D1.2 Series of Target Workshops Learnings and Project Takeaways

D1.2 Series of Target Workshops Learnings and Project Takeaways D1.2 Series of Targeted Workshops 2 LEGAL DISCLAIMER This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101056898. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). D1.2 Series of Targeted Workshops 3 DOCUMENT INFORMATION Deliverable title Series of Targeted Workshops Dissemination level Public Submission deadline 28/03/2025 Version number 2 – (01-04-2025) Authors Conall Heussaff, Ugne Keliauskaite, Rutger Broer (Bruegel) Reviewers Scope of the document T1.2 Organisation of co-creation workshops D1.2 Series of Targeted Workshops 4 Table of contents 1. Stakeholder engagement strategy and targeted workshops 6 2. Targeted Workshops 6 Work Package 2: Empirical Policy Evaluation 6 Work Package 3: Advancing Coastal Wetlands as Nature-based Solutions 8 Work Package 4: Innovative Economic Methods 10 Work Package 5: Decision Making Frameworks 12 Work Package 6: Stakeholder Engagement Tool 13 Work Package 7: Sustainability competences in university curricula 15 3. Next Steps for Stakeholder Engagement 17 D1.2 Series of Targeted Workshops 5 LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Acronym Long text WP Work package D1.2 Series of Targeted Workshops 6 1. Stakeholder engagement strategy and targeted workshops DECIPHER’s central aim is to develop, in conjunction with stakeholders, an innovative decision-making framework for policymaking in spheres of climate, biodiversity and sustainability. DECIPHER’s partners are geographically dispersed across Europe, which has allowed it to engage with a wide range of expert stakeholders. These engagements have given DECIPHER partners an understanding of the best practices in the relevant fields and provided an opportunity to share the outputs of DECIPHER workstreams with critical stakeholders. DECIPHER has made use of its network of expert stakeholders to host a series of six targeted workshops directly related to the project work packages. These include empirical policy evaluation (WP2), modelling of ecosystem services (WP3), innovative economic methods in modelling (WP4), novel decision-making frameworks (WP5), the design of a stakeholder engagement tool (WP6), and the role of sustainability criteria in university curricula (WP7). Work package 1 covers the stakeholder engagement and therefore does not have a dedicated workshop associated with it. D1.2, this document, details, for each workshops the specific stakeholder community that was targeted depended on the aims of the workshop in question. Section 2 covers these details. The next steps for the project are provided in section 3. 2. Targeted Workshops Work Package 2: Empirical Policy Evaluation Date: 26/11/2024 Concept The WP2 workshop on ex-post policy evaluation aimed to gather a balanced group of climate, energy, and environmental policymakers from EU, national, and local levels, with a particular focus on those working on heating decarbonisation. The workshop sought to explore how policymakers evaluate the success of implemented policies ex-post and how these evaluations can be better integrated with modelling for climate, energy, and D1.2 Series of Targeted Workshops 7 environmental policymaking. Key objectives included identifying the methods used for policy evaluation, examining gaps in current approaches, and considering how modelling can support more effective and legitimate policy assessments. Attendees Table 1. Work Package 2 Workshop Attendees Organisation Number of Attendees European Environment Agency (EEA) 2 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 1 Concito 1 Energy Cities 1 DG ENER, European Commission 1 World Resources Institute 1 German Energy Agency (dena) 1 Discussion The workshop opened with an overview of the DECIPHER project. The ensuing discussion highlighted the role of economic and integrated assessment models in ex-ante climate policy appraisal and empirical policy evaluation. A case study on EU Structural Funds provided insight into the varying effectiveness of these funds in reducing emissions, emphasizing the need for tailored policy approaches. The debate also touched on the political use of economic modelling in policymaking, noting how models serve both as a tool for legitimizing predetermined targets and as a mechanism for informing policy design. Participants shared insights from their respective fields, discussing challenges in policy evaluation, particularly concerning additionality, behavioural responses to policies, and data gaps in assessing building energy efficiency. Case studies, such as the Netherlands' approach to natural gas phase-out in buildings, provided practical examples of policy implementation complexities. The discussion also underscored the role of one-stop shops and minimum energy performance standards as potential policy instruments, while acknowledging the barriers posed by market failures, transaction