Quality control of negotiated multi-source policy advice: the example of the German Coal Exit Commission

Abstract

ABSTRACT The German government appointed an advisory committee to negotiate the design of a structural change prompted by energy and climate policy. The Coal Exit Commission was assigned with this complex mandate on how to end coal-fired power generation. Against many expectations, the Commission, comprised of stakeholders with competing interests, achieved a consensus outlining the coal exit in Germany by 2038. Considering that the result of this compromise serves as the basis for a major policy change, it is legitimate to ask if the final recommendations of the Coal Exit Commission were balanced, reliable and socially robust, and if the Commissions’ advice satisfies the need for quality standards in negotiated multi-source policy advice? This paper investigates the Commission in that regard, while testing a framework for hybrid multi-source stakeholder advisory committees. The research shows broad compatibility with the framework. Simultaneously, this paper argues for additional factors such as the careful reflection of the composition of a hybrid advisory group, a precise, clear-cut mandate, development of trust between group members, independence of the adviser from the appointing authority. Finally, while the Coal Exit Commission seems an interesting model to reach consensus in difficult societal issues, the paper critically assesses its limits.