How does the perceived relevance of transition policies affect community engagement?
DUST research explored this question and found that clearly communicating relevance is key to encouraging community participation in transitions. Keep reading to learn more!
Why Does Perceived Relevance Matter?
A community’s motivation to participate in sustainability transitions is closely tied to how they perceive the potential impact on their livelihoods and culture structures or their individual (autonomy) and collective (social) needs. These perceptions shape their emotional responses, which in turn influence their level of engagement. For example, those who see personal or collective benefits—such as economic opportunities, improved infrastructure, or social progress—are more likely to support and participate in transition initiatives.
On the other hand, communities that anticipate negative consequences—such as job losses, cultural erosion, or social disruption—are more likely to respond with anxiety, fear, frustration, or disengagement. This was evident in DUST case study regions home to coal mines and industrial areas.
The closure of mines and factories not only leads to job losses and economic decline but also creates identity crises for workers who have spent their lives in these industries. Similar concerns were shared by indigenous and rural communities. For example, the Sámi in Norrbotten fear the loss of traditional livelihoods and cultural heritage due to environmental policies that alter land use.
In these cases, transitions are seen as disruptive rather than progressive, leading to greater resistance to sustainability policies.
When Policies Feel Disconnected from Communities
A major obstacle to community participation is the perception that transition policies are driven by international or national agendas, rather than reflecting local concerns.
In several regions—including Bełchatów, Katowice, and Stara Zagora—communities felt ignored or excluded from decision-making processes.
They expressed concerns that public institutions had:
Failed to recognise their specific needs.
Lack of long-term sustainability transition policy solutions
Prioritised government or corporate interests over community well-being.
This disconnect leads to distrust in policymakers and resistance to change. In some areas, such as Gotland, Groningen, and Norrbotten, this was particularly evident in response to energy infrastructure projects.
Many locals felt that these projects were:
Straining local resources (e.g., increased costs, land use conflicts).
Unfairly benefiting external stakeholders rather than the local population.
Implemented without sufficient community consultation or compensation.
When communities do not see direct benefits or feel excluded from policy discussions, they are less likely to engage positively.
How Can Policies Be Communicated More Effectively?
To boost engagement and rebuild trust, policies must be made more relevant, transparent, and participatory. Here are four key strategies:
1️. Give communities a voice in defining the problem
Policies that are developed without community input often feel exclusive and unrepresentative.
Instead of simply presenting solutions, governments should involve communities at the earliest stage—when defining the challenges and priorities that policies should address.
This increases a sense of ownership where individuals feel more informed and capable of drawing on their experiences. All of this combined makes policies more locally meaningful.
2️. Relate policies to everyday concerns
People are more likely to engage when policies directly address their daily lives—whether that’s jobs, housing, healthcare, transport, or local businesses.
For example, while Norrbotten’s young people prioritised better public transport and recreational spaces, rural business owners were more concerned with home care services in remote areas.
Tailoring policy discussions to these localised priorities makes sustainability transitions feel more tangible and beneficial.
3. Rebuild trust through transparency & fairness
Past experiences of exclusion or ineffective policies create long-term distrust.
To rebuild confidence, policymakers must ensure:
Open and honest dialogue about policy goals and limitations
Clearer explanations of who benefits and how
Fairer distribution of resources and compensation for affected communities
When people see genuine efforts to include them in decisions, they are more likely to engage constructively.
Ultimately, the success of sustainability transitions depends not just on what policies say, but on how well they resonate with the communities they seek to transform. When people feel heard, valued, and informed, they are far more likely to contribute to building a fairer and more sustainable future.
Interested in learning more? Check out the full research report here: https://www.dustproject.eu/releases-d3-4