Walkable maps and policy innovation for nature: a novel methodology for understanding policy learning

TY - JOUR

T1 - Walkable maps and policy innovation for nature: a novel methodology for understanding policy learning

AU - Petersen, Carolyn

AU - Russel, Duncan

AU - Jensen, Anne

AU - Pedersen, Anders Branth

AU - Banzhaf, Ellen

AU - Kaltenegger, Ingrid

PY - 2024/1/1

Y1 - 2024/1/1

N2 - Methodological innovation is needed that actively engages a range of policy makers in policy learning to address the climate and biodiversity crises. We developed Walkable Floor Map Policy Workshops (WFMPWs) as a way of engaging policy makers in policy learning towards NBS innovation in their local context. This paper examines WFMPW methodology for NBS through an analysis of three WFMPWs in three European urban case study sites. We find that implementation of WFMPWs facilitated policy learning through group discussion and experience sharing amongst participating policy makers. The WFMPWs added greater spatial contextualisation and the futures workshop elements facilitated discussions of future opportunities and barriers, leading to questioning of common approaches and assumptions and ‘thinking outside of the box’. The data provided in-depth, comparative, nuanced, and locally contextualised qualitative insights of interest across multiple disciplines. The findings provide a different way of understanding political and decision-making processes around NBS, including problem framing and shifting policy debates. The WFMPW approach enabled participating policy makers to describe and critique the current situation; imagine/visualise a preferable future situation; and explore ways of moving from the actual situation to the preferred one.

AB - Methodological innovation is needed that actively engages a range of policy makers in policy learning to address the climate and biodiversity crises. We developed Walkable Floor Map Policy Workshops (WFMPWs) as a way of engaging policy makers in policy learning towards NBS innovation in their local context. This paper examines WFMPW methodology for NBS through an analysis of three WFMPWs in three European urban case study sites. We find that implementation of WFMPWs facilitated policy learning through group discussion and experience sharing amongst participating policy makers. The WFMPWs added greater spatial contextualisation and the futures workshop elements facilitated discussions of future opportunities and barriers, leading to questioning of common approaches and assumptions and ‘thinking outside of the box’. The data provided in-depth, comparative, nuanced, and locally contextualised qualitative insights of interest across multiple disciplines. The findings provide a different way of understanding political and decision-making processes around NBS, including problem framing and shifting policy debates. The WFMPW approach enabled participating policy makers to describe and critique the current situation; imagine/visualise a preferable future situation; and explore ways of moving from the actual situation to the preferred one.

KW - nature-based solutions

KW - policy innovation

KW - policy learning

KW - policy workshop methodology

KW - walkable floor maps

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85199507065&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/16094069241254006

DO - 10.1177/16094069241254006

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1609-4069

VL - 23

JO - International Journal of Qualitative Methods

JF - International Journal of Qualitative Methods

ER -