In June 2019, six Select Committees of the House of Commons called a citizens’ assembly to understand public preferences on how the UK should tackle climate change because of the impact these decisions will have on people’s lives. ‘Climate Assembly UK: the path to net zero’ is considering how the UK can meet the Government’s legally binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. The citizens’ assembly takes place over a course of four weekends and invites over 100 people, randomly selected from across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Alan presented to members of the Climate Assembly on 7th February 2020. Drawing on his expertise as one of the leading voices in debates about the development of more deliberative approaches to democracy, particularly through citizens’ assemblies, Alan discussed the important differences between debate and deliberation. He outlined six unconscious biases members should be aware of when weighing up the evidence and arguments they hear over the four weekends of the Climate Assembly.
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