The Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies (KNOCA) aims to improve the commissioning, design, implementation and impact of climate assemblies, using evidence, knowledge exchange and dialogue. We are an active community of policy makers, practitioners, activists, researchers and other actors with experience and interest in climate assemblies who co-create activities and knowledge.
In a short amount of time, we have established ourselves as the go-to place for those seeking considered, rigorous and widely-sourced input on climate assembly practice and we seek to understand the current wave of climate assemblies, document and disseminate best practice and identify and shape future trends so that climate policy and governance is strengthened through the application of robust climate assemblies.
Why has KNOCA been formed?
Climate assemblies are a recent and fast-growing phenomenon with the potential to bring the judgments of everyday people into political decision-making in ways that make climate policy more ambitious, effective, and legitimate in achieving mitigation and adaptation.
Climate assemblies and other deliberative processes are demonstrating the significant role they can play in ensuring forms of social and economic transition that are just, inclusive, and command broad public acceptance and ownership. While they have the potential to enhance climate action, the danger is that the commissioning, design, implementation, impact, and evaluation of climate assemblies are not adequately considered, and its potential is not realised.
The first wave of climate assemblies indicates that everyday people are willing and able to contribute to climate governance. Despite this empowerment of participants, coupling between assemblies and climate policy cycles and policy systems tends to be weak and, in the main, political impact and resonance amongst policy actors, stakeholders and the broader public is limited.
KNOCA brings together the diffuse and diverse knowledge, experience, and expertise of policymakers, academics, and civil society actors to explore challenges in the design and application of climate assemblies and promote best practice for those organising and advocating assemblies.
Who is involved?
KNOCA is funded by the European Climate Foundation. Its small management group is led by Professor Graham Smith from the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Westminster. The Danish Board of Technology acts as convenor, overseeing the running of the network and leading on communication to ensure the vitality, visibility and relevance of the network. KNOCA has over 500 individual members from a variety of backgrounds and experience with climate assemblies, including policy makers, practitioners, academics and civil society activists. Joining the network opens up the opportunity to share, discuss and inform best practice and new developments in climate assembly design, delivery and analysis.
How does KNOCA work?
KNOCA bring together policy makers, academics, civil society activists and others, working on either climate policy or deliberative democracy, to foster public debate on how to achieve ambitious, effective and legitimate climate policy and governance informed by deliberative engagement with citizens. The management group organises, commissions and supports network members to deliver a range of activities including learning calls and workshops, knowledge development projects and closed peer-to-peer workshops for policy makers and civil society organisations. Together, as a network, we seek to (1) understand the current wave of climate assemblies, (2) document and disseminate best practice and (3) identify and shape future trends so that climate policy and governance is strengthened through the application of robust climate assemblies.
