The European Union is working to rapidly digitalize and decarbonize its economy by developing net-zero industrial infrastructure, creating green jobs, and investing in renewable energy systems. This effort requires addressing significant governance challenges to ensure inclusivity and uphold democratic processes. Multilevel governance (MLG) plays a crucial role in this transition by involving diverse actors in policy making, promoting participation, and fostering shared ownership of goals. However, implementing MLG remains challenging in the face of rising populism, polarization, and concurrent economic and environmental crises. DeCrises seeks to bridge the gap between theory and practice in the current MLG framework to support a just and inclusive twin digital and climate transition across the EU.

Western Norway Research Institute (Vestlandsforsking) will lead Work package 4, where the project will examine four social innovation initiatives in Norway, Latvia, Poland, and Finland to understand how different regions foster community-based social innovation for climate action and a just transition. By engaging diverse stakeholders, DeCrises will explore bottom-up challenges in the twin transition and develop an MLG framework that promotes active citizenship, shared decision-making, and inclusive governance.