Citizen Space.
Engage the public with your climate change response

Citizens' Assemblies and beyond

In 2019, Camden Council began work on an ambitious five-year Climate Action Plan. Crucially, this was done in consultation with citizens – through a wide-reaching programme of engagement, including a dedicated Citizens' Assembly and formal online survey.

When getting public input on the climate crisis, Camden wanted to ensure they had both depth of engagement and breadth of reach. They wanted to combine quantitative and qualitative methods, and to have a multi-stage process – moving from initial idea-gathering towards detailed policy review.

So they began by convening the UK’s first Citizens’ Assembly on the climate crisis.

A collaborative Climate Action Plan

Following meetings and recommendations of the Assembly, the Council then produced a draft of a proposed Climate Action Plan. The document was made publicly available and opened up for review and comment via an online consultation – run on Citizen Space.

At a Cabinet meeting, three months from the closure of the consultation, Camden's Cabinet reviewed and approved the Climate Action Plan: 'a five-year programme of projects and activities that brings to life a vision of a zero carbon borough' – created in collaboration with the people and organisations of Camden.

A 'wide systems' approach

He Pou a Rangi, or the Climate Change Commission, is an independent body that ‘provides independent, evidence-based advice on climate change issues to Aotearoa’s [New Zealand’s] government of the day.’

Genuine public engagement is integral to their work – because, in their words: 'we are committed to a fair and equitable transition…for current and future generations. We take a wide systems view so we understand what our advice means for our people, our environment, our land and our economy. Because of this, it is important that our draft advice is informed by a range of different perspectives from across Aotearoa.'

He Pou a Rangi used Citizen Space to run their online consultation and engagement on the question of climate action for Aotearoa.

Genuinely listening

After the Commission was established, Commissioners and staff embarked on an extensive, in-depth, national process of public involvement. This included meetings, workshops and hui, as well as carrying out a Call for Evidence.

The entire process was accompanied by a digital opportunity for people to have their say, via Citizen Space. Thousands of New Zealanders responded – on topics including 'land use, transport, buildings and urban design, waste, and heat, industry and power'.

The Commission used the insights gathered in drafting their first package of information and evidence. They also asked for New Zealanders’ views and comments on these draft proposals via a consultation on Citizen Space. They fed back on the findings, publishing more than 4,200 public responses, which also fed into the Commission's final document presented to the government.