BRIDGE Initiative | Workshop “Fostering the uptake and social impact of the energy transition through citizen engagement”

Despite growing recognition of the critical role that citizen engagement plays in the energy transition, significant barriers still limit the effective involvement of communities and individuals in decision-making processes and actions. These challenges include limited awareness or access to information and resources, socio-economic inequalities, insufficient mechanisms for meaningful participation, lack of expertise and skills, and risk aversion among citizens.

Addressing these challenges is essential not only to ensure a fair and socially impactful energy transition but also to secure broad citizen acceptance, necessary for sustaining long-term change. Such acceptance is vital for maximizing efforts to tackle climate change and promote sustainable development. Policymakers and local authorities play a crucial role in removing these barriers and facilitating a just energy transition by empowering citizens to take a more active role.

As part of the European Week of Regions and Cities, this workshop aims to provide policymakers and stakeholders with actionable insights and strategies to overcome barriers to citizen engagement at the local level, fostering a collaborative approach to achieving a sustainable and just energy future. The workshop is designed to enhance social impact and secure public acceptance, both crucial for promoting a more inclusive and effective energy transition.

Speakers:

• Michael Brenner-Fliesser: Chair of the BRIDGE Citizen and Consumer Engagement Working Group; Scientist at Joanneum Research
• Vaggelis Marinakis: President of DAEM – City of Athens and Assistant Professor at NTUA, one of the Dedalus’s partners
• Minna Kuivalainen: Member of the BRIDGE Citizen and Consumer Engagement Working Group; Behavioural Scientist at Smart Innovation Norway

Moderator:

• Meline González Piloyan: Project Coordinator and Policy Advisor, NetZeroCities, EUROCITIES

Session Coordinator:

• Eva Martinez Cruz: Technical Expert of the BRIDGE Citizen and Consumer Engagement Working Group; Senior Social Innovation Officer at ICONS

Register here.

This workshop is in partnership with Smart Innovation Norway, a Dedalus partner, Joanneum Research, and EuroCities.

(Photo Credits: Pixabay)

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