Participation for Everyone: Young People’s Involvement in the Shift Towards Happier and More Resilient Cities

Citizens’ engagement and empowerment in urban climate adaptation scenarios have been increasingly gaining attention: the shift towards communities’ involvement in the traditional top-down planning processes reveals a spreading acknowledgment of the necessity to focus on people’s needs and wellbeing for more resilient and happier cities, in accordance with goal 3 and goal 11 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this context, the Climate Transition Strategy (STC) of Brescia focuses a whole set of actions on the participation of citizens of all ages; among the “Citizens’ involvement and communication” actions, Action 7.2.5 envisions the setup of climate adaptation-related experiences by the Science Centre AmbienteParco. A package of laboratories for middle schoolers is currently being developed in collaboration with the University of Parma and has been an opportunity to test their sensitiveness and responsiveness about climate change and its related countermeasures in urban planning (both with ad hoc surveys and direct observations), thus recognizing young people’s role as holders of knowledge and as the adults of tomorrow. This contribution presents the outcomes of the first test-stage of the project, which can be intended as an applied research experience, carried out within the Afterschool Program of AmbienteParco. Laboratories appear to have been effective in raising awareness about both the STC and climate adaptation, and students have shown to be sensitive and responsive to these topics. This experience has demonstrated that young people can represent not only indicators, but also stakeholders in the shift towards a Happy and Resilient City.