An increasing number of small- and medium-sized US municipalities are adopting climate action plans (CAPs), but research shows most still struggle with implementation at their scale. A 2024 study confirmed the same gap in CAP monitoring and execution, highlighting a common challenge: climate frameworks designed for larger cities rarely adapt cleanly to communities with limited capacity and hyper-local priorities. Those communities then face heightened public scrutiny as plans fail to achieve visible results.
This was especially true for South Korea’s smart city Songdo, an early 2000s development overseen by the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZA) that was intended to be a highly sustainable, tech-first, and pedestrian-friendly haven that ultimately fell short of its promises. Songdo has been widely cited as a cautionary example of what happens when national-level branding and inflexible technology systems are prioritized over ongoing local engagement and adaptability.
Fundamentally, the key to success is not forcing local problems into an existing framework, but building the framework around local problems.
Going beyond the big picture: Why a Local-First Approach Matters
Broad priorities like GHG reductions rarely register in constituents’ day-to-day lives. What they notice, and care most about, are the issues that directly affect them, such as poor air quality, wildfires, or extreme weather events. Municipalities often look at their community as a whole, failing to consider the impacts on the neighborhood level. This is a critical oversight, as residents who live near industrial areas or highways have different concerns and experiences than those who reside in fully residential areas.
Establishing a clear understanding of the needs and nuances of one neighborhood to the next, through stakeholder mapping and segmentation, helps reveal where targeted interventions can have the greatest impact. This same local lens also informs which partners are best positioned to contribute, such as community-based organizations already working in the most affected areas.
Detroit’s agrihoods illustrate what this looks like in practice. In the 1970s, the city developed urban farming plots on vacant lots that offered free, locally-grown produce. The farms were successful (with many still open today) because the city addressed two hyper-local issues: abandoned infrastructure and food insecurity. It then mitigated both via one publicly accessible solution that Detroiters could see and even taste.
Local-first approaches work because they aim to make changes within the community, versus trying to “make it big.” For many small- and medium-sized municipalities, though, limited resources and competing priorities mean this level of specificity is only possible with support from community partners, regional organizations, and external experts.
The Role of Community Engagement in Implementation
Implementation is another challenge. Once local priorities are set and a CAP is in place, the work shifts from planning to keeping people informed, engaged, and aligned. This cannot be accomplished with a single campaign. Ongoing communication efforts should provide clear, timely information about visible impacts, along with straightforward explanations when timelines or project scopes change.
A growing number of local governments have introduced public dashboards, maps, or summary graphics that show progress on emissions, resilience projects, and related goals in one place, updated on a regular cadence. When people do not have to dig through technical reports to understand outcomes, it is easier for leaders, investors, and community groups to stay engaged and to hold one another accountable.
It is important to note that while dashboards, notices, and progress updates help people stay informed, they do not, on their own, create the sense of shared ownership that keeps a CAP resilient over time. That requires a two-way dialogue, often created through community-focused campaigns, listening sessions, town halls, and media strategies that elevate local voices. When people can ask questions, share lived experience, and contribute to shaping specific projects, they develop a sense of shared ownership, necessary for both short-term success and long-term resilience.
Bridging the Capacity Gap
A partner who understands climate planning, regulations, and local government realities is invaluable, especially for municipalities where staff is already stretched thin. ARTÉMIA Communications helps small- and medium-sized municipalities bridge the gap between climate plans and the necessary capacity to engage their stakeholders effectively. Our experts combine expertise with localized insight into each community’s priorities to design strategies that are both practical and meaningful.
Learn more about how our team can support your climate, infrastructure, or broader public engagement priorities — Contact us for a free consultation
