The Welsh government has published a rapid review to explore new, more deliberative forms of involving the public indecision making to inform its approach to developing Net Zero and climate related policies.
Wales has been a hotbed of innovation in new forms of governance: the internationally ground-breaking Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 places a duty on public agencies to involve the public in decision making. But, the review notes that while deliberative practices have become part of the Welsh ecosystem of engagement, too often approaches have been fragmented, with a lack of coordination, sharing and embedding of learning – and a lack of sustained impact.
Drawing extensively on the work of the Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies, the review offers four recommendations:
1. Fostering a political culture that visibly welcomes and values public involvement in climate action, is clear about its purpose and is accountable for its impact
2. Connecting a community of practice, that embeds deliberative engagement within a wider tapestry of public engagement practices in Wales.
3. Building capacity around deliberative engagement in Wales, both within Government and beyond.
4. Investing in more sustained, permanent modes of deliberative practice, alongside flagship programmes.
The full review and summary can be downloaded here
