How third sector organisations can make an impact on climate assemblies
/This article was featured in the SCDC Weekly - 10th July 2024.
A new guide has set out how third sector organisations and charities can support, advocate for and engage with climate assemblies.
A new climate assembly was announced by the Scottish Government in April, and while it’s unclear what progress is being made on this following changes in government since, it would build on Scotland’s first climate assembly four years ago.
The new playbook, published by the KNOCA, sets out how civil society organisations can have an impact on how assemblies are planned and run.
This eight-step process involves organisations helping to promote understanding of climate assemblies and influence their design - as well as providing expert advice and advocating for the assembly while it's running.
"Weak follow up has been one of the main limitations to the impact of climate assemblies," according to KNOCA, so there's an important role for organisations in holding politicians to account once the assembly is over, and using the recommendations in campaigning and wider communications.
Recent practice around climate assemblies has shown positive progress, such as the establishment of permanent, annually-run assemblies across Europe. Challenges remain around how we integrate these deliberative processes into existing political systems to achieve the change people are calling for, and is so urgently needed.
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