Democracy in Action: Climate and Nature Assemblies

What are the issues that concern you most? For me, it is the climate and nature crisis. I am increasingly frustrated that this is not at the forefront of political debate in the UK, even now that the National Emergency Briefing on climate and nature has made it clear that climate breakdown is no longer a distant or future problem, but is causing an immediate threat to UK national security, public health and economic stability. Although it is reassuring that I am not alone in my concerns (a recent survey by Oxford University shows that 80% of people globally want stronger action on climate) how do we get such an imperative issue at the centre of political debate?

There is increasing concern that our electoral system in England doesn't adequatley represent the majority of voters or the majority view. As the Electoral Reform Society notes, our first-past-the-post electoral system means that a candidate can win on a minority of votes, leaving many voters feeling disenfranchised. For instance, we currently have a Labour Government with 63.2% of MPs voted in with just 33.7% of the votes at the General Election, as a result of a reaction against a highly unpopular previous Conservative government. Local elections can throw up even more distorted results: in one local district election, Reform won a local seat by polling only 1,008 votes from an electorate of more than 11,000. More than 70% of those who did vote chose someone else, yet that person gained a four-year mandate. It is not surprising that many people feel politically powerless.

Has this resulted in voter apathy? A chance listen to Hélène Landmore talking to Amol Rajan has helped me to understand why people in places like Newton Abbot can feel politically stuck. In her book Politics without Politicians: the Case for Citizen Rule', Hélène argues that representative democracy has become too closed, too dominated by professional politicians and technocrats. She uses the term 'the shy sovereign' to describe ordinary citizens, like me, who are supposed to hold democratic power but rarely feel able to exercise it.

Many people have been made politically 'shy' by their upbringing, their feeling of lack of power, not because they lack intelligence or opinions, but because they have been taught that politics belongs to other people. Many people no longer believe that electoral politics can deliver meaningful change. In Newton Abbot, only 65% turned out to vote in the last General Election, while some local elections attract only 30% of the electorate. How do we get the voices of what is often a silent majority into the open and persuade them that their views count and that they can make a difference in their community? How can we counter the often expressed view "Politicians are all the same"?

Landemore's answer is radical. In her book she argues for a more participatory form of democracy in which ordinary citizens play a direct role in decision-making through citizen's assemblies and civic lotteries - systems resembling an expanded jury service. Since the first modern citizens' assembly in British Columbia was held on electoral reform in 2004, over 700 have been convened around the world. They have been successfully used in places like Ireland and in France. Following the gilets jaunes protests, President Macron created a 'citizen's climate assembly' made up of 150 randomly selected citizens. Many participants began sceptical and politically disengaged, but became more confident and collaborative through the process. They discovered that they were perfectly capable of understanding complex issues and of contributing a range of possible policy solutions. Ordinary citizens can often make wiser and more representative decisions than professional politicians.

So there is growing evidence that citizen's assemblies can be useful. But could we possibly adopt a similar process in our local town? Yes! A group of passionate advocates of the Climate and Nature Bill got together and organised a Climate and Nature Assembly. We sent out invