Stakeholder engagement and decarbonization pathways: Meeting the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic

• DOI: 10.3389/frsus.2022.1063719
• Publication Date: 2023-01-10T13:08:39Z
• Authors: Jill Jäger; Elina Brutschin; Silvia Pianta; Ines Omann; Moritz Kammerlander; Saritha Sudharmma...; Zoi Vrontisi; Jennifer MacDonald; Bas van Ruijven
• Keywords: Stakeholder Engagement; Civil Society; Community Engagement

Climate change is an extremely complex challenge characterized by its systemic nature and deep uncertainties. Thus, finding solutions requires a continuing constructive dialogue between the research community wide range of stakeholders from governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society, international industry, businesses financial institutions. The ENGAGE project ( https://www.engage-climate.org/ ) advancing knowledge co-production through iterative process stakeholder engagement with two main streams: (i) co-design assessment global decarbonization pathways (ii) dialogues on national policies pathways. Both processes are designed to inform multiple activities, including: conceptualization feasibility assessing strategies; pathway development using integrated models considering both equity; relative importance climate impacts vis-à-vis potential co-benefits. With start COVID-19 pandemic 6 months after beginning project, all activities had be organized as online events. Between March 2020 April 2022, 5 workshops were organized, at level 3 regional/national level. This paper documents how challenges effectively engaging in setting have been met evaluation learning that led introduction new approaches tools support inclusive exploration low-carbon transition We show combination interactive visualizations, open channel surveys moderated breakout groups particularly useful for engagement. has taken place use these demonstrated reference team (e.g., about stakeholders' views pathways) experiences other countries dealing decarbonization). results used within design models, framework increased attention socio-economic drivers change. conclude despite several advantages engagement, such expanded geographical coverage reduced CO 2 emissions, need keep meetings short means important elements face-to-face cannot included. Online completely replace physical when issues