Anatol Itten and Niek Mouter will conduct participatory research in the Arctic Circle

TPM researchers Anatol Itten and Niek Mouter will be conducting participatory value evaluation (PVE) research for the Norwegian Research Council. In the project DRIVKRAFT (driving force) they will be researching new forms of participation and co-creation in climate-, environmental and energy planning for rural municipalities in Northern Norway.   

Opposing interests
In Northern Norway, the interests of younger generations and business actors regarding climate-, environmental and energy policy are strikingly opposing. Indeed, rural municipalities face several challenges that differ from those of the urban area in the transformation to a renewable-energy society. The project’s main aim is to innovate a new generation of municipal climate-, environment- and energy plans (CEE-plans).

Innovative approach
DRIVKRAFT is based on two main innovative elements. Firstly, new ways that youth and business actors will be engaged and connected to each other in the planning process. And secondly, the manner in which the process is directed, both in planning and implementation of the CEE-plans. Anatol Itten and Niek Mouter will apply PVE in Northern Norway three times, in order to measure whether participating in a PVE influences citizens' own behaviour and to see how preferences between (youth and business) participants might change over time.

Partners
The project will be led by Senja municipality. Besides TU Delft, also The Arctic University of Norway, Durham University, Vågan and Vestvågøy municipality, Nordavind utvikling, The Lofoten Council, three secondary schools and several local businesses will be participating. The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway, and will run from from April 2021 to June 2025.

_{Photo: Senja municipality}