In Search of the Innovative Digital Solutions Enhancing Social Pro-Environmental Engagement

Abstract

Aim: In this paper, we analyze the potential of various digital tools such as gamification-based applications or digital currencies in enabling the social engagement in climate change mitigation processes by encouraging pro-environmental behaviors. Therefore, as a result of this study, we aim to develop a conceptual framework for a green digital tool, dedicated to cities seeking to shape their resilience by supporting bottom-up initiatives and encouraging residents to join the effort through educational interventions. Methods: The study was divided into four steps using a variety of methodological approaches, including a review of the SLR literature, analysis of the successes and failures of existing solutions, and qualitative workshops with stakeholders. Findings: The conceptual basis of the proposed solution has been developed based on the existing knowledge on pro-environmental nudging and lessons learnt from existing solutions. Value/originality: The developed conceptual framework can contribute to local economies while promoting social solidarity. It has the potential to build communities which can act together for the purpose of urban climate resilience because, from the very beginning, it is co-created together with residents. Practical implementation and beneficiaries: The concept described in this paper can serve cities as a supportive solution, shaping climate change awareness and attitudes toward active engagement.

1. Introduction

Urban planning organizations and local economies in modern cities are often open to creative ideas, smart technologies, and sustainable developments designed to achieve socio-economic wealth. Urbanized areas are confronted with challenges, notably including far-reaching environmental decay and climatological change, unequal social participation, and ever-rising mobility trends. Cities therefore require advanced infrastructure, sustainable economic growth, environmental and climate-neutral facilities, and smart and knowledge-intensive strategies for socio-economic prosperity and well-being [1,2]. In order to address climate change, smart cities require low-carbon eco-strategies for urban resilience, while at the same time enhancing social participation to strengthen public-private partnerships [3,4]. The concept of “urban smartness” also involves integrating social development, capital, and civic participation with the use of information technology to support the preservation of natural resources and to improve quality of life [5]. Smart development should be focused on green growth and environmental resilience. However, there needs to be a shift from the use of intelligent systems and technologies for citizen-consumer participation toward increasing climate awareness in order to build social engagement, thus shaping urban resilience [6]. To achieve the transformation of cities into environmentally sustainable areas, promoting environmental awareness services appears to be one of the crucial needs related to shaping public awareness [7]. However, to shape such an approach, it is necessary to advance data-based climate science to communicate these findings to members of society [8]. Applications based on geospatial information systems, when used in municipal planning, can be considered supportive tools in responding to the need to build social engagement [9]. To harmonize change climate mitigation and adaptation, current urban development should be based on three pillars: (1) innovative technology and integration, (2) innovations in governance, and (3) social innovation [10]. However, despite the recognized role of technology in building social engagement [11] and the role of gamification in shaping social cohesion [12], its adoption in the smart development of urban resilience remains limited. The potential concept developed and discussed within this paper can fill this gap by delivering functionalities that will aid in climate change mitigation by engaging communities to act together toward urban resilience.

The literature review implies that successful pro-environmental policies and measures require improvement of environmental awareness and substantial social ecological engagement. The ambition of our research was to investigate the current technological, social and educational possibilities of developing such innovative solutions. Our paper analyzes the most crucial, urban climate-related environmental challenges to be addressed by such measures. It also investigates already existing solutions and best practices, with particular focus on the measures enhancing social participation in the process of shaping environmentally friendly and climate-resilient smart cities. The main aim therefore is to develop methods ensuring social engagement in climate change mitigation. It was further supported with supplementary goals:

A1.

To determine key challenges in the climate related documents, strategies and policies which can be considered supportive while developing tools ensuring pro-environmental social participation of urban residents;

A2.

To evaluate existing solutions and recognize good practices allowing urban dwellers engagement in urban processes;

A3.

To develop a conceptual framework of a participatory approach, ensuring the engagement of stakeholders in the process of both design and implementation pro-environmental policies;

A4.

To develop a theoretical concept of an application for the urban citizens and communities enabling education and more efficient engagement in mitigation of climate change as well as preserving the environment.

2. Theoretical Background

2.1. The Environmental Costs and Scale of Impact

The negative impact of human activities on the physical environment is a widely recognized and significant problem. Overpopulation, pollution, greenhouse gases emissions, and many other activities cause problems such as climate change, soil erosion, biodiversity losses, more extreme weather events, poor air quality, and many other phenomena that negatively influence our quality of life. At the same time, an increase in the level of declared readiness to reduce emissions and pollution can be observed. The notion of sustainable development appears nowadays as a key element of most strategic documents and international agreements.

