Developing Engagement Principles for Climate and Health Research: An Example from a Community-Informed Research Project.

Abstract

Background: Characterizing principles of co-learning and stakeholder engagement for community-engaged research is becoming increasingly important. As low-income communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color all over the world disproportionately feel the social, health, and economic impacts of environmental hazards, especially climate change, it is imperative to co-learn with these communities, so their lived experience and knowledge guide the building and sharing of a knowledge base and the development of equitable solutions.

Objectives: This paper presents recent theoretical and practical support for the development of co-learning principles to guide climate adaptation and health equity innovations. We describe this development process, which included both a literature review and stakeholder engagement. The process and the resultant set of principles are relevant to community health partnerships. Adopting principles to guide design, development, and implementation prior to commencement of community health projects will help to ensure they are nonextractive and achieve maximum benefits for beneficiaries.

Methods: A multiuniversity research team adopted this approach at the outset of a research endeavor in 2022. The team is currently conducting principle-based field research in non-U.S. locations where climate hazards and structural inequities have created health disparities.

Conclusions: The team's advisory board and its funder expressed enthusiasm about the development of these principles and about the prospect of Western researchers conducting a project in a way that values Indigenous and traditional communities as partners and knowledge-holders and has the potential to bring benefits to the communities involved, including increased capacity for activities promoting health, equity, and well-being.