident guidance throughout the activity. 

• Group formation prioritised diversity, enhancing cross-community learning and representation. 

• Translated and printed materials supported participant understanding and engagement. 

Role assignments to foster engagement 

Assigning specific roles within groups promoted active participation, helped distribute tasks, and encouraged collective learning and accountability. 

Emphasis on environmental context over species identification 

The focus on environmental observation and group discussion, rather than precise species naming, encouraged inclusivity and collective intelligence, reducing pressure on participants unfamiliar with taxonomy. 

Data as a tool for empowerment 

Citizen-generated data provided valuable localised insights complementing scientific research, fostering a shared sense of stewardship toward Riga’s green infrastructure. 

Documentation and post-activity data analysis 

Collecting and translating participant data post-event ensured that citizen observations could be analysed and integrated into policy recommendations. 

Challenges and recommendations 

• Simplifying scientific content while maintaining data value requires careful balance. 

• Extending session length could deepen engagement and data richness. 

• Building mechanisms for continued citizen participation post-Assembly will enhance long-term impact. 

Value Proposition for citizen science in Riga’s climate assembly 

This activity exemplified how citizen science can be a powerful tool within participatory climate governance by: 

• Raising public ecological awareness, 

• Fostering community ownership of urban green initiatives, 

• Generating contextualised, actionable biodiversity data, 

• Supporting evidence-based climate adaptation policies. 

Conclusion 

The Riga Climate Assembly Citizen Science activity, underpinned by comprehensive facilitator training and careful preparation, validated the Toolkit’s applicability and benefits in an urban climate governance setting. This case offers a replicable model for inclusive, participatory biodiversity monitoring integrated into climate action, empowering citizens as agents of environmental change. 

More details about the evaluation of the activity will be published soon in a research paper.