One of the major environmental threats is the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs). These are gaseous components of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, which absorb and reemit infrared radiation [13]. Greenhouse gases are natural components of the atmosphere and play a vital role in its proper functioning. However, excessive concentrations can cause damaging effects such as an increase in the average global temperature, which is one of the main present challenges [14]. These negative effects of climate change are a reality to many people globally. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, along with numerous other institutions and researchers, have warned at least for the past decade that, without the implementation of the concrete environmental policies, temperatures may be expected to rise significantly by the end of the century. Such changes will have a very significant impact on ecosystems, human health, and societies and will generate substantial external costs for the entire society [14,15,16,17,18].

The deterioration of the environment also creates a very significant social and economic problem. Environmental researchers and economists have conducted various studies to quantify the impacts of human activities on the environment and to monetize the social costs they generate. This is particularly important in cites, which are one of the main contributors to environmental damage. According to UN Habitat, cities consume 78% of the world’s energy and produce more than 60% of greenhouse gas emissions [19]. At the same time, cities are among the most vulnerable areas affected by the externalities of the climate change process.

Air pollution is one of the major issues and environmental challenges at present [20,21]. According to the EEA, it is the number one cause of premature deaths from environmental factors in Europe [22,23]. The problem is particularly acute in urban areas, where around 66% of Europeans live. Researchers conducted calculations on the 432 cities in Europe, and estimated the social costs of air pollution to be EUR 166 billion in 2018 and approx. EUR 1250 a year per citizen due to the direct and indirect health losses associated with poor air quality [24]. According to another study, costs due to health damage from air pollution equate to between 0.4% and 6% of annual GDP in the world’s leading cities, primarily due to increased risks of chronic illnesses and other health impacts [25]. The same research institution estimated the economic costs of air pollution from fossil fuels to be on the level of USD 2.9 trillion in 2018, equivalent to 3.3% of global GDP [26]. The major sources of air pollution are of anthropogenic origin and include the burning of fossil fuels in electricity generation, transport, industry, and households; industrial processes; agriculture; and waste treatment [27]. Industrial facilities are particularly important contributors, responsible for a large share of external costs. According to a study by the EEA, in 2017 alone, air pollution emitted from industrial sites in Europe had an estimated social cost between EUR 277 and EUR 433 billion, or about 2–3% of the EU’s GDP [28].

Air pollution is not the only environmental challenge. Waste collection and recycling is another issue that is particularly important in urban areas. Waste management is also high on the political agenda of the European Union and is supported by the legislative framework on waste, i.e., within the European Union Waste Framework Directive [29,30] and the EU’s action plan for a circular economy [30]. This framework sets ambitious targets to reduce waste, particularly for recycling waste. The proportion of re-use and recycling of municipal waste is projected to increase to a minimum of 55%, 60%, and 65% by weight by 2025, 2030, and 2035 respectively. The impact of waste such as plastic pollution also generates substantial burdens to society. A WWF study estimated the lifetime cost to society, the environment, and the economy of plastic produced in 2019 to be USD 3.7 trillion. Without any countermeasures and policies implemented, this cost is expected to double for the plastic produced in 2040 [31]. Such challenges are clearly a very important and costly element of contemporary society. Dealing with them requires complex actions on various levels. Local and bottom-up initiatives have proven to be very effective ways of supporting the green transition. With this paper, we aim to follow this approach and to analyze potential solutions which municipalities can use to engage citizens and local communities in actions addressing climate change and environmental protection.

2.2. Global Climate Agreements and the Role of Education

Policymakers globally are becoming more and more aware of the potential risks and costs of environmental damages caused by human activity. In order to strengthen environmental protection measures, agreements and treaties have been concluded at the supranational level to implement common policies and cooperation, with a particular emphasis on the need to promote sustainable changes in attitudes and behavior (i.e., reductions in consumption, energy consumption, and the overproduction of waste; the promotion of green attitudes; etc.). This problem has been already addressed in several international climate agreements, with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change [13], the Kyoto Protocol [32], and the Paris Agreement [33] among the most important ones.

One of the important ways of implementing these agreements, strategies, or postulates is to implement solutions based on educational activities. Article 12 of the Paris Agreement is directly dedicated to this aspect and underlines the need for education, training, public awareness, public participation, and public access to information as important elements of protecting the environment and reaching convention targets [19]. Such activities serve the purpose of raising awareness as to the causes of the climate changes taking place, including the role played by human beings in this process, promoting various multi-level methods of protecting the natural environment, and shaping pro-ecological attitudes and behaviors, providing an opportunity to improve the quality of life, not only for the present but also for future generations. The idea of the digital tool, described in the final part of this paper, is based on the abovementioned implications.

