Identification and prioritization of stakeholders in the planning process of sustainable development of the smart city

Abstract

The article analyzes stakeholders in the city, conducted in order to identify organisations of particular value to the creation and delivery of the sustainable energy policy for smart cities i.e. enhanced Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP). Using the information gathered in the stakeholder analysis, Riga, the capital of Republic of Latvia, has created a stakeholder engagement plan to gather and coordinate the key stakeholders' resources and knowledge for the benefit of the city, and for the development, implementation, monitoring and ongoing revision of the energy policy for the smart city i.e. SEAP. Different approaches to stakeholder communication and engagement planning have been used, based on specific city context, including history of engagement and current plans and ambitions. Riga stakeholders have been identified and prioritised using a matrix tool, allowing stakeholders to be grouped according to their importance for the enhanced SEAP and level of interest or engagement in the city. Riga has completed public consultation roundtables on its enhanced SEAP. Key stakeholders and their groups that have been identified include academia, local and regional administrations, industry and commerce, finance, energy suppliers and citizens. Riga working to engage all relevant stakeholder groups to help them move towards smart city status - including information and communication technology (ICT) partners, innovation bodies and international companies - in the process of developing and implementing the enhanced SEAP. As a result the city is making connections between players of energy, transport and ICT and increasing their role in CO2 emissions' reduction, and recognising opportunities of cross-sectoral actions and transfer of the best practice projects in synchrony with relevant local stakeholders, international companies and banks to roll out innovative sustainable energy solutions at a scale. Gaps in current stakeholder communication have also been identified, including insufficient recognition of job creation potential by engaging employment agencies, closer engagement with the transport sector companies, ensuring sufficient citizens' engagement, and building on existing relationships with ICT players. Riga has developed communication tools and stakeholder engagement plan based on analysis of the know-how and resources held by each of the stakeholders or their groups and their role in, and potential impact on the SEAP. With increasingly limited local authority resources for communication with stakeholders, usual methods and channels, based on ICT including newsletters, and emails, social media, have been prioritised in order to secure information flow and feedback from stakeholders.