costs, and knowledge gaps. Various EU-level evaluation efforts were mentioned, including assessments of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and national energy performance databases. D1.2 Series of Targeted Workshops 8 Project Takeaways Key takeaways for the project include the importance of evaluating both quantitative and qualitative aspects of policy effectiveness, particularly regarding the real-world impact of policy measures. The workshop identified the need for improved methodologies to assess the additionality of funding mechanisms, as well as the behavioural and market dynamics influencing policy outcomes. Several promising case studies were proposed for further investigation, including localized policy approaches, the scaling-up of best practices, and the role of financial and information-based interventions. Moving forward, the project will incorporate these insights into its research design, with a focus on refining evaluation criteria and ensuring that policy assessments capture both economic and social dimensions. Work Package 3: Advancing Coastal Wetlands as Nature-based Solutions Date: 13/11/2024 Concept The WP3 workshop on wetlands valuations aimed to gather national and EU policymakers, environmental NGOs, and researchers working on environmental assessment, ecosystem valuation, and nature-based solutions for coastal adaptation. The workshop focused on methodologies for evaluating coastal wetlands and their ecosystem services at a global scale, as well as the role of wetlands as nature-based solutions for sea-level rise adaptation. Key objectives included understanding how stakeholders use environmental valuation in policymaking and advocacy, examining existing methodologies for assessing ecosystem services, and identifying how modelling can better support policy and decision-making in environmental assessments and coastal resilience planning. Attendees Table 2. Work Package 3 Workshop Attendees Organisation Number of Attendees Institute for European Environmental Policy 1 European Central Bank 1 International Union for Conservation of Nature 1 Europe Jacques Delors 1 Foundation for Sustainable Development 1 D1.2 Series of Targeted Workshops 9 RVO Nederland 1 European Investment Bank 1 United Nations Environment Programme 1 European Environment Agency 1 The Green Tank 2 DG CLIMA, European Commission 1 World Meteorological Organisation 1 Discussion A key part of the discussion was the presentation of the DIVA (Dynamic Interactive Vulnerability Assessment) model, a global-scale coastal impact assessment tool used to evaluate the protective functions of wetlands against sea level rise and extreme flooding events, by DECIPHER researcher Sebasiano Bacca. The research demonstrated the economic benefits of wetlands, both in terms of avoided damages and additional welfare values, emphasizing the importance of incorporating nature-based solutions (NbS) into coastal adaptation strategies. The model integrates biophysical and socio-economic factors, with preliminary results indicating significant cost savings in areas with extensive wetland coverage. Participants provided insights on the importance of broadening the assessment to include additional ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water purification, and biodiversity support. It was highlighted that while the model accounts for multiple services through meta-regression techniques, local-scale studies remain necessary for more granular evaluations. Further discussion explored the challenges of implementing nature-based solutions, particularly the need for a structured financial argument to attract investment. Stakeholders from financial institutions, think tanks, and policy bodies stressed that incorporating cost-benefit analyses, long-term risk mitigation data, and return-on-investment frameworks would enhance the case for NbS. The importance of local stakeholder engagement was also emphasized, with recommendations to integrate landscape approaches and ensure alignment with regulatory and governance structures. Project Takeaways The discussion reaffirmed the need for economic valuation tools to support decisionmaking on nature-based solutions. While global models like DIVA provide a broad policylevel perspective, local specificity remains critical for successful implementation. There is strong demand for more refined cost-benefit analysis, including the profitability of NbS, to improve investment attractiveness. Additionally, the conversation underscored the need D1.2 Series of Targeted Workshops 16 Attendees Table 6. Work Package 7 Workshop Attendees Organisation Number of Attendees National Technical University of Athens 2 University of Salzburg 1 University of Gothenburg 1 Tampere University of Applied Sciences 1 University of Namur 3 Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change 1 Institut Catholique d'Arts et Métiers 3 European Commission 1 Leiden University 1 University of