Brighton & Hove’s climate assembly brought together 50 randomly selected groups of people to learn about climate issues, discuss them with one another, and make recommendations. They met online between September and November 2021.
Problems and Purpose
The climate assembly brought together a representative group of the Brighton & Hove population to explore how we combat climate change over the next decade.
Background History and Context
Brighton & Hove City Council declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in December 2018 and has committed to becoming a carbon neutral city by 2030.
To help shape how Brighton & Hove City Council combat climate change over the next decade, Ipsos MORI was commissioned to run a citizens’ assembly.
Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities
Sortition Foundation. Ipsos MORI
Participant Recruitment and Selection
Recruitment was conducted by the Sortition Foundation through a stratified random process, creating a group of 50 people reflecting the demographics of the city’s population.
Methods and Tools Used
A citizens’ assembly is a body of selected citizens who meet to learn about, discuss, and make recommendations on a particular issue through a process of structured deliberation. The assembly took place across 5 sessions in September, October, and November. It was held online as the COVID-19 pandemic meant that face-to-face meetings of large groups were unsafe.
What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation
Brighton & Hove’s climate assembly brought together a randomly selected group of people to learn about climate issues, discuss them with one another, and make recommendations about what should happen and how things should change.
The assembly was divided into five sessions. The first session was held on 22 September 2021, this session was used to introduce members to the assembly, explain the process and set the scene for a discussion exploring climate change.
The second session was used to learn and discuss public transport and car use.
Accessibility of public transport for disabled people and people who need it to get to work in addition to inclusivity was discussed in the third session.
The fourth session reflected on what has been discussed so far at the assembly and formed recommendations.
The last session was used to vote on recommendations, and put them on a scale of preference by the members.
Influence, Outcomes, and Effects
The climate assembly agreed on 10 key recommendations for reducing transport-related carbon emissions in Brighton & Hove.
Analysis and Lessons Learned
See Also
References
External Links
https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk
https://www.climateassembly.uk/about/citizens-assemblies/
https://www.sortitionfoundation.org/
https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/environment/brighton-hove-climate-assembly-findings-report#_-methodology