Sámi democratic engagement in the energy transition: advancing justice, legitimacy and participatory governance

The project investigates Sámi democratic participation as a key element for the legitimacy of energy transition in Norway, Sweden and Finland through four interconnected aims:(1) develop a locally relevant articulation of ´just transition´ in Sápmi;(2) analyse the impact of national permitting practices and EU-level corporate due diligence initiatives on enhancing Sámi democratic participation;(3) explore systemic and structural changes needed at local, regional, and national levels for a just and legitimate energy transition in Sápmi;and (4) identify strategies and best practices to facilitate Sámi democratic participation, justice, and legitimacy in the energy transition in the short and long term.

The WP2 team from Sweden will examine public permitting and corporate due diligence as potential spaces for a ‘change from below’ under current regulatory failures; map existing good practices and envision new ones for effective Sámi participation, as identified by both Sámi actors and national permitting agencies across the three nation states;examine the potential impact of innovative supra-national regulations at the EU level, e.g., with regard to corporate due diligence, in promoting meaningful Sámi involvement in the green transition, and develop design principles for ‘rights-based dialogue practices’ between the Sámi, state and/or corporate actors to advance legitimate and effective Sámi participation.