Piraeus Research Center (UPRC) 2 Discussion The workshop enabled collecting stakeholder feedback feeding into the White Book being developed by University of Deusto aiming to support the integration of sustainability competencies into university curricula, particularly for future policy makers in the areas of climate change and biodiversity. The White Book focuses on various competences related to sustainability, biodiversity, and climate policies. The Deusto University included several interactive in-workshop surveys to which participants were invited to contribute insights and recommendations, that will feed into the structure and content of the White Book. The workshop centred around three key themes: 1. Identifying Core Competencies – Participants were asked to rank 15 sustainabilityrelated competencies in terms of importance. The most highly ranked were critical thinking, systems thinking, and collaboration/collective action. Some disparities emerged in the ranking of competencies related to financial literacy and policy advice, with participants highlighting that competencies are interconnected rather than strictly hierarchical. 2. Institutionalization of Sustainability in Higher Education – The discussion explored the best practices for embedding sustainability into university structures. Key priorities included curricular planning, teacher training, participatory D1.2 Series of Targeted Workshops 17 methodologies, and governance reforms. The need for systemic integration of sustainability across disciplines rather than treating it as an "add-on" was emphasized. 3. Active Learning Methodologies – Various student-centred learning approaches were examined, including problem-based learning, challenge-based learning, and experiential learning. Participants stressed the need for practical application, emphasizing the importance of demonstrating sustainability in action rather than treating it as a theoretical subject. Several participants shared experiences from their institutions, highlighting barriers such as time constraints and faculty resistance. Project Takeaways Effective integration of sustainability competencies in university curricula requires a systemic approach rather than standalone courses, ensuring relevance across disciplines. Balancing theory with action is essential, emphasizing hands-on learning, critical reflection, and real-world applications. Institutional commitment is key, with governance structures, accreditation standards, and teaching methodologies aligned to support sustainability education. Teacher training and motivation must go beyond content knowledge and include effective pedagogy for sustainability literacy. Additionally, student involvement is crucial, with universities fostering peer-driven initiatives and community engagement to enhance impact. The White Book will incorporate stakeholder feedback related to policy recommendations, institutional strategies, and case studies in order to guide universities in embedding sustainability into curricula effectively. 3. Next Steps for Stakeholder Engagement Building on the insights gathered from the targeted workshops, the next phase of the stakeholder engagement aspects of DECIPHER will focus on enhancing stakeholder participation through the Stakeholder Engagement Tool (T1.3) and developing a guidance document for methodologically improved policymaking (T1.4). The outcomes of the targeted workshops have highlighted the need for such accessible, transparent, and data-driven approaches to engage policymakers and the wider public in climate and environmental decision-making. Under Task 1.3, the development of the stakeholder engagement tool will continue, ensuring it effectively supports policy assessment and public engagement. The tool will provide an interactive platform for stakeholders to engage with policy assessment by D1.2 Series of Targeted Workshops 18 expressing their priorities and perspectives on different policy dimensions. It will also offer visual representations to illustrate the broader socio-economic impacts of climate and environmental policies, making complex information more accessible and easier to interpret. The completed tool will be delivered as D1.3 “Stakeholder engagement tool”. Building on Task 1.3, Task 1.4 will develop guidelines for methodologically improved and transparent public policy design and evaluation. This document will provide policymakers with practical steps to engage stakeholders effectively and integrate economic methods into decision-making. The guidelines will be informed by insights from previous tasks, ensuring a coherent and user-friendly manual for policymakers working on climate and environmental policies. The final output will be compiled in D1.4 “Guidelines for improved decision-making”. The guidelines will be further publicly disseminated through a policy brief, supporting the project's broader objective of fostering transparent and wellinformed policy processes.