In 2022, three conservation charities – the National Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-UK) – came together to run the first ever UK citizens’ assembly on nature. The People’s Plan for Nature expressed their vision in 26 ambitious ‘Calls to Action’ targeting government, charities, businesses, individuals and communities.
Who decides for Nature? Embedding deliberative democracy in biodiversity renewal, authored as part of the ExCASES Mission rapid research project, takes a detailed look at the challenges, successes, lessons and deliberative legacy of the People’s Plan for Nature process
The report draws on interviews and workshops with over 34 participants from inside and outside the People’s Plan for Nature process and nature sector and applies the KNOCA Impact Evaluation Framework to offer lessons for policymakers, practitioners and academics wanting to understand and integrate more inclusive and effective decision-making processes to bring positive outcomes for people and biodiversity renewal.
The key findings of the evaluation report are:
- The People’s Plan for Nature created a powerful public mandate for nature action, showing there is an appetite and shared urgency among a representative cross-section of the population for a progressive environmental agenda
- The process has raised the salience of pro-nature policy and pushed the boundaries of what ambitious action for nature could look like by proposing radical new pathways, such as calling for: access to nature as a human right, legal rights for future generations, a permanent Assembly for Nature, and a Director for Nature on every company board.
- It has paved the way for more joined-up policies and cross-sectoral action for nature restoration, and accelerated a shift in attitudes about the value of citizens’ assemblies and deliberative democracy more widely.
- Deliberative activities should not be seen as one-off, democratically ‘curated’ events, but opportunities to embed equity and inclusion – and promote environmental justice – in wider governance structures.
- There is an urgent need for the nature sector to pull together as a holistic deliberative system, promoting a ‘people and nature’ approach in partnership with the public sector, businesses, communities and individuals.
- Leaders and funders should implement longer project horizons and funding cycles to demonstrate their commitment to transformative social and environmental change.
Watch the KNOCA Learning Call on the People’s Plan for Nature
