The I-CHANGE Dashboard: A tool for raising awareness and triggering behavioural change

As urban areas face increasing threats from climate change, citizen science has emerged as an important tool to engage communities in monitoring and responding to environmental challenges, thus filling in the gap which existing tools are not addressing appropriately. Citizen science initiatives are essential for engaging citizens in climate action, involving them in environmental observations and monitoring human impacts. These participatory initiatives between science and society have gained popularity across various fields, including sociology, astronomy, and environmental protection. By involving students, citizens, and stakeholders, these initiatives foster a sense of ownership and empowerment, encouraging continued engagement and collaboration.

This paper introduces a dashboard developed within the Horizon 2020 project I-CHANGE, designed to involve citizens in the collection and analysis of environmental data. The dashboard empowers urban residents to use low-cost sensors and crowdsourced observations to gather vital information on air quality and climate variables. Co-designed with scientists and stakeholders, the dashboard provides an intuitive platform for citizens to view, understand, and interpret complex collected data. By presenting crowdsourced data in a meaningful manner, the dashboard bridges the knowledge-action gap, fostering greater public awareness and environmental consciousness. Such participatory approach increases the level of understanding of urban climate risks and strengthens adaptation strategies by integrating local insights and vulnerabilities.

Through the active involvement of citizens in data collection, the dashboard promotes hands-on experience with the real effects of climate change, leading to increased awareness and climate-friendly behaviours. This engagement is essential for achieving climate mitigation goals and advancing Europe's climate adaptation strategies. The paper discusses the design, implementation, and data integration of the dashboard, highlighting its role in combating misinformation and supporting community-driven climate action.