Local values towards a local heat transition

Abstract

This thesis sets out to support decision-making processes throughout the Dutch urban heat transition. Over the last few years, calls from both academic literature and practise have emerged stating that participation throughout these processes is of utmost importance. Not only to gain acceptance for implementation plans in the making, but also to create a deeper comprehension of household’s values, stances and their role within their transition. As locals have been deemed key decision-makers, once’s that should be supported by policymakers. Inherently the qualities of participation should thus ensure a more optimal decision-making process towards a smooth roll-out of neighbourhood heat transitions. The problem identified however is that policymakers lack a comprehensive set of tools to engage in participation, better understand their stakeholders and thus better enable their decision-making within the local context of a neighbourhood transition.

To address this problem a novel iteration of the IAD framework is designed, enhanced through value theories and a nested structure. To research whether this toolkit is fit-for-purpose, the design is operationalized on a case study. Namely, the neighbourhood heat transition of the KNSM-eiland in Amsterdam. It was found that the designed framework provides a structured lens through which the complex and dynamic heat transition can be dissected, unfolding insights that lead way towards more optimal processes. The IAD framework, nested and value enhanced, has served this research as a toolkit to guide decision-making across a neighbourhood heat transition. The design allowed the researcher to work beyond pitfalls of traditional participation and alongside novel standards. Leading to a tailor-made approach for engagement and decision-making, uncovering tension fields and misalignment in the process.