Identification of climate policy knowledge needs: a stakeholders consultation approach

Charikleia Karakosta,Alexandros Flamos,Aikaterini Forouli

doi:10.1108/ijccsm-05-2017-0117

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify knowledge gaps on insinuations of possible directions of European Union (EU) and international climate policies.Design/methodology/approachThis study has used participatory approach of highly experienced stakeholders’ engagement, involved directly or indirectly in the process of policymaking. A range of priority issues has been initially identified through desk analysis and key stakeholders have been selected and invited to partake in the process. Preliminary results have been validated through interaction with stakeholders during a series of workshops.FindingsThe results show the identification of a series of sectors, where climate policy is expected to focus in the future and the definition of 11 specific topics upon which knowledge gaps are expected to appear. Results on the identified knowledge needs are analysed and categorized by each prioritized main topic and compared with literature findings. Emphasis is identified to be placed on the topics of renewable energy, EU climate policy and international climate negotiations, which are the most popular ones, followed by energy policy and energy efficiency.Originality/valueA key element of the approach is the consideration of key experts’ feedback on their specific area of expertise, instead of general public engagement, therefore leading to accurate results. Despite the fact that our approach was applied to a specific problem, the overall analysis could provide a framework for supporting applications in various problems in the field of priorities’ identification and even expanding to decision-making problems.

Highlights

The international community’s activity has been currently made more intense towards a collective response to climate change (Droge and Spencer, 2015)
Determined contributions (NDCs) that outline the post2020 climate actions that parties plan to take under a new international agreement are being prepared and submitted (UNFCCC, 2015a)
The information exchange about climate policy and the transferance of knowledge among stakeholders should be facilitated to provide clear comprehension of current regimes, their possible directions, implications and consequences and to make them able to take well-informed, consolidated decisions based on current reliable facts (Ecologic Institute, 2014; Doukas et al, 2010; Karakosta et al, 2011)

Summary

Introduction

The international community’s activity has been currently made more intense towards a collective response to climate change (Droge and Spencer, 2015). A historic climate agreement has been made at COP21. In order the Agreement to be put into effect and its overall objective, which is to limit global temperature increase to well below 2°C, to be reached, it is necessary to apply significant effort at both national and international level [United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 2015b]. Determined contributions (NDCs) that outline the post2020 climate actions that parties plan to take under a new international agreement are being prepared and submitted (UNFCCC, 2015a). The way in which climate change measures should be embedded in domestic economic, environmental and social priorities, is not strictly defined

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion