The European Union is at a crossroads, expected to deliver on many fronts simultaneously, managing the long-term socio-economic and energy transitions while overcoming a series of simultaneous crises that have threatened its political stability. Achieving the goals of the European Green Deal involves transparent, fair, and socially acceptable decision-making and communication on both the EU and member-state levels. Engaging citizens in policy-making can help define long-term policy priorities, enhance the quality and legitimacy of policy decisions, and increase the visibility of the broader impacts of the green transition on society.

Participatory foresight methods – engaging citizens in critical thinking and creative activities to articulate the evolution of socio-technological processes define a process of seeking diverse perspectives on what goals and priorities will come to define the “collective future”. The Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) leveraged the Citizen Visions on Science, Technology and Innovation (CIVISTI) method, developed by the Applied Research and Communications Fund (ARC Fund), to assess the perceptions and expectations of citizens in Austria, Bulgaria, Italy and Sweden about the challenges and opportunities of long-term deployment of bioenergy in the EU.

The citizen vision creation process

Citizens from the four partner countries were guided to elaborate on their expectations, values and concerns related to the social and environmental implications of different bioenergy technologies within a 2030- and 2050-time horizon. These were formulated and debated in the form of citizen visions (desirable futures). This aimed to increase the awareness of citizens about the feasibility and social acceptability of different bioenergy technology options, including expanding the knowledge base about different technological and social innovations, energy communities, and support instruments for the development of alternative business models. The visions from the citizen consultations were analysed by experts and stakeholders to produce corresponding European policies and measures, further validated by the citizens.

Translating visions into policy recommendations

Two expert workshops were conducted with an interdisciplinary group of 25 experts from the fields of bioenergy, environmental science and renewables. Policy recommendations were discussed with experts and citizens throughout the CIVISTI implementation process. Proposed measures from the first expert workshop were refined and expanded as a list, which was then discussed with participants in the second citizen panel.

Workshop with experts held in September 2023.

Citizens then evaluated each recommendation in groups based on how relatable it is, how feasible it is, and the perceived impact it would have on the personal lives of participants. Based on the participants’ rankings on a scale from 1-5, 7 recommendations out of 14 were selected to cover the main elements of the visions across all countries.

The table below shows the top 7 recommendations voted by participants in the citizen panels (source: CSD)

The ranking of these recommendations highlights the aspirations and concerns expressed by citizens through their visions. The following key insights from citizen consultations and expert workshops provide valuable guidance for shaping future policy frameworks:

• Policies should be context-specific. Bioenergy policies should acknowledge the varying socio-economic and environmental dynamics of different regions. For example, rural areas may have more access to agricultural residues for biomass, while urban areas might depend on waste management systems. A tailored approach ensures that policies address the unique challenges and opportunities of each region, enhancing their effectiveness and feasibility.

• Community and small-scale solutions are important for citizens, particularly in rural areas. Localized and community-driven solutions can play a pivotal role in bioenergy development. Integrating biomass collection and sustainable feedstock at a smaller scale encourages active participation from local stakeholders, reduces transportation emissions, and supports decentralized energy systems that are often more resilient and adaptive.

• Implementing circular economy solutions can bring value to local communities. Biomass collection systems need to align with circular economy principles, such as reusing waste, minimizing resource inputs, and designing systems that consider the end-of-life of materials. This approach must incorporate the everyday behaviours and attitudes of citizens, ensuring the solutions are practical and widely accepted.

• Citizens need reliable and understandable information to adequately make decisions about the adoption of energy solutions. Clear, accessible communication is essential to empower citizens to make informed decisions about bioenergy adoption. This includes simplifying technical details, using relatable examples, and addressing common misconceptions to build public awareness and engagement.

• Bioenergy projects should improve their transparency in certification and reporting to gain more social acceptance. Bioenergy projects are sometimes perceived as untrustworthy, and therefore need robust, transparent mechanisms for reporting and certification. This ensures accountability, highlights sustainability efforts, and addresses concerns about environmental or social impacts, reducing the risk of public backlash.

• There should be proactive communication from policy and business stakeholders about potential risks and benefits of energy solutions. Policymakers should prioritize open communication about both the advantages and potential downsides of bioenergy solutions. By fostering transparency, they can build trust and reduce resistance to new technologies or systems, while also managing expectations and promoting informed discourse.