Perspectives on Citizen Engagement for the EU Post-2020 Biodiversity Strategy: An Empirical Study

Liisa Varumo, Rositsa Yaneva, Tarmo Koppel, Iida-Maria Koskela, Mari Carmen Garcia, Sara Sozzo, Eugenio Morello and Marie-Christine Dictor
Additional contact information
Liisa Varumo: Finnish Environment Institute, SYKE, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
Rositsa Yaneva: Forest Research Institute—Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tarmo Koppel: Department of Labour Environment and Safety, Institute of Business Administration, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 12616 Tallinn, Estonia
Iida-Maria Koskela: Finnish Environment Institute, SYKE, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
Mari Carmen Garcia: MCG Research & Innovation Sustainability Architecture/Urban Planning, 30004 Murcia, Spain
Sara Sozzo: DISAFA, Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences, Università degli Studi di Torino, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
Eugenio Morello: Department of Architecture and Urban Studies, Politecnico di Milano, Milan 20133, Italy
Marie-Christine Dictor: BRGM, Strategic and Research division, 3 Avenue Claude Guillemin, BP 36009, 45060 Orléans, France

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-24

Abstract: The current European Union biodiversity strategy is failing to reach its targets aimed at halting biodiversity loss by 2020, and eyes are already set at the post-2020 strategy. The European Commission is encouraging the active role of citizens in achieving policy objectives in the coming years. In this paper, we explore ways citizens discuss their priorities regarding biodiversity and abilities to influence environmental problems at individual, collective and policy levels. We also examine how the citizen discussions resonate with scientific environmental priorities and how researchers see the role of citizens in policy processes and harmonising citizen and scientific knowledge. To pursue the citizen voices, an expert working group acting as knowledge brokers, facilitated a series of citizen workshops in seven European locations and a reflective researcher workshop in Belgium. Based on the results, participants identified many concrete and value-related measures to stop environmental degradation. The environmental priorities differed between citizens and scientists, but not irreconcilably; rather, they complemented one another. Both groups stressed environmentally minded attitudes in individuals and policy. Displaying diversity of perspectives was regarded as positive and adding legitimacy. Improving methods for balanced encounters among science and society is central for participation to become more than rhetoric in the EU.

Keywords: EU post-2020 biodiversity strategy; societal engagement; citizen participation; science-policy-society interface; public perspectives; key messages; environmental policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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