Institute of European Studies

The paper presents the first results of the research project “Low Emission Lifestyles – Communication and Participation Strategies for Hyderabad”. This project addresses the challenges of a society-wide transition towards sustainability in the context of so-called "Megacities” by taking into account their complex social and economic characteristics. The project is part of an Indo-German research project “Climate and Energy in a Complex Transition Process towards Sustainable Hyderabad”. The aims of the project are to develop adaptation strategies (“manage the unavoidable”) and mitigation strategies (“avoid the unmanageable”) by changing institutions, governance structures, lifestyles and consumption patterns. The geographic focus of the project is the Indian city of Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh, a southern state of India. The objective of the research project is to integrate methods of public awareness raising, participation and communication in the local context, for example web-based and direct interactive forms of dialogue (online dialogue, citizens’ panels) as well as participatory methods like citizens’ exhibitions, citizens’ juries and citizens’ forums. One of them, the citizens’ exhibition, is presented in detail in this paper.