100 assembly members met online for seven weekends. The Assembly learned about climate change, mitigation, adaptation, fairness, and how change happens before splitting into three streams: Diet, Land Use and Lifestyle; Homes and Communities; and Travel and Work.
Problems and Purpose
Scotland Citizens’ assemblies bring together a group of 100 individuals, recruited through random and stratified selection to broadly represent the wider population with respect to key demographics, and in some assemblies, views on the issue under consideration between November 2020 to March 2021. The assembly met online 7 times and deliberated on information provided by experts, which leads to the production of a set of recommendations with the aim to inform decision-making addressing the question: How should Scotland change to tackle the climate emergency in an effective and fair way?
Background History and Context
Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities
Scotland’s Climate Assembly was organised and delivered by a Stewarding Group, Secretariat, Design and Facilitation Team, and Evidence Group. The Assembly was conducted entirely online, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Participant Recruitment and Selection
Methods and Tools Used
The research used a mixed methods approach to analyse and integrate a range of different types of data. Data sources analysed for this report include:
- online member surveys, conducted prior to Assembly starting and after each Weekend meeting.
- non-participant observation of Assembly small group discussions.
- audio recordings of Assembly small group discussions.
- qualitative semi-structured interviews and a qualitative survey with 18 people involved in organising and delivering the Assembly, including members of the Secretariat, Design and Facilitation Team, Stewarding Group and Evidence Group. These interviews were conducted after the Assembly ended.
- population survey by Deltapoll with representative sample of 1917 adults in Scotland, conducted 29 July-14 August 2021.
- evidence presentations from the Assembly.
- the Assembly report.
- secondary data on climate and civic attitudes.
- Scottish Government policy documents.
- media coverage.
What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation
For three of the seven weekends, the Assembly members were split into three separate topic streams: Diet, Land Use & Lifestyle; Homes & Communities; and Travel & Work.
Influence, Outcomes, and Effects
Analysis and Lessons Learned
See Also
References
External Links
https://www.demsoc.org/projects/scotland-climate-assembly
https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-government-response-scotlands-climate-assembly-recommendations-action/
https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-climate-assembly-research-report-process-impact-assembly-member-experience/
