ID: 1687
Presenting Author: Serkan Küçükünsal
Session: 610 - Reaching the Unheard: Inclusive Public Engagement in Practice
Status: pending
Transparent, ongoing, and culturally sensitive engagement builds the public trust of rural communities through early, updated, and inclusive communication.
In Türkiye, public trust in environmental assessments can be undermined when Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) are not conducted in parallel. EIAs focus narrowly on national regulatory requirements, while design-influencing ESIAs are conducted later according to International Financial Institution (IFI) standards. In many projects, the only formal public engagement, the Public Participation Meeting (PPM), takes place during the EIA phase, often without information on upcoming ESIA. Therefore, communities may feel misinformed or excluded once project designs evolve during ESIA studies, contributing to mistrust.
This gap in communication is especially critical in rural areas, where communities rely more on in-person meetings than on online or printed materials. Limited access to clear information leads to confusion, misinformation, or opposition based on incomplete understanding. The perceived disconnect between the initial PPM and later ESIA findings may deepen skepticism and reduce public confidence.
To address this, we emphasize strict adherence to IFI requirements including early engagement during scoping, follow-up consultations once key findings and design updates are available, and ongoing engagement throughout construction and operation. This transparent and culturally sensitive engagement ensures early, ongoing, and updated stakeholder involvement as assessments influence design. Clear communication and effective feedback loops are essential to building public trust, especially in rural communities.
Serkan Küçükünsal is an environmental professional experienced in coordinating national EIAs and international ESIAs aligned with international financial institution standards.
Coauthor 1: Meliha Beyza Kozak