Speaker
Description
The success of energy transitions depends not only on technological advancements and funding mechanisms but also on the ability of local and regional policies to effectively engage communities. Just energy transition requires special attention to disadvantaged communities’ needs and capacities for transformation.
Despite increasing policy attention, marginalised neighbourhoods often face systemic barriers to participation, limiting their influence on decision-making and access to the benefits of energy and revitalisation initiatives. This paper examines how urban governance, stakeholder engagement strategies, and funding frameworks can foster more inclusive transitions by empowering underrepresented communities.
Using an in-depth case study of Wroclaw (a city which, on one hand, struggles with immense pollution and has an aspiration to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 as one of the EU’s Mission Cities, on the other), supplemented by insights from other European cities, this research explores different practices of community participation in energy transition and urban regeneration. It focuses on how local governments, civil society, and private actors co-develop solutions with residents in socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The study employs a qualitative comparative approach, combining policy analysis, interviews with key stakeholders (municipal authorities, NGOs, and community groups), and spatial mapping of neighbourhood transformation.
Findings reveal that while multiple funding streams support energy and revitalisation projects, they often fail to reach those most in need due to bureaucratic complexities, lack of community awareness, and insufficient participatory mechanisms. The paper argues for a governance model that prioritises inclusive co-creation, knowledge transfer, and long-term stakeholder collaboration. Building on theories of energy justice (Jenkins et al., 2016), participatory urban governance (Healey, 1998), and social innovation in sustainability transitions (Avelino et al., 2019), the study proposes a framework for strengthening multi-level governance and grassroots involvement in policy implementation.
The research contributes to the discourse on inclusive urban transitions by highlighting best practices and challenges from European cities. It offers policy recommendations to enhance the role of disadvantaged communities in shaping local and regional sustainability agendas.
References
Avelino, Flor, et al. "Transformative social innovation and (dis) empowerment." Technological Forecasting and Social Change 145 (2019): 195-206.
Healey, Patsy. "Building institutional capacity through collaborative approaches to urban planning." Environment and planning A 30.9 (1998): 1531-1546.
Jenkins, Kirsten, et al. "Energy justice: A conceptual review." Energy research & social science 11 (2016): 174-182.
| Keywords | community engagement; inclusive governance; just energy transition; regeneration policies |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | No |
