Towards new perspectives of stakeholder engagement in sustainability transitions: Bringing the supranational level into view

Abstract

Although stakeholder engagement is a well-discussed topic within sustainability transitions research, it is underexplored in the context of supranational actors, such as the EU, despite the apparent relevance. Through the case study of the European citizen and stakeholder consultations around European Green Deal (EGD), this paper investigates the implications of stakeholder engagement conducted on a supranational level. By applying a transitions-based engagement framework, gaps are highlighted in the existing knowledge of the particular supranational dynamics in engagement for sustainability transitions. The goals of engagement are entangled and point to the complexity of supranational organisations, as well as specific challenges these organisations face in engagement processes. These include challenges of overcoming scale, relevance for the citizens, as well as legitimizing their own role as a transitions actor. These distinctly supranational challenges of engagement in transitions highlight several new avenues for research. In order to play a more effective role in transitions, supranational organisations must overcome these challenges.