Citizen participation for integrated assessment: new pathways in complex systems
by Joe Ravetz
International Journal of Environment and Pollution (IJEP), Vol. 11, No. 3, 1999

Abstract: Citizen or community participation is a guiding principle for environmental decision-making, but in practice it is often compromised and contradictory. Two themes in participation can be defined. One is in the ''product'' or outcome of decision-making, and aims for more effective and appropriate evaluations and decisions. The other is participation in the ''process'', where devolved decision-making itself can serve wider social and economic goals. Although both strands are crucial for the practice of ''integrated assessment'' in environmental governance, a clearer view is needed of the scope and limits of such participation. This paper explores such scope and limits by applying a conceptual ''integrated assessment'' framework. This is drawn from a major case study on sustainable development for a city-region in the north of the UK. Such a framework helps to identify the many roles of citizen participation from a complex systems perspective. Selected examples of current practice highlight the problems and opportunities for citizen participation in environmental governance.

Online publication date: Wed, 13-Aug-2003

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