How do you prepare for a multi-stakeholder environmental negotiation?

Identify your objectives for the negotiation, which could be specific outcomes and/or long-term goals. Consider the wider political, economic, and social context to align your goals with broader objectives, therefore increasing the likelihood of consensus. Avoid setting too many or unrealistic goals, neglecting to track progress, and failing to align goals with your values or data.

This involves identifying your main goals and priorities, as well as considering potential trade-offs and alternatives. By articulating your underlying interests and motivations, such as promoting environmental sustainability or safeguarding economic interests, you can clarify your position and approach to the negotiation. Additionally, assessing your best and worst-case scenarios helps you anticipate potential outcomes and develop strategies for achieving favorable results while managing risks. Maintaining focus on your main goals throughout the negotiation process helps you avoid getting sidetracked by irrelevant or emotional arguments, enabling you to negotiate more effectively and confidently.

I would offer that is important to also know what inherent rights different parties have that may influence their degree of influence beyond other interested entities. For example, Indigenous Nations in Canada have inherent rights and the Crown has a fiduciary responsibility to honour these rights and historical relationships which changes their participation from a stakeholder to a rights holder.

This step is more important than any other. It is critical to know who has potential veto power on a given proposal - and it might be someone who you would never suspect - maybe even someone not at the table. The reality is that public opinion has the power to stop any negotiation dead in its tracks. So keep a keen eye out for any critical issues being raised by the public. See what you can do to meet unsuspected needs &/or counter misinformation.

It is also important to consider cultural nuances. How well do you understand what key expressions and words mean to the group you are negotiating with? Similarly recognizing nuances stemming from a difference in worldview and knowledge systems is important. And by the same token, selecting negotiators who recognize this and can adapt and bring different worldviews together is important.

Make sure all parties feel fairly represented and treated during the talks. Develop a strategy for different potential outcomes to help you stay flexible and adapt to changes during the negotiation. Look for areas of common interest among the stakeholders to build trust and facilitate cooperation.

While negotiation materials are important, beware of over-reliance on them. They should not overshadow listening, relationship-building, and creative problem-solving. Essentially, negotiation materials should facilitate discussion, not dominate it.

Software can streamline the management of environmental negotiations by providing a centralised platform for communication, document sharing, and tracking of negotiation progress. E.g., if you want suppliers to accept a new environmental policy, software can facilitate the comparison of the supplier’s current environmental practices against the new policy, and track progress towards the supplier's acceptance.