2.3. Education as a Tool for Improving Environmental Awareness

Although awareness of environmental change and the need for remedial action have been growing in recent decades, our understanding of the role of individual human behavior and actions in the process resulting in the climate crisis is still limited. The downplaying of the importance of individual human influence on climate change as a whole is particularly noticeable [34]. Human behavior is shaped by internal and external factors. The former include beliefs, values, attitudes, emotions and knowledge [35], whereas the latter are related to the context in which behavior occurs and choices are made (regulations, social norms, and cultural taboos) [36]. Although interventions aimed at changing human behavior in environmental terms should take into account both groups of factors, this is not the rule, as indicated by Grilli and Curtis’ [37] review of research and reports on methods to initiate/enhance pro-environmental behavior. These methods can be sorted into four categories [36]:

(1)

Education and awareness (EAA)—a method used when participants already have a certain level of intrinsic motivation and willingness to commit to change;

(2)

Outreach and relationship building (ORB)—a method of providing or facilitating access to effective means of communication in society, giving individuals a sense of trust in the source of information initiating change;

(3)

Social influence (SI) using the (un)conscious influence or interaction of individuals or groups perceived as experts, influencers, or significant people;

(4)

Behavioral insights and nudges (N), interventions that attempt to change behavior by modifying the conditions under which an individual makes a default choice, e.g., reducing consumption by reducing the size of the plate.

Due to its greatest popularity and variety of forms, in the following, we provide a brief description of the method referred to as “education and awareness” (EAA). This method is based on the assumption that a lack of knowledge about the consequences of an individual’s behavior underlies his or her non-environmental behavior [38]. The quantitative analyses of interventions aimed at pro-environmental behavioral changes which have been carried out so far indicate that EEA is the most frequently used method, which may result from the fact that, in its simplest forms (e.g., providing information in public space in the form of posters or leaflets), it is easy to implement and relatively cheap. At the same time, however, its low effectiveness, as compared to other methods, has been indicated, which does not so much indicate the lack of connection between education and changing behavior, but rather is related to the fact that this category includes activities that are diverse in form and effectiveness.

Providing information is considered the least effective form of EAA (e.g., posters informing the public about proper tire pressure [39] and leaflets informing the public about ways to save water [40]). Although its effectiveness increases when individuals are motivated to change their behavior (i.e., they have a prior interest in environmental issues), a pro-environmental motivation does not always result in pro-environmental behavior [41,42,43], as social, informational, economic, and psychological barriers may stand in the way [44]. The effectiveness of this form of education can furthermore be influenced by the circumstances and delivery of the information [39], for example, in the case of information on saving water and electricity, it is important to deliver it in a way that makes it readily available at the time of the individual’s decision [40]. Information also affects audiences more when it uses local patterns of effective communication [45,46].

The EEA-type interventions that are considered more effective are based on tailored feedback [40,47,48], allowing the individual to relate their behaviors to set (pro-environmental) goals and analyze the effects of these behaviors over time. Darby distinguishes three types of feedback—direct (e.g., meter readings, use of an application on a website or on a digital home appliance), indirect (bills containing additional information, e.g., energy consumption history, consumption standards), and unintended (e.g., resulting from the purchase of a new home appliance with different energy consumption parameters or from personal energy production experiences). Of these three types, direct feedback is the most effective [49], whereas in terms of the form of communication, feedback provided through interactive IT tools is the most effective [50].

The effectiveness of feedback-based learning activities increases when they are accompanied by publicly made commitments (e.g., joining a group initiating pro-environmental behavior and signing a petition) [40,48,51,52] or there is an opportunity to obtain so-called comparative feedback, i.e., to relate one’s own behavior to the norms presented by an appropriately selected influential group. The way in which feedback is delivered is also important—methods based on face-to-face interaction are more effective than indirect methods (telephone contact, email) [53], although some researchers recognize that, in modern times, face-to-face contact may be replaced by social media [54].

