The European Climate Foundation has launched the Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies (KNOCA) as a ‘go to’ place for those seeking considered, rigorous and widely-sourced input on the design and implementation of climate assemblies. FDSD’s own Professor Graham Smith has been appointed as the founding chair of the network.
Climate Assemblies are increasingly being used in a variety of different European countries at different scales of governance to inform policy responses and social action on climate change. Appetite is growing in countries that have not yet used such processes to explore the possibility of doing so, and to draw on existing experiences and models. As a result of growing and diverse practice, the knowledge and expertise of policymakers, academics, and civil society actors is increasing in the use of such innovative approaches. KNOCA aims to bring together this varied expertise to explore challenges in the design and application of Climate Assemblies and promote best practice for those organising and advocating for Climate Assemblies.
In explaining the need for KNOCA, Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation notes: “The fair and successful transition to climate neutrality will only be possible if citizens reclaim their power and are engaged in shaping how it will happen. The European Climate Foundation decided to set up KNOCA to gather, structure and spread learning on how deliberative democratic processes like climate assemblies can be used as a tool to help achieve this. Past experiences, like the French Convention, offered a strong denial to the prejudice that citizens no longer have an interest in public affairs. As the European Union and its Member states face the challenge of turning citizens into actors and not just voters or recipients of climate policies, this is no small matter.”
Find out more about the network via https://knoca.eu.
