In the last year of the project, the EU 1.5° Lifestyles team organised multi-stakeholder workshops in all the project countries (Finland, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden) as well as at the European and international level first in Brussels, then in Lund.
By multi-stakeholder we mean a diverse group of attendees representing policymaking, business, research, civil society as well as media. Discussing and planning for enabling and implementing 1.5° lifestyles and societies requires strategy-making and action by all societal actors, and multi-stakeholder workshops have been found to be important arenas for bringing these actors together and facilitating a dialogue between them. To ensure consistency and effectiveness, project partners responsible for the overall planning for these workshops, Hot or Cool Institute and GreenDependent Institute, developed a streamlined methodology to guide the planning and execution of these workshops. This included comprehensive guidance and reporting materials to facilitate structured discussions and ensure meaningful outcomes (please look out for our project deliverable sharing details about the methodology and outcomes under Reports and Outputs on our website).
At the European and international level, the multi-stakeholder events aimed to:
- first present key findings and recommendations from the EU 1.5° Lifestyles and other similar EU projects on fostering a transformation to sustainable lifestyles; and
- then in an interactive, facilitated small group setting co-develop actionable strategies ideas for stakeholders at the EU level to effectively facilitate and support the transition to fair and sustainable societies.
At the country level workshops the aim was also to present overall project findings, albeit with a country-focus, highlighting specific local outcomes in comparison to overall European findings. Following the presentation, participants were invited to participate in a group discussion focusing on
- how to use outcomes/resources to best promote and enable 1.5-degree lifestyles/societies in the case country;
- what kind of materials/resources are already there from participating stakeholders through various projects and initiatives that could be utilised together with the EU 1.5° Lifestyles materials;
- what each stakeholder could do to encourage and enhance use; and
- which alliances to build along these lines.
In order to adopt the general guidelines to local needs, there was quite a lot of diversity in implementation, reflecting this diversity, the discussions in most countries also concluded that there is a need for diversity in approaches to the implementation and promotion of 1.5° lifestyles as well.
In the Netherlands, reflecting the specific role of the local partner, Leiden University, in the project, the workshop focused on modelling, comparing various modelling methodologies, and the usefulness of modelling for policy making. At this workshop, participants concluded that for policy support, both models focusing on the mitigation potential and the adoption of lifestyle options are highly relevant, as well as both retrospective and prospective assessments. Participants demonstrated that there is a role for the various models, including the importance of recognising how they can supplement one another.
Collaboration with social scientists was also highlighted as a promising research avenue. For example, in the EU 1.5° Lifestyles project, social scientists have identified the comparative acceptance of various lifestyle options, which were then considered in the input-output analysis when putting the individual lifestyle options into portfolios that considered such preferences. However, social scientists can also help in other ways, such as in the definition of scenario narratives and realistic adoption rates.
ENHANCING MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COOPERATION ON 1.5° LIFESTYLES
An analysis of workshop sessions with stakeholders has identified key strategies to enhance, and scale up collaboration to foster a transformative shift towards 1.5° societies. Effective engagement with policymakers requires a structured approach that not only communicates key findings but also encourages concrete action.
To maximize impact, the following strategies should be prioritised:
- Strategic workshop design and participant selection. Ensuring that workshop participants align with the intended objectives is crucial. Depending on the focus, discussions may either explore multiple areas broadly or delve into specific domains for more in-depth dialogue.
- Action-oriented research framing. Structuring discussions around existing initiatives and identifying opportunities for enhancement can lead to more effective and actionable policymaking.
- Clear and targeted communication. Project outcomes should be conveyed in a concise and accessible manner, with messages tailored specifically to different stakeholder groups to ensure relevance and clarity.
- Maximising the impact of project outcomes across stakeholder groups. To enhance engagement and drive concrete action, project outcomes, materials, and methodologies should be strategically utilised across different stakeholder groups. For example, the Delphi method, applied in this project, has the potential to support community planning initiatives such as climate councils or participatory budgeting processes. Additionally, project materials like the climate puzzle or the citizens' guide can be valuable resources for institutions, such as municipalities, to incorporate into their internal communications or events, encouraging wider adoption among employees. By leveraging these tools effectively, stakeholders can extend the project's impact and foster more inclusive decision-making processes.
- Sustained engagement throughout the project – Maintaining open channels of communication keeps stakeholders informed about progress, insights, and key takeaways from events and workshops, fostering ongoing collaboration.
- Post-project outreach and follow-up – Extending engagement beyond the project’s duration helps track progress, reinforce partnerships, and sustain long-term collaboration.
By integrating these strategies, interactions with stakeholders can be more effective, ultimately increasing the likelihood of meaningful and lasting systemic change.
Edina Vadovics (GreenDependent Institute), Dana Vigran and Beatrice Meo (Hot or Cool Institute)