Recently, the role of apps on mobile devices has received attention as a new way of providing feedback (app-based eco-feedback). Although it is equally capable of providing feedback compared to more traditional means (energy consumption calculations, in-home devices, email, web-based applications), the advantage of mobile applications is their general accessibility, ease of use, and ease of modification/updating. However, there is a lack of research reliably assessing their effectiveness. Among the few studies available is a long-term (53 weeks) experiment using a mobile application applying “eco-feedback” on electricity consumption in dormitories located in large metropolitan areas in China. The results of the experiment were not highly satisfactory. In the longitudinal measurement area, changes in behavior were observed, but significantly positive ones occurred only in the initial phase of the experiment, decreasing to insignificant values at the end. An interesting result of this experiment is the relationship between the way (more or less engaging) information is communicated and the maintenance of behavioral changes (“reminders” delivered by email) [55].

To some extent, EAA is a building block for all other methods, as each uses some kind of information transfer. However, the literature indicates that relying on information transfer alone is not very effective (less so than the other methods). The effectiveness of EAA increases as the motivation of individuals to voluntarily undertake pro-environmental behavior increases, in cases where they lack adequate knowledge [56]. Under such conditions, EAA is useful in initiating a behavioral change and increasing environmental awareness. It is also beneficial to combine the provision of information with the provision of feedback (also involving reference groups) and the making of public commitments.

3. Materials and Methods

The research framework of our study is described in Figure 1, which introduces the research steps responding to the aims of this study and the methodology which was used in each phase of the work.

The research steps (Figure 1) responding the aims and their methodology were as follows.

• Step 1: To define research gaps, we based our research on a literature review conducted using the systematic literature review (SLR) method on the basis of the Web of Science and Scopus databases [57,58]. We focused mostly on literature evaluating urban climate related documents to define key challenges for which an urban response is needed. Such critical evaluation aimed to define factors which should be searched while evaluating existing solutions. In case such functionalities have not been found, it allowed us to define gaps for further research.
• Step 2: Based on the reviewed literature and case studies, with the same methodological approach as in step 1, we evaluated existing solutions in order to recognize good practices. We approached the evaluation by preparing an assessment framework (Figure 2). This was carried out on the basis of the work of Joachain and Klopfert [59] and Cato and Doods [60]. The evaluation criteria were divided into three groups—functionality, social aspects, and technical solutions. The criteria were defined based on existing methodologies; however, they were adjusted to the scope of our research.

The criteria have been divided into three main groups including:

• Functionality: (1) type of solution (2) aims of delivered tool; (3) target audience and key actors; (4) mechanisms allowing stakeholders engagement, (5) methodological approach while developing such a tool—which was farther use while defining a framework for participatory design of such tools.
• Social aspects: (1) the implementation process; (2) operating and maintaining; (3) evaluating and measuring climate and social impact; (4) ways of ensuring security.
• Technical solutions: (1) reliance on technology; (2) network and connectivity; (3) system architecture.
• Step 3: Development and testing and participatory approach to secure the engagement of various stakeholders in the process of designing and implementation of pro-environmental measures. Following the design thinking methodology, we invited local stakeholders in order to evaluate, discuss and design potential pro-environmental solutions in the most efficient way.
• Step 4: The final phase was carried out together with stakeholders as a test run for the implementation of the participatory approach. On the basis of the design thinking, product design, and moonshot thinking methodologies [61], we prepared a workshop during which we used a world café approach [62] which facilitated the introduction of our conceptual framework of approaching pro-environmental problems in cities (Section 5).

4. Results

4.1. Empirical Analysis of Digital Tools to Respond Climate Related Challenges

Using the systematic literature review, we searched digital solutions responding to the goals of sustainable development and designed to help to mitigate climate changes. Over sixty applications and social currencies were identified and studied to introduce a theoretical basis for a design of concept digital solution enhancing social participation in climate mitigation.

Our research and analysis of case studies focused on the functionalities of existing digital solutions (Section 4.2 and Section 4.3) to recognize what is missing and what kind of tools are needed for cities to mitigate climate change. We focused mostly on social aspects (Section 4.4) to recognize the ways of engaging people in shaping adaptable cities. Moreover, we studied technical aspects of various solutions (Section 4.5) to recognize the lessons learnt and to develop a basis for the conceptual framework. We used it as a base for designing digital tools allowing participatory planning aiming to respond to climate related challenges.

To determine the key functionalities of such successful digital tools and measures, we identified studies on existing currencies and urban apps for enhancing active citizenship. Thereafter, we structured our study to introduce functionalities ensuring social impacts and defining technical challenges of such solutions. In this paper, we described cases which were recognized as those responding to all the above-mentioned criteria.

