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.
What is a Climate Assembly?
The term “citizens’ assembly” is used in different ways and other bodies such as citizens’ juries have similar features.
KNOCA uses the term “citizens assemblies” in a broad sense to include any participatory process that combines democratic lottery, deliberation and decision making.
Why Climate Assemblies?
The insights of everyday people can make climate policy more robust
Citizens bring a different way of looking at policy from those who work within climate governance communities. They can bring new ways of approaching problems and articulating solutions that are attuned to their interests, needs and attitudes.
Climate Assemblies can challenge embedded social and climate inequalities
Selection by democratic lottery ensures that everyday people with very different backgrounds are in the room. Established and powerful interests (fossil fuel lobbies, political parties, etc.) cannot dominate the deliberations.
Climate Assemblies can help break political deadlocks on climate action
Politicians across the world have been too slow to react to the climate crisis, despite the clarity of science on the need for action and the availability of policy tools. When given the chance to participate, citizens are often ahead of politicians, giving political leaders the confidence and willingness to take action.
Climate Assemblies can increase the legitimacy and public acceptance of social action on climate
As the transition to low-carbon futures unfold, it will impact people’s everyday lives more directly. Knowing that fellow citizens have been part of the decision-making processes increases public confidence and consent to challenging decisions.
Climate Assemblies can promote a more climate aware and politically confident citizenry
Through participation, everyday people learn more about the climate crisis and develop the skills and confidence to participate more fully in climate action at individual and collective levels.
Impacts of Climate Assemblies
Impact on Policy
The Irish Climate Action Bill (2020) incorporated the majority of the recommendations from the Citizens’ Assembly 2016-18.
The Climate and Resilience Bill (2021) translated a number of the measures proposed by the French Citizens’ Convention for the Climate into law, although many were in a modified form.
The updated National Energy and Climate Plan submitted to the European Commission by the Luxembourg government in 2023 incorporated new measures and strengthened existing measures based on the Luxembourg Climate Citizens’ Council.
Impact on Institutions
The Climate Change Committee in the UK used the recommendations from Climate Assembly UK to frame its Sixth Carbon Budget and has integrated deliberative methods into its work.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee on Climate Action established to consider the Irish Citizens’ Assembly’s recommendations was made a permanent body.
The Danish Climate Assembly has been given same status as (sectoral) social partnerships.
Impact on the Public
The French Convention stimulated extensive public debate on both climate transition and the use of assemblies. The Convention played a significant role in raising the salience of climate as an issue that could not be ignored by politicians.
The level of knowledge of the Austrian Citizens’ Climate Assembly (2022) amongst the public was fairly high. By the end of the process, over 50 percent of the Austrian population had heard of the Klimarat with over 90 percent finding out via the media. A large majority of citizens were in favour of the assembly and wanted political actors to use the recommendations of the Klimarat as a yardstick for climate policy.
Impact on Participants
Strong and consistent effects on the attitudes and behaviours of members towards climate action can be found across almost all assemblies, with evidence from Climate Assembly UK that this is sustained and even enhanced over time.
Related Resources
Guidance Document
Impact Evaluation Framework 1.0
The Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) and the Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies (KNOCA) developed this impact evaluation framework for climate assemblies.
Workshop
Workshop on Evaluating the Impact of Assemblies
This workshop critically examined the effectiveness of the Impact Evaluation Framework 1.0 since its inception. We reviewed its application in different settings and considered feedback from numerous KNOCA members with expertise in evaluation.
Guidance Document
Key Drivers of Impact
Every climate assembly aims to have an impact, but what are the main drivers of impact? This KNOCA Guidance identify and clarify three key drivers of impact. Each driver is accompanied by a list of recommendations and examples on how to (and how not to) optimise these factors.
Summaries of National Climate Assemblies
Key Features of Climate Assemblies
In the report, “Climate Assemblies – Key Features”, we summarise what we know about these different features, drawing particularly on the experience of national-level Climate Assemblies.
Key Features of Climate Assemblies and Brief Guidance
Where to Begin: Organising a Climate Assembly
Are you trying to promote the idea of a Climate Assembly? Are you thinking about commissioning a Climate Assembly? Or has the decision been made to run an assembly and you are trying to find guidance about what to do next?
In the draft guidance "How to organise a Climate Assembly: FAQs", we answer some of the most frequently-asked questions.
KNOCA Guidance
How to Organise a Climate Assembly?
In "How to organise a Climate Assembly: FAQs", we answer some of the most frequently-asked questions.
KNOCA Guidance
Specific Guidance on Key Aspects of Climate Assembly Practice
KNOCA co-creates guidance on different aspects of the commissioning, design, implementation, impact and evaluation of climate assemblies. Access our work here.