What is a Climate Assembly?
A climate assembly brings together randomly-selected everyday people to learn, deliberate and make recommendations on aspects of the climate crisis.
The term “citizens’ assembly” is used in different ways and other bodies such as citizens’ juries have similar features.
KNOCA is initially using the term “citizens assemblies” in a broad sense to include any participatory process that combines random selection, deliberation and decision making.
Why Climate Assemblies?
Climate assemblies have been organised by public authorities and civil society organisations at different levels of governance for a number of reasons.
- To bring the informed views of the public into climate policy-making
- To break political deadlock on climate action
- To understand how everyday citizens prioritise climate actions
- To increase the legitimacy of social action on climate change
- To reduce the impact of lobbyists and special interests on climate policy
- To fulfil a commitment to citizen participation on climate action
KNOCA recognises the broad range of approaches that are available for engaging everyday people in decision making about climate policy and action.
We are focusing particular attention on climate assemblies as they are increasingly being used by national and local governments and promoted by civil society organisations.
We expect that KNOCA will consider other modes of citizen participation and deliberation over time.