As the preliminary literature review demonstrated, the possibilities of digital tools have not been fully embedded in the process of engaging citizens in the process of mitigating climate changes [63]; this led to the development of the initial idea of innovative digital tool. Our ambition was to introduce a new concept of an application rewarding pro-environmental behaviors aimed at engaging citizens to act, as well as empowering their eco-activities by shaping climate awareness. In response, such a tool should be based on, inter alia, gamification elements, encouraging urban dwellers to get involved in the process of shaping urban adaptability and resilience. To mitigate climate changes, cities need well defined aims and successfully implemented policies. However, in order to achieve climate goals, it is crucial to act together; therefore, the active participation of urban dwellers became one of our key priorities [64,65,66,67]. Moreover, gamification has been proven to be an effective way to educate people about sustainability and promote pro-environmental actions (e.g., [68,69]). Therefore, our concept can be considered a supportive tool, enabling social engagement in the process of mitigating climate changes.

4.2. Defining Basic Functionalities of a Digital Tool for Social Engagement

The basic functionalities have been defined on the basis of our evaluation of the existing solutions, which was carried out as a part of research step 2. Over 120 existing solutions were evaluated (including both applications and community currencies); however, this paper presents chosen case-studies and major conclusions from our analysis. We observed that various applications have been tested or implemented worldwide, mostly in developed countries, designed to enable pro-environmental behaviors; however, most of them have been focused on a sectorial approach only. Some community currencies have considered social, economic, and environmental issues, yet they have not fully exploited the potential of current technological advancements. Figure 3 and Figure 4 were created with the use of mentimeter.com on the basis of key words corresponding to the criteria of the assessment framework, describing 120 evaluated solutions, and they show word clouds built on the basis of the evaluated cases—both eco-related applications and social currencies.

Eco-Related applications

The evaluation of 60 applications (e.g., Greenify, GoEco!, Power Advisor, Energy Life, SG4Mobility, Wattsup, etc.) proved that such solutions have mostly been implemented in western European countries. When evaluating the spatial distribution of the evaluated cases, we can observe that the majority of existing solutions can be found in the UK, Spain, France, and Germany. The challenge that remains is that most of them failed after the end of the research grant within which the solution had been designed. Most of the existing solutions were based on gamification elements and included only educational aspects. Most were focused on one sustainable goal only—mostly on energy savings (36 cases, e.g., ecoGator, OPOWER, BuiltSpace, Power Advisor, TRIBE, and Social Power) and consumption (12 cases, e.g., GAIA, MyEarth, OrbEEt, and PowerPedia). We noted that there was limited access to application design. However, many of them were based on a participatory approach, including prototyping, workshops, User Interface (UI) design, and surveys. On the other hand, to make sure that users continued to be engaged, many applications offered interactive dashboards and communication channels. In many cases, gamification elements were recognized as a key factor encouraging stakeholders to act ecologically. Additionally, most of the tools offered real-time monitoring solutions.

Social Currencies

Most of the evaluated cases came from Europe (UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and France). All of the analyzed social currencies from the UK and Switzerland are currently operating. Some of the analyzed solutions from the Netherlands and Greece were digital currencies. The majority of the currencies included in our analysis (60 cases, e.g., NRGCoin, Sysmä, Lewes Pound, KannWas, Chiemguer, Eco-Iris, NU-Spaarpass, Bytesring Stockholm, etc.) focused on voluntary work, e.g., Time Bank, Makkie, SolarCoin, Samen Doen, and Zeitvorsoge. They were often considered to be supportive tools for regional or local policies. Financial aspects of the social currencies (e.g., overcoming financial crises, financing loans, or supporting financial inclusion) could be among the main goals of such solutions; however, these were not as frequent as community-oriented goals, such as supporting the local economy and promoting solidarity. The amount of currencies responding to sustainable goals was limited. However, some of them approached the challenge of the implementation of the concept of circularity. Many solutions were focused more on services rather than on consumption. Thus, the need for a more holistic approach to the scope of functionalities and impacts of such solutions remains a challenge.

Within our study, an in-depth evaluation of those recognized as being the most relevant to the general concept of digital tool responding to climate challenges were conducted. The criteria used for the selection of cases (

Table 1. Selected cases for further analysis.

