Extinction Rebellion guide to citizens’ assemblies

Citizens’ assemblies are a form of deliberative democracy – a process in which ordinary people make political decisions.

Public hearings, ranging from citizens’ juries with less than twenty people to citizens’ summits of more than seven hundred, have transformed policy-making in Australia, Belgium, Canada, India, Ireland, Poland and the UK. In a citizens’ assembly, a group of randomly selected members of the public reflect on an issue of public concern. The aim is to bring together a cross-section of society. Participants hear from experts and stakeholders, ask questions, deliberate on policy options and make recommendations that shape government policy.

Extinction Rebellion believes that the UK public must have the chance to determine how the country responds to the emergency we are facing. If organised properly, a national citizens’ assembly on climate and ecological justice will enable politicians to address the emergency before it’s too late.

Source: Extinction Rebellion

Year of publication: 2019