#100%RES – Recommendation 4: Engaging local stakeholders
About
Whether the impetus for setting a 100% renewable energy target comes from the public authority, elected representatives, private players, community organisations, farmers or citizens, it is of key importance to get all stakeholders on board. It is a prerequisite for obtaining significant, sustainable results. Each category of stakeholders brings its own complexity, but also reinforces the process with its own interests and skills.
And because many aspects of everyday life will be impacted by this 100% renewable energy vision, including housing, lighting, mobility, new technologies and consumption, fully engaging citizens and the various local stakeholders from the urban, metropolitan and surrounding areas is essential to ensure ownership of the process.
- Anticipating and supporting the arrival of new stakeholders
- Opening up participation opportunities
- Informing and communicating and a regular basis
Theses three key actions have already been implemented to involve all local stakeholders.
| Grenoble-Alpes Métropole |
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The Grenoble Metropolitan Council opted for consultation: a panel of around thirty randomly selected citizens collectively meditated.
The panel met during three weekends and made proposals to the Metropolitan Council: one of the recommendations was that a 50% renewable energy target by 2030 should be integrated into the Metropolitan Air, Energy and Climate Plan.
| Saint Etienne Métropole – Pilat Regional Nature Park |
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As part of the Positive Energy Community Scheme jointly initiated by Saint Etienne Métropole and the Pilat Regional Nature Park (Central Eastern France), theme-based workgroups (mobility, renewable energy sources, housing, etc.) were set up to take stock of the situation, draw up a list of on going projects and help new projects emerge. This strong engagement of all stakeholders in preparing the positive energy community application was rewarded with regional and national recognition once the application was accepted.
| Nantes Métropole |
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In June 2014, Nantes Métropole launched a first debate entitled “Nantes, la Loire et nous” (Nantes, the River Loire and us) which involved 40,000 citizens, generated 5,000 inputs and led to the adoption of 30 pledges by the Metropolitan Council in December 2015. A second public debate on energy transition is being organised for the whole metropolitan area, whose results will be published by mid-2017.
An independent commission ensures that the process is properly handled and prepares a final summary report for the elected representatives.
| Bayonne |
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Bayonne organises citizen dialogues called “portraits of neighbourhoods” to better understand the needs and expectations of local residents and stakeholders. In each neighbourhood, between 200 and 250 participants on average meet four times at consultation workshops. The objective is to identify the neighbourhood’s strengths and weaknesses and lay down the main outlines of the “neighbourhood project” consisting of a number of measures the City of Bayonne intends to implement in close collaboration with its citizens.
| Cities heading towards 100% renewable energy – Food for thought and action This report provides guidance and solutions to cities and metropolitan areas anxious to embark on a 100% renewable energy path. It is based on the knowledge and experience of the authors’ networks, as well as on around 30 interviews of councillors and city employees from about fifteen French local governments. It also features 5 European pioneers: Barcelona, Frankfurt, Frederikshavn, Geneva and Malmö. Download: PDF – 7.8 Mb |
© : Duch_CC BY-SA 4.0, Daniel Villafruela CC BY-SA 3.0, Agagax CC BY-SA 2.0, Matthieu Riegler CC BY 3.0 – via Wikimedia Commons / Shutterstock
