Climate Citizens: Integrating citizen voices into energy and climate governance
Lead Research Organisation:
LANCASTER UNIVERSITY
Abstract
Meeting internationally-agreed climate goals requires a strong partnership between citizens and government, and therefore strengthened and enhanced democratic structures. The first stage of my Future Leaders Fellowship successfully designed and implemented democratic innovations designed to engage citizens in energy and climate governance, including ‘deliberative mini-publics’ (DMPs, an umbrella term for Citizens’ Assemblies, Juries and Panels). We worked closely with policy actors including the UK Parliament, the Climate Change Committee and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).
The renewal phase of this Fellowship will move beyond consideration of specific innovations such as DMPs, to look at the wider democratic and institutional context for citizen participation in energy and climate decision-making. Our overall research question for the renewal stage will be:
How can democratic processes and institutions change to ensure that citizen voices are integrated into energy and climate governance?
We will work through firstly, analysing the progress to date in embedding citizen deliberation. We will conduct two case study analyses of policymaking processes, collaborating with policy actors to analyse how decisions are made, in real time. Secondly, we will take these findings and develop proposals for democratic innovations beyond DMPs. We will ask what changes to institutional procedures and practices are necessary to embed citizen perspectives. Thirdly, we are asked for advice and resources for embedding citizen deliberation. This is why we are proposing a specific impact-focussed work package. This will include a dedicated resource hub, signposting to our own and others’ work, and bespoke support to key policy actors.
We will also extend our international reach through collaboration with IDEA and the International Climate Councils Network (ICCN) to investigate comparative approaches to citizen engagement across different legislatures.
Through this integrated programme of conceptual and empirical research, and partnership-focussed impact work, we will contribute directly to the development of climate strategy which enhances democratic institutions and processes.
The renewal phase of this Fellowship will move beyond consideration of specific innovations such as DMPs, to look at the wider democratic and institutional context for citizen participation in energy and climate decision-making. Our overall research question for the renewal stage will be:
How can democratic processes and institutions change to ensure that citizen voices are integrated into energy and climate governance?
We will work through firstly, analysing the progress to date in embedding citizen deliberation. We will conduct two case study analyses of policymaking processes, collaborating with policy actors to analyse how decisions are made, in real time. Secondly, we will take these findings and develop proposals for democratic innovations beyond DMPs. We will ask what changes to institutional procedures and practices are necessary to embed citizen perspectives. Thirdly, we are asked for advice and resources for embedding citizen deliberation. This is why we are proposing a specific impact-focussed work package. This will include a dedicated resource hub, signposting to our own and others’ work, and bespoke support to key policy actors.
We will also extend our international reach through collaboration with IDEA and the International Climate Councils Network (ICCN) to investigate comparative approaches to citizen engagement across different legislatures.
Through this integrated programme of conceptual and empirical research, and partnership-focussed impact work, we will contribute directly to the development of climate strategy which enhances democratic institutions and processes.