We have now concluded our desk research in the project. Conducted in work packages 2 and 3, we explored the conditions that support the participation of less engaged communities in actions for sustainable transitions. The research was coordinated across our eight case study regions in Bulgaria, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden, exploring the intensity of participation in sustainability transition policies and the distinct factors that impact it in each location. These case study regions are subject to transition processes related to the phase-out of the mining or extraction activities of natural resources and the substitution of fossil fuels used in carbon-intensive industries, which are concentrated in these territories.
A number of key results are discussed in the deliverable:
Participatory processes were particularly evident at the initial stages of policymaking, but these often focused on organisations representing established sectoral interests rather than communities and citizens.
In assessing the factors that impacted the depth and inclusivity of participatory processes, especially from the perspective of less engaged communities, the research identified sets of context, policy, and community factors.
Policy factors had a substantial impact on the participation of less engaged communities.
Cutting across these results, a number of insights were also identified:
Trust is crucial including policymakers’ limited trust in communities’ ability to play a meaningful role in deliberative governance as well as the lack of community trust in public institutions.
A key consideration is the type of knowledge or expertise deemed valuable for sustainable transition noting the technocratic framing of sustainable transition policies by policymakers.
Governance arrangements for sustainable transition policies across national, regional, and community levels influence the location, depth, and inclusivity of participatory processes.
The quality and means of providing and exchanging information is a crucial cross-cutting factor that influences community engagement in participatory processes.
Read more about these results here: https://www.dustproject.eu/releases-d3-4.