Climate assemblies and juries

There has been a flourishing of citizens’ assemblies on climate change in the UK, with many local authorities commissioning local assemblies and juries, often as a follow up to declaring a ‘climate emergency’.

Nationally, a citizens’ assembly on climate change commissioned by parliamentary select committees has completed its final deliberative weekend and will publish its report in September 2020. At the same time in France, President Macron commissioned a citizens’ assembly on climate change with formal power to shape policy.

When done well commissioning a citizens’ assembly or jury can be truly transformative for the commissioning body, the participants, and for the wider public. Depending on how they are designed and commissioned, mini publics can be a tool for creating public dialogue. Be used for identifying nuanced public opinion on a topic. They are useful for building consensus, for producing a set of prioritised recommendations or creating space for public engagement within policy making. They can create a robust mandate for politicians to take action. They can improve trust between citizen and government, produce better and fairer policies and act as a catalyst for better partnership working amongst the range of organisations that may have a role to play in addressing the climate emergency.

This guidance, funded through the Place-based Climate Action Network (PCAN), aims to help local authorities that are exploring the use of citizens’ assemblies/juries on climate policy. The first part of this guide summarises why you might commission a climate mini public and what they might achieve. The second part will explore what is involved, and how to design a quality process that leads to impact.

Source: Shared Future
Author information: Peter Bryant, Lucy Stone

Year of publication: 2020