As Europe undergoes the green transition, engaging citizens as both beneficiaries and active agents in combating climate change is vital. Deeper participation helps to mitigate costs while promoting a more inclusive approach to the green transition.
Digital solutions support top-down and bottom-up methods of citizen involvement, ranging from citizen climate assemblies to online activism. These digital solutions can overcome obstacles like resource limitations, dwindling public trust, and a significant skills shortage in the green and digital arenas. Digital tools widen public participation and empower individuals to influence environmental policy
This Discussion Paper highlights that the EU needs to:
- Intensify efforts to place citizens at the heart of the twin transition.
- Strengthen initiatives aimed at improving digital skills and literacy at the EU and member state level.
- Promote open discussions about the trade-offs involved in the green transition, addressing the negative impacts of digitalisation.
- Expand policy frameworks and access to digital information transfer tools, platforms, and technologies.
- Encourage active participation in environmental decision-making through increased citizen access to environmental information.
Read the full paper here.