Climate change pedagogy and performative action: toward community-based destination governance

Despite urgent sustainability imperatives, tourism providers and destination managers are slow to undertake initiatives that enable: (1) an informed public (tourists) and (2) an engaged citizenry (residents) to manage resource use, conservation and climate change. This paper draws on concepts from two renowned political theorists, Carole Pateman and Hannah Arendt, and especially from Arendt's theory of human action, which offers insights for a performative and pluralistic theory of civic engagement, multi-stakeholder learning and collaboration. It helps to explore emerging forms of participatory action and climate change pedagogy in the mountain resort of Canmore (Canada), facilitated by the Biosphere Institute, a local nongovernmental organization, that indicate a strong potential. The Mountain Air program involves schoolchildren and businesses in tackling clean air and idling impacts from local transport (including taxis used by visitors). The results of a door-to-door community social marketing campaign, Sustainable Action Canmore, are also discussed. Detailed and ongoing requirements of participatory action are described, and the results of the two programs are analyzed. Links between governance for tourists and residents are explained, and potential lessons for destination managers discussed. In addition, the paper notes the relevance of the Natural Step program, a comprehensive model for planning sustainable development in complex systems.