A powerful example of integrating lived experience into climate change research is “The lived experience of climate change” project, led by Dr Joanne Jordan at the University of Manchester. This initiative explored how climate change affects people in informal settlements in Dhaka, Bangladesh, using a highly participatory approach to ensure that their voices and realities were central to the research.

How lived experience was captured

• Engagement with over 600 informal dwellers through interviews, discussions and interactive activities.
• Findings were translated into a traditional folk performance, or “Pot Gan”, which combines storytelling, music and visuals to communicate key insights.
• A short documentary was produced to share the community’s perspectives with policy-makers, researchers and the broader public – reaching over 126000 online viewers.²⁸

Why this approach matters

The project demonstrates how art, storytelling and lived experience can be used to:

• make climate research more accessible and engaging for affected communities;
• amplify voices that are often overlooked in policy discussions;
• build stronger connections between researchers, communities and decision-makers.

By centring the lived experience of people on the frontlines of climate change, this project ensured that research findings were not just data points, but deeply personal narratives that could drive real action.

Watch the documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myM8d0AiRgw

Objective:

To encourage you to reflect on your own positionality, biases and role in a co-design process when working with communities on CCH interventions.

Think about a time when you worked collaboratively with others in a decision-making or problem-solving process (e.g. a group project, community work or research activity).

1. Who had the most influence in shaping the decisions?
2. Did you notice any power imbalances? If so, how did they affect participation?
3. How did your own background, assumptions or expertise shape how you engaged with others?
4. If you had to redo the process with a stronger focus on equity and inclusion, what would you do differently?

Reflection output:

Focus on identifying areas where power dynamics or decision-making structures could be more inclusive and participatory in future work and what methods you can use to facilitate this.