Website
Norwegian Citizen’s Assembly on Sustainable Consumption (regjeringen.no)
Commissioning
The Norwegian Ministry for Digitalization and Public Governance, on behalf of the Norwegian Government in full, commissioned the Citizens’ Assembly on Sustainable Consumption to support their work in addressing the UN Sustainability Goals.
Remit
The Assembly was tasked with considering and providing recommendations for solutions to three central problems identified by the government:
- How can we reduce our overconsumption of goods while maintaining a high quality of life?
- What is needed for us to consume less textiles, shoes, electronics, furniture, and equipment for home and leisure by 2030?
- How can we reduce overconsumption in an inclusive and fair way?
Commitment to respond
The Norwegian government committed to responding to the recommendations made by themembers of the Assembly in its White Paper on the UN Sustainability Goals.
Duration
The members of the Norwegian Citizens’ Assembly on Sustainable Consumption met between October 2024 and February 2025.
Delivery bodies
SoCentral and We Do Democracy designed and implemented the Assembly. Sentio Research sent out invitations via SMS. Analyse & Tall conducted the selection of members.
Governance
SoCentral and We Do Democracy constituted a third-party Secretariat. An Expert Group consisting of professionals in the field of sustainable consumption provided advice to the Secretariat, proposed speakers and contributed background material to the Assembly. The Deliberative Advisory Group consisting of international professionals with knowledge of deliberative methods provided support to the secretariat in designing and delivering the process.
Participant recruitment
Recruitment followed a two-stage democratic lottery. Initially, 40,000 introductory SMS-invitations were randomly sent to residents across Norway. The 66 Assembly members were drawn from those who responded the invitation, applying the following criteria: gender, age, education level, where they live in the country and attitudes towards sustainable consumption. Members were not paid an honorarium, but travel to and from the physical gatherings and board and lodging were covered.
Structure
The Assembly combined three online evening meetings and two in-person weekends.
Facilitation
Lead facilitator with floating facilitation between tables. Digital meetings had a facilitator for each group, who tried to keep as much in the background as possible so that the groups themselves took charge of the culture and discussions. During physical meetings, floating facilitators would sit briefly at tables to inform groups on the task and timing without taking a lead of the discussions. On a few occasions the facilitators helped the participants get back on track with some discussions.
Evidence base
The evidence base was developed in collaboration between the Secretariat and Expert Group. All evidence provided to the Assembly can be found on its website.
Wider public engagement
A week before the Assembly began its work, an open webinar was hosted to explain the methodology and invite contributions. Mid-way through its work, another open digital meeting was held, inviting all interested parties to participate in the conversation on how to reduce consumption. Members of the Assembly presented their work so far and used the opportunity to gain feedback and answer questions.
Developing recommendations
The recommendations were mostly developed during the two in-person meetings. Assembly members developed a total of 25 recommendations, clustered around seven themes. The 25 recommendations received support from a minimum of 75% of the Assembly members.
Final report
A full report on the recommendations can be found here: ANBEFALINGER- NASJONALT FOLKEPANEL OM BÆREKRAFTIG FORBRUK AV VARER (in Norwegian only at this time). The Assembly proposed, among other things, stricter rules for marketing offers that encourage unnecessary purchases and overconsumption, a deposit scheme for products such as clothing, shoes, and white goods, and the government establish a committee that can prepare sustainability advice based on the same model as dietary advice.
Official response
The Minister for Digitalisation and Public Administration and the Minister for Climate and Environment received the citizens' proposals on 14 February 2025. On 20 June 2025, the government presented a White Paper on Norway's work on the Sustainable Development Goals. The Assembly’s recommendations and the government's assessment of the recommendations are included in the White Paper.
Oversight of official response
No oversight mechanism was included in the design of the Assembly.
Impact
The outcomes of the Assembly has some influence on governmental policy on sustainable consumption through the White Paper. The Assembly did not employ a communications strategy, but a number of media outlets have reported on its work.
Evaluation
No official evaluation of the Assembly has been published to date.
Budget
2.7 million Norwegian Kroner were available for the implementation of the Assembly.
