This report assesses the results of Regional Futures Literacy Lab (RFLLs) experiments conducted as part of the Democratising Just Sustainability Transitions (DUST) project, examining the impacts of the RFLLs from the perspective of participants.

The DUST Project contributes to the democratization of just sustainability transitions through the development and implementation of RFLLs. RFLLs are designed to support least engaged communities (LECs) to use their imagination, anticipation, and futures literacy to build their capacity to change and adapt in response to sustainability transition challenges and opportunities. Implemented through a hybrid format combining interactive workshops (involving LECs, policymakers, and other experts) and digital citizen engagement tools, RFLLs allow participants to: (1) identify and imagine alternative JGT futures; (2) reflect on the implications of these imaginations for current JGT policymaking; and (3) formulate strategic policy recommendations that inform JGT policy processes.

RFLLs were conducted in four European case study regions in Bulgaria (Stara Zagora), Germany (Lusatia), Poland (Katowice), and Sweden (Norrbotten) between October 2024 and June 2025. DUST case regions were selected on the basis of: 1) their classification as structurally weak regions due to their strong reliance on energy-intensive industries; 2) their eligibility for the European Union’s Just Transition Fund (JFT); 3) the high potential for socio-economic and environmental challenges posed by sustainability transition on least engaged communities; and 4) ongoing and upcoming important sustainability transition policy interventions. The RFLLs focus on involving LECs within each case region, which are those societal groups that often are more vulnerable to sustainability transition challenges and impacts.

The findings outlined in this report reflect the perspectives of citizens from LECs that participated in the RFLLs. The results are based on data gathered from semi-structured interviews and questionnaires conducted with RFLL participants, and participant observations from RFLL facilitators. The report examines participant views on the main outputs of the RFLLs in relation to five core RFLL monitoring and assessment framework criteria: 1) social capital; 2) futures literacy, resilience, and adaptive capacity; 3) empowerment; 4) learning; and 5) affective communication.