Effective Stakeholder Engagement

A generally accepted element of good governance is stakeholder engagement. Whether it is in the context of developing strategies to adapt to climate change, hear public concerns about environmental decision-making, conduct an assessment of likely climate change impacts, or site wind power to produce some portion of the energy we need from renewables - in a democratic society the public does and should have a say.

Research shows that stakeholder engagement - when done well - typically leads to greater public understanding of the issues at hand, better decision-making processes, greater acceptance and satisfaction with decisions made, and often better outcomes.

I am currently working with the US Department of Energy's Wind and Water Power Program to advise them on effective stakeholder engagement and communication to improve the process by which renewable energy gets placed on land and offshore. The project is ongoing so check back for products later.

For related work, click on the following links:

• Evaluation of the First US National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change
• Effectiveness of Decision Support