Currency/Project Name	Country and City (or Region)	Sources	Aims
Zet op de Kaart	Netherlands, Limburg	[70,71]	to support sustainable behavior
NU-Spaarpas	Netherlands, Rotterdam	[72,73]	to support sustainable behavior and sustainable consumption
SOL	France, 3 regions	[74,75]	to support the social and solidarity economy and sustainable development
Torekes	Belgium, Ghent	[76,77,78]	to support those at risk of marginalization (migrants) and to take care of public spaces
Bristol Pound	United Kingdom, Bristol	[79]	to support the local market

) for more detailed analysis were based on (1) existing solutions with a coherent and holistic approach; (2) tools responding to more than one sustainable goal; and (3) a clearly explained methodology of the design of the solution, the process of implementation, and the maintenance mechanisms. Such an approach allowed us to define these solutions on the basis of which we were able to define the lessons learnt and the good practices from which such a tool could benefit. These are described in Section 4.3 and Section 4.4.

4.3. Pro-Environmental Community Currencies

In order to perform an in-depth analysis of the flow of value in existing alternative community currencies, we analyzed the chosen case studies of sustainability-related currencies. Firstly, our goal was to find as many social currencies as possible that address at least one dimension of sustainability. It consisted of comprehensive desk research in online scientific databases, publications on alternative economies, as well as non-scientific sources (articles, websites, reports). Analysis of these sources identified 60 digital solutions addressing sustainable challenges. We chose for in-depth analysis case studies which were recognized as the most engaging stakeholders in achieving environmental goals. The exception was the Bristol Pound, which did not directly address climate related issues, though it is said to be a successful tool which allowed for building a developed network of engaged stakeholders. We found it particularly interesting because of the engaging mechanism. We gathered relevant data using a common template for all cases studied. The main purpose of this in-depth evaluation was to learn which stakeholders co-created the currencies, what their possible contributions and benefits were, as well as which groups of recipients were targeted and what incentives were offered to them. This analysis allowed us to define which actors were the most crucial ones to involve in the process of shaping the local community aiming at making a pro-environmental change. Moreover, the analysis allowed us to determine key needs stakeholders’ requirements that should be fulfilled in order to amplify their involvement, which can be addressed while developing such a tool. If those needs are answered, stakeholders’ involvement can be strengthened.

The project Zet Milieu op de Kaart was approved by the Flemish government in 2003. The project was submitted by a network of environmental organizations in very close cooperation with a waste company [70,71]. The NU-Spaarpas project was initiated in Rotterdam in 2002 in a public-private cooperation between the municipality, a bank, and a consultancy company [72,73]. Today, the SOL movement is a “laboratory for monetary experiments” [74,75], but, at the beginning, it was a complementary currency project initiated by an informal group and tested in 2007 in France, supported by the European program EQUAL5 [74]. Torekes was created in the district of Ghent by a social work organization in 2010 [76]. Bristol Pound was founded in 2012 by a group of activists with the support of the city council and a credit union [79].

4.4. Stakeholders Involvement

The stakeholders of the analyzed currencies included representatives of public, private, and non-governmental sectors. In the case of Zet op de Kaart [70,71], an intermunicipal waste management provider managed and developed the project. The municipality and other governments of Overpelt coordinated the project, funding the rewards, and enabled the exchange of tokens at selected points. The Regional Environmental Care Department was a tech supporter and the Flemish government subsidized the pilot project. Nu-Spaarpass [72] was developed and headed by a consultancy company. The project received financial support from both international, national, provincial, and municipal institutions. The municipality also offered additional support, such as free public transport tickets and promotions. A bank company offered legal expertise and technical experience, as well as access to the SME network and the bank’s account holders. The SOL system was co-financed by the European Union, a worker’s cooperative, a co-operative bank, two mutual insurers, organizations of the social economy or third sector, regional government, and public authorities [75]. The City of Ghent was the founder of Torekes and Community Development manages the project. Schools in the neighborhood, residents’ groups, organizations that operate in the neighborhood, etc. value volunteers with Torekes. Traders enable people to cash in their Torekes [77,78]. The Bristol Credit Union administrates the Bristol Pound currency. The City Council supports it by, e.g., enabling taxes to be paid in this alternative currency. Private partners support the scheme by accepting payments in Bristol Pounds, actively recruiting other businesses and promoting the use of this currency [79].

