Inclusive policymaking and meaningful citizen participation are essential for the success of the European Green Deal. Ensuring that environmental policies are both effective and widely supported requires structured processes that engage diverse stakeholders, foster public trust, and bridge the gap between scientific recommendations and political decision-making.

In this context, PHOENIX recently organized an inter-pilot online mini-public, bringing together 27 participants from 10 pilot locations to discuss 51 crowdsourced proposals on how to enhance citizen involvement in environmental governance. The initiative, coordinated by e-Governance Academy (eGA) in collaboration with The Good Lobby, aimed to explore innovative and practical approaches to participatory democracy in the ecological transition.

Strengthening Citizen Engagement in Environmental Policymaking

A key theme that emerged from the discussions was the need for more structured and transparent participatory processes. Participants emphasized the importance of ensuring that citizen engagement mechanisms are well-defined, accessible, and representative of broader societal perspectives. This includes the use of both traditional deliberative assemblies and digital participation platforms, with independent facilitation playing a crucial role in mitigating political influence and ensuring a balanced dialogue.

Another significant aspect highlighted was the role of education and access to verified information. Many participants pointed to the increasing challenge of misinformation and the necessity of providing citizens with reliable data and educational resources to foster informed decision-making. Ensuring that public discourse is based on scientific evidence and factual information is essential for the legitimacy and effectiveness of democratic participation in environmental policymaking.

The mini-public also addressed the challenge of aligning scientific recommendations with political and economic constraints. While scientific research provides clear guidelines on sustainability and climate action, these recommendations often face resistance due to economic interests, political feasibility, and societal adaptation challenges. Participants stressed the importance of engaging local communities and stakeholders affected by environmental policies to ensure that proposed solutions are practical, inclusive, and context-specific.

Furthermore, the discussions underscored the importance of financial incentives, coalition-building, and public trust as key drivers of successful policy implementation. Encouraging active civic participation requires mechanisms that motivate and empower citizens, whether through financial support for grassroots initiatives, transparent communication from policymakers, or sustained dialogue between institutions and civil society organizations.

Integrating Insights into Policy Recommendations

Reflecting on the outcomes of the mini-public, Kristina Reinsalu, PHOENIX project lead at e-Governance Academy, highlighted the importance of combining innovative participatory tools with established democratic practices to enhance engagement. She noted that ensuring diverse voices are heard and preventing discussions from being dominated by a vocal minority remains a fundamental challenge in participatory policymaking.

The insights gathered from this discussion will contribute to PHOENIX’s final policy recommendations, which will be submitted to the European Commission to reinforce the role of public engagement in shaping sustainable policies. These recommendations will help design inclusive, deliberative, and effective governance frameworks that facilitate the implementation of the European Green Deal.

As a European research initiative focused on democratic innovation, PHOENIX operates across 11 pilot projects in seven countries, testing and refining participatory methodologies that ensure citizens play an active role in decision-making. By mainstreaming and scaling successful participatory approaches, the project seeks to foster more democratic, transparent, and inclusive policymaking in the field of sustainability and environmental governance.