How Democratic Transitions for all can work in practice – 8 case studies

While all 14 case studies of surveyed projects offer valuable insights about most of the aspects discussed in the previous chapters, the following case studies are particularly instructive in a variety of ways, which will be further discussed:

OASIS, Paris

OASIS explored creative ways to engage school communities and create an alliance around a project to ensure its sustainability and is an interesting example of community participation and co-design.

GBG_AS2C, Barcelona

GBG_AS2C offers an interesting case study to learn about the challenges of multi-level collaboration and how to involve citizens in impact assessment activities.

IGNITION, Greater Manchester

The roll out of IGNITION’s ecostreet movement became an increasingly inclusive process in which the team succeeded to truly activate different minority and community groups, who usually don’t get involved. They created wonderful green spaces and developed a new sense of community.

SPIRE, Baia Mare

The SPIRE project offers interesting insights into how to harness different motivations for public participation in local green initiatives, whilst also exploring how the concepts of local currency/tokens can help support small behavioural changes.

A Place To Be-Come, Seraing

APTBC is an example of grassroots neighbourhood engagement and public participation based on a local hub or building. It offers insights into the factors that can help make such an approach effective.

Co-City, Turin

Co-city shows how ‘pacts of collaboration’ can help to enable the wholesale re-use of derelict land and buildings. Using an open call, a co-design phase, when the pact is agreed, and an implementation phase, Co-city transformed 60 sites through community action.

Vilawatt, Viladecans

Before the war in Ukraine pushed up the cost of fuel, energy efficiency was not uppermost in people’s thoughts.  Viladecans made it made it matter by engaging the community in the process at all levels and specifically at the top level through a Public Private Citizen Partnership.  They went on to incentivise energy efficiency using a complementary currency, the Vilawatt.

Green Minds, Plymouth

Green Minds is about inspiring a pro-environment lifestyle in diverse groups of people.