Since the summer of 2020, researchers from ten projects pertaining to the Horizon2020 Science with and for Society (SwafS) call have been meeting virtually as the SwafS14 Monitoring and Evaluation ecosystem. Topics of discussion were the trials and tribulations of their regional Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) projects as well as their strategies for monitoring and evaluation. In this paper we make a first attempt at presenting these issues as problems of translation between different kinds of stakeholders. After an exploration of the diversity of stakeholders and the process of translation in regional RRI, we suggest evaluative conversations as a way of improving regional RRI. We intend to develop this idea in the future and that these conversations will facilitate more responsible and engaged monitoring and evaluation and contribute to better R&I policies.

Energy communities in Denmark, Italy, and Norway were investigated to explore factors that enable or hinder the behavioral and social transformations necessary to achieve a socially just environmental transition, particularly in projects involving vulnerable individuals. This study seeks to understand how energy communities drive behavioral change and social transformation by examining seven energy communities in Denmark, Italy, and Norway. Consequently, 57 semi-structured interviews were conducted among the seven cases. This paper suggests fostering behavioral shifts towards energy-saving practices in Norway and Denmark to reduce energy consumption and mitigate energy vulnerability. Education and awareness-raising on energy-saving measures in Italy have already led to tangible changes in daily behaviors among vulnerable groups. Across all countries, prior environmental attitudes, trust in project leaders and project plans, and community support were crucial in driving participation and behavioral change. Additionally, financial incentives motivated some participants, especially those from vulnerable groups facing high living costs. Key enablers of change included access to knowledge and a sense of community, while barriers like financial constraints and time limitations hindered broader participation. The study highlights the importance of involving vulnerable individuals in decision-making to enhance their sense of ownership and commitment to energy-saving practices. For sustainable behavioral change, it is essential to address environmental motivations and the financial, political, social, and practical considerations that affect vulnerable populations’ decision to join energy communities.

It is well known that climate change exacerbates inequalities and vice versa. What is less known is that the most disadvantaged groups are also at risk of becoming non-negligible producers of emissions that cause climate change. Examples include the difficulties disadvantaged micro-entrepreneurs face in limiting the emissions of their activities, or the need for subsistence farmers to cut down trees to increase the amount of farmland. The above is mainly due to the unintended negative effects of some mitigation and adaptation (M&A) policies on the most vulnerable and their non-inclusion in the deployment of these policies. This paper aims to provide a detailed analysis in this respect, highlighting the significant limitations of some policies, which often exclude/penalise disadvantaged groups and are likely to be strongly resisted by them. The possible anti-equalisation effects of such policies, which tend to protect those who are better off more, are also highlighted. To overcome these limitations, the prospect of combining climate and social justice is emerging. However, this perspective has so far had limited impact on M&A policies, as it is only occasionally applied in practice. Conversely, specific social clauses (including social inclusion, protection of vulnerable groups, and gender mainstreaming) should be defined and applied.

Many micro-entrepreneurs—especially those experiencing social or economic vulnerabilities—lack the resources or motivation to engage in environmental initiatives. Therefore, it is important to identify effective measures to stimulate and support them towards enhancing the environmental sustainability of their business. To this aim, this sociological study focuses on micro-entrepreneurs who have already implemented or at least planned measures to improve the ecological performance of their enterprises. Adopting an intersectional lens and following a systematic screening of micro-enterprises managed by individuals from marginalized groups, we recruited 21 vulnerable micro-entrepreneurs across diverse sectors in Belgium, Greece, Italy, Norway, and Romania. Each entrepreneur was monitored over eight months, with three consecutive site visits and interviews conducted to examine how they address the challenge of making their businesses environmentally sustainable and to document their progress towards this goal, as well as the differences in this progress between entrepreneurs with varying vulnerabilities, motivations, educational backgrounds and inclusion in relevant networks. All 21 participants were found to be on a discernible trajectory toward greater environmental sustainability, engaging in activities such as energy efficiency upgrades, renewable energy adoption, waste sorting, biodegradable materials use, materials recycling, and sustainable mobility solutions. Of these, fifteen have already achieved measurable success, thanks to significant financial investments, the implementation of integrated, multi-pronged strategies, and a commitment to environmental stewardship as an ongoing process rather than a one-time initiative. Findings further suggest specific drivers of vulnerable entrepreneurs’ initiatives towards environmental sustainability and resources that may support their success.