Although information on the roles and contributions of stakeholders was available, their benefits from this cooperation were rarely mentioned, especially in the case of private partners. Public institutions and authorities at different levels mostly implemented their environmental and social policies (raising environmental awareness, stimulating sustainable behavior, achieving social goals and reducing social problems, improving the general living quality of the area, and strengthening social cohesion). Private sector benefits were mainly promotional [72,79], e.g., the visibility of the range of sustainable products in shops (NU Spaarpas) and taking part in a system which is consistent with a company’s philosophy (Bristol Pound). In the case of Torekes, the city of Ghent paid shopkeepers for products bought using Torekes [77]. Furthermore, the third sector was involved in some schemes (Torekes, SOL [54]). Their aim was to encourage economic, sustainable, and local development, as well as volunteer commitment [75,76,78].

4.5. Users, Tokens, and Value Flow

Our analysis of value flow and tokens is shown using selected examples to demonstrate the diversity of solutions that has been implemented (Figure 5). As the Zet op de Kaart scheme shows, municipalities created tokens which users could earn for pro-environmental behaviors. In companies which were involved, people could buy products (from a closed list) which were financed by the sponsors [70,71].

In the case of Torekes, residents could earn alternative money in exchange for acts expressing ‘care’ for the neighborhood and environment. Volunteers earned 25 Torekes per hour [76]. One Toreke was worth 10 cents. The Torekes acquired could be redeemed in various places—groceries, bakers, pharmacies, bars and restaurants, clothing shops, and others. With Torekes, people could buy products from a closed list. Only merchants could exchange Torekes for euros [77].

In the case of the Bristol Pound, to generate the alternative money, individuals or companies were required to pay the sterling equivalent into a Bristol Credit Union account [79]. This then created a separate account, of which the currency was the Bristol pound. A Bristol pound was worth exactly GBP 1. All goods and services could be exchanged for Bristol pounds within the network. The Bristol Pound scheme involved a network of over 2000 individuals and over 650 business members. Some businesses applied discounts for customers paying in Bristol Pounds. Local taxes and electricity bills could be paid with Bristol Pounds.

These case studies of alternative currencies allowed us to analyze the possible directions and strategies of collaboration with stakeholders. In the cases analyzed, the system was mainly stabilized by partners that implemented their policies through the currency. This is clearly visible in the case of the public sector, although green goals are increasingly being adopted by companies and private initiatives. The circulation of value and money depends on the goals adopted. To support a local market, it is sufficient to create a means of payment that circulates locally (such as the Bristol pound). If an environmental objective is added, an appropriate selection of partners and products or services must be introduced (Zet op de Kaart, NU Spaarpas) [71,72]. The case is analogous for social objectives (Torekes).

5. Discussion—Introduction of the Conceptual Framework for Social Pro-Environmental Engagement

Policymakers worldwide are aware of the risks and costs of environmental damage caused by human activity. Our literature review showed [37,55,75,80,81] that cities require tools to enable the implementation of policies allowing them to mitigate climate changes and improve environmental awareness, while at the same time strengthening social ecological engagement. However, when analyzing urban development processes, we observed that the role of residents remains limited in regard to implementing climate adaptation policies. At the same time, research has proven that joint efforts are crucial for cities to become more resilient.

In order to develop tool supporting sustainable development and environmental protection in urban areas, it is necessary to respond to the needs of various stakeholders. Therefore, based on the results of our analysis, we assumed that from the very beginning it should be designed through a participatory approach. Within our study, we have developed and tested such approach presented in Figure 6. The next step of our study was to find a way of engaging the local society in the process of shaping potential functionalities of such digital tool. The participatory approach presented in Figure 6 was defined on the basis of the evaluated cases). One of the criteria was to evaluate the design processes of existing solutions and the lessons learnt from these. We noted that the steps in the process were repeatable; therefore, we decided to follow recognized phases. These were adjusted to the scope of our research; however, the general methodology remained the same. The process started with the engagement of a group of experts from different fields, including economics, environmental and urban studies, programmers, data analysis and UX/UI design. The group of stakeholders initiating the process was defined on the basis of the cases evaluated in step 3, as the assessment framework included information on stakeholders and users of similar solutions. This phase provided a basis for further discussions and concept evolution. The next step was a meeting with stakeholders, including residents, business partners (e.g., OBC, the biggest developer in Gdańsk, and Lotos, a Polish refinery), city authorities and representatives from different institutions (Gdańsk Water, City Hall, educational units), and NGOs. Thereafter, the workshops were organized on the basis of the product design and design thinking methodologies. The process also included surveys and interviews with focus groups. Such approach proved to be successful and led to the prototyping phase prototyping phase. The next step of our framework is the development of a prototype and its testing and evaluation, also by stakeholders engaged in the previous steps.

