Citizen Science Initiative Aims to Combat Climate Change Across Europe
In a groundbreaking effort to engage citizens in the fight against climate change, the H2020 I-CHANGE project has launched an initiative that leverages citizen science to address environmental challenges. By collaborating with citizens and stakeholders across eight Living Labs (LLs) situated in diverse geographical and climatic regions in seven countries, this project seeks to make a tangible impact.
The I-CHANGE Day event, organized simultaneously across these LLs, focused on collecting and analyzing data related to air pollution and meteorological variables. This initiative aimed to increase public awareness about climate change and promote individual adaptation measures. The study details the methodologies used to engage citizens in different social and environmental settings and assesses the outcomes of these citizen science activities.
The key activities implemented in this project involved monitoring air pollution using Smart Citizen Kits (SCKs) and comparing personal perceptions of temperature and humidity with objective measurements obtained through MeteoTrackers sensors. These activities yielded significant community participation and offered valuable insights into enhancing the effectiveness of international citizen science initiatives. The study underscored the importance of a co-creative process to accommodate the diverse objectives and capabilities of the LLs.
Across the LLs, groups ranging from 8 to 60 citizens participated in the activities, showcasing high levels of interest and skill in operating the low-cost sensors. The success of this initiative paves the way for replicating the campaign in other regions worldwide.
For more information about the I-CHANGE project and other related articles, visit the Environmental Citizen Science: Insights 2025 research topic.
Original Story at www.frontiersin.org