Imagine trying to build a new highway or power grid, but the local people hate the plan because it ignores their needs. This project creates a way to bring citizens and companies together to design these changes before they start. It uses art and group discussions to make sure the final plan is fair for everyone, from city dwellers to rural farmers.
Climate policies in energy and transport often fail or face heavy resistance because they ignore the specific needs of diverse and geographically dispersed groups. This leads to social inequality and project delays.
A methodology for inclusive policy design and the SHIFT tool for identifying inequalities in low-carbon transitions.
If you are a renewable energy developer dealing with local protests against new wind farms — this project developed a methodology that uses citizen panels to co-design fair transition pathways. This helps reduce social friction and ensures local acceptance of infrastructure.
If you are an urban mobility planner dealing with public backlash over new low-emission zones — this project developed a system for identifying emerging inequalities. This allows you to adjust policies to be socially fair and more effective.
If you are a municipal government dealing with the difficulty of balancing climate action with social justice — this project developed a transdisciplinary approach to analyze policy impacts. This ensures that vulnerable groups are not left behind during the green transition.
Based on available project data, there is no specific pricing or cost structure provided for the methodology.
The project tested the approach across 5 different case studies in 6 countries, suggesting it can be adapted to various regional contexts.
Based on available project data, there is no mention of patents or specific licensing terms for the SHIFT tool.
It provides a way to involve public authorities and citizens to ensure transition policies meet social equity requirements and reduce controversy.
The project period runs from 2022-09-01 to 2025-08-31, meaning the final results will be available by August 2025.
The project is led by a university with a diverse group of 7 partners across 6 countries. While it is heavily academic (3 universities, 2 research centers), it includes 2 SMEs and 1 industry partner, resulting in a 14% industry ratio. This suggests the output is primarily a methodology for public policy rather than a commercial product.
Contact Vrije Universiteit Brussel regarding the SHIFT methodology
Contact us to learn how to apply the TANDEM equity appraisal to your infrastructure projects.