The final framework of the developed concept is presented in Figure 7. On the basis of the defined theoretical framework, which included inter alia assessment of 120 cases and the series of workshops with stakeholders, we developed a proposal of a digital tool responding to a current need for the strengthening of urban resilience and environmental protection (Figure 7). We aim to engage all the most important actors in the environmental protection process: residents, local businesses, and the city authorities. Each contributor can benefit from the use of such a solution, as the design includes tools enabling social engagement, educational activities, marketing tools, and, most importantly, the aim is to become a supportive tool for the implementation of urban adaptability policy aims. This process led to the introduction of the idea of a new digital tool based on an application, which at the same time can become a networking tool. Such approach has a potential to promote the active citizenship by introducing inclusive solutions helping to shape climate awareness and urban resilience. Finally, this initiative can help to achieve urban goals as a result of active stakeholders’ participation in climate change mitigation measures and increase public support of environmental policies.

The theoretical concept of a digital tool enhancing individual pro-environmental behavior presented in this paper is an attempt to address the above-mentioned challenges. It has significant educational potential, as well as the ability to shape public awareness, which is one of the major future challenges related to sustainable development. It also fulfills the need of strengthening social participation in smart cities [3,9]. Such concept of a digital currency based on an application is also embedded in the three pillars introduced by Nerini et al. [10], which are (1) innovative technology and integration, (2) innovation in governance, and (3) social innovation. The concept is based on strengthening the role of climate-neutral facilities to increase the well-being of urban societies [1]. When designing the functionalities of this concept, we tried to address the needs of green growth and environmental resilience that we recognized within the research [6]. The aim is to shape human behaviors by influencing attitudes toward climate change through educational and gamification-based solutions embedded in the application [8,12,82].

6. Conclusions

Our findings prove that most effective actions aimed at end-users should be based on an educational approach. Strengthening environmental knowledge plays a pivotal role in shaping people’s green behavior, but it is important to choose the right methods to reach an audience. In order to achieve high efficiency, the designed application should use various methods to reach a wide range of users, diversifying the forms of educational activities undertaken. One of the more effective methods of reinforcing pro-environmental behavior through educational activities is the use of tailored feedback and accompanying public commitments, also included in our concept. The use of application-based eco-feedback would add value to the educational intervention undertaken.

The study outcomes show that understanding of the needs of future users is pivotal to developing the successful incentives and measures. The most important climate-related environmental challenges of cities identified through our literature review include the sustainable use of energy resources, sustainable consumption, and transport-related issues. However, most of the projects carried out previously have focused on single sustainability goals, making it necessary for the city’s residents to use many different applications and tools in order to fully address all the environmental problems. We believe that the concept developed in this paper could provide a solution that integrates the applications/projects in operation, increasing their scope and efficiency and could have a practical application.

The in-depth analysis of chosen case studies has shown that successful digital solutions and currencies involve many actors—public, private, NGOs, grassroots organizations, as well as individuals. If the currency is stable and trustworthy, it can be linked to the local economy (e.g., local taxes can be paid with alternative currency). An undifferentiated source of funding (e.g., EU funds) increases the probability that the project will be shut down despite its positive results. Therefore, when setting up a project, a multi-modal network should be established to enable flexibility and durability. Such collaboration requires knowing the needs and resources of multiple stakeholders and offering a solution that connects them into a circle of value flow and tokens. Finally, our review of existing research indicates that, to encourage pro-environmental behavior, such system should be based on a gamification approach. Importantly, it should not focus solely on educational aspects. Education should be a crucial component of the system, but not the only solution. It should reinforce the reward mechanism used. Within our study we also noted that many existing solutions were focused on services, rather than on consumption. Thus, our concept is designed to use a more holistic approach to its scope of functionalities and impacts. Another identified missing element in many solutions is a support to the local economy. Our concept aims to use local resources, and thereby reduce the carbon footprint and other environmental externalities, which could be a great benefit to both the city’s residents and the environment.

By engaging city dwellers from the earliest phases of the design of the solution, we aim to assure that such measure could be an effective tool in responding to the need of strengthening urban resilience. The participatory approach makes it possible not only to diagnose the real needs of residents but also to involve them in the process of creating the system so that they feel part of it. Strengthening the community character of the project may be crucial for the continued willingness to use the application, in line with sustainable development goals.

Our study and presented results focused primarily on the approaches of engaging urban citizens in pro-environmental activities and climate change mitigation. Furthermore, the conclusions and results will be used for the development of a real digital tool, to be tested in a real urban environment in Gdansk, Poland during the next two years.