Up Close and Policy: Climate Assembly UK - Policy, Parliament & People

About this Event

Lead academic:

Prof Jim Watson, Professor of Energy Policy and Research Director at the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources

Chair:

Prof Alan Renwick, Deputy Director of the UCL Constitution Unit and a member of the Climate Assembly UK advisory group

Participants:

Jack Miller, Energy Advisor at the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (POST)

Sarah Allan, Head of Engagement at Involve

In June 2019, six parliamentary Select Committees called a citizens’ assembly to understand how members of the public think the UK should tackle climate change. Climate Assembly UK brings together people from all walks of life to discuss how the UK can reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. At the assembly, participants learn about climate change and how the UK can address it, take time to discuss this with one another, and then make recommendations about what should happen.

‘Climate Assembly UK: the path to net zero’ considers how the UK can meet the Government’s legally binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Climate Assembly UK participants were selected from different walks of life, shades of opinion, and from throughout the UK to form a representative sample of the UK’s population. The aseembly’s report will be published in September and the parliament will use them as a basis for detailed work on implementing the recommendations, which will also be debated in the House of Commons. This provides an unprecedented opportunity for the public to contribute to climate change debate, and to influence action taken by Government and Parliament.

Join us for the exciting session bringing together four people who have in-depth knowledge of the work of the assembly to discuss its work: Prof Jim Watson (assembly Expert Lead), Prof Alan Renwick (assembly Advisory Board), Sarah Allan (from charity Involve that supported the assembly), and Jack Miller (from the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology who will help take forward the recommendations within parliament).

About the series

Beyond ministers and their advisers, policy decisions are informed and made by a wide group of people. This series looks at who they are, what they do and how the research community works with the world of public policy to inform decision making.

The Up Close & Policy Series features UCL researchers in open conversation with policy professionals drawn from a wide range of organisations. Come along for your chance to ask the experts about the opportunities and pitfalls in engaging with the world of public policy, find out the insights they have gained, and hear what they consider are the key lessons for successful engagement.

UCL Public Policy is committed to increasing the diversity and inclusivity of its activities. We encourage people from under-represented groups (BAME, LGBTQ+, a mature student, or disabled) to attend.