On the basis of its 2020 thematic priorities, the International Observatory of Participatory Democracy(OIPD) requested a study on climate change adaptation and citizen participation.
Prof Yves Cabannes, Urban Planner and activist specializing in urban and municipal governance, and Emeritus Professor of Development Planning (UCL / DPU) pulled the report together.
The report describes PB initiatives in 15 participating cities and regions from different continents. Its first objective is to describe and understand what is actually happening in the field and explore the extent to which PB contributes to climate change adaptation and mitigation, how it does so, and the current challenges facing PB actors.
It assesses the nature and importance of these contributions: Are they marginal or not? How many projects are implemented each year? What do they cost and where do the resources come from?
The study was co-published in September 2020 by OIDP-UCLG together with Enda ECOPOP, FMDV Global Fund for Cities Development, Kota Kita Foundation and University College London under the title Contributions of Participatory Budgeting to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: Current Local Practices Around the World & Lessons from the Field.
In Águeda, Portugal, the main effects of climate change are fires (in summer) and floods (in winter) © Águeda Municipality
The study builds on the written papers, exchanges and contributions from two international sessions at the IOPD Conference in Mexico, December 2019 and World Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi, February 2020.
It draws on climate sensitive PB initiatives in 15 participating cities and regions from different continents that willingly documented their ongoing experience.
"This publication presents an inspiring sample of the initiatives being developed by local governments in different regions, showing the capacity for innovation and collective endeavour at this level of government. The considerable effort involved in compiling and analysing experiences with participatory budgets in very varied contexts has generated a very readable selection of case studies, which I recommend as an inspiration for other cities and governments around the world." Marc Serra Solé Councillor for Participation and Citizens Rights, Barcelona City Council (extract from forward to the report)
Download full document from the OIPD website.
A summary of the report is available on the same site.
