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Description
In this project, we are changing the climate around public consultations. Our aim is to increase the presence of NGOs, informal groups and residents (including young people) in public life, and we are spreading civic dialogue on environmental and climate protection. Public consultations are still an underestimated tool of public participation in Poland. They are often treated by offices as ''a necessary evil'', e.g. their role is limited to publishing the documents on the offices'' websites. In the 2018 Europolis ''Civic Cities'' survey examining, among other things, the residents'' participation in public consultations in 65 Polish cities, the Podlaskie Province cities took distant places (Łomża: 21, Białystok: 45, and Suwałki: 53). This survey reveils that the problem of low public participation is very serious in our region. Our experience shows that public consultations are an opportunity, not a hindrance. They allow optimal decision-making, and help defuse or even prevent social conflicts. In addition, they build a sense of shared responsibility for decisions and integrate the community around important issues. As part of the project, we want to develop and disseminate innovative forms of conducting dialogue with citizens. We are carrying out a series of training sessions for people representing 10 municipalities who, supported by mentors, will carry out one of the innovative forms of consultation on important issues, including environmental protection. We organise meetings for local governments and NGOs on methods of conducting public consultations and on formal and legal issues related to them. We are preparing a handbook ''Consult for CLIMATE change, or how to do it step by step in your municipality'', in which we describe model consultations. In the project, at least 20 NGOs, 10 local authorities and 300 residents (including about 50 young people) are involved.