How can we involve citizens to participate in the just transition? What does gender equity in citizen engagement look like? These are key questions the DUST project explores, and today we’re sharing insights from a Community Champion Network workshop with Fire Souls (Community Champions) in Sweden which did the same. We discussed citizen engagement in Norrbotten and the wider Swedish context, covering priorities, concerns, gender equity, and success stories. Keep reading to learn more!
A quick dive into the Swedish citizen engagement context
Citizen engagement in Sweden helps foster trust in public bodies and ensures that green policies reflect community needs. Engagement also harnesses local knowledge, innovation, and collaboration, essential for addressing sustainability challenges. While not legally required, Swedish authorities are encouraged to integrate citizen input systematically. The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR) has developed frameworks to support and do just this. Want to learn more about engagement methods and citizen involvement in Sweden? Check out our previous blog post here: Inspiration for Engagement Practices in Sweden.
Citizen priorities and concerns
Using Mentimeter, a digital polling tool, participants voiced their thoughts on how to drive meaningful engagement in sustainability transitions. Local events, in-person meetings, and digital platforms emerged as the top ways to connect with communities. When asked who should be involved, farmers, foresters, businesses, and the public were prioritised—yet notable gaps remained, with groups like Sami communities and civil society organisations overlooked.
The challenge of involving younger people in voluntary work was also raised, with many agreeing that even small gestures - such as covering minor expenses - can encourage participation. While participants also stressed the need to remove logistical barriers, ensuring rural communities and marginalised groups have a voice.
As for key focus areas, transport and infrastructure, sustainable forestry, and renewable energy led the conversation. While climate adaptation and resource allocation received less attention, some participants flagged them as critical issues. These insights reveal both the strengths and blind spots in sustainability discussions – raising the question: how can understand and address complexity in our endeavours for a more just and sustainable world?
Gender equity in community engagement: recognising the unseen work
Fire Souls acknowledge that women play a vital role in community activities, often taking on unpaid roles - cooking meals, organising events, and keeping things running smoothly - yet their efforts frequently go unnoticed and uncompensated. During discussions, participants highlighted the need for small but meaningful incentives, like stipends, to make engagement more rewarding, particularly for the women who invest so much of their time. If we truly want inclusive and equitable community engagement, it’s time to recognise and support the invisible contributions that keep our communities thriving.
Success stories: what’s working and why
During the workshop, participants shared several success stories of meaningful citizen engagement. In Boden, a wind farm project set a strong example by bringing all key stakeholders together in a well-organised, inclusive process. Youth groups highlighted the importance of adapting language and tools to make discussions more accessible for everyone. One event used QR codes to gather ongoing input for a week after the discussion, demonstrating a simple yet effective digital approach to include more voices. A mix of physical and digital meetings was also recommended, allowing people to participate in ways that suited them best.
Stay tuned for more updates from other Community Champion Network workshops or head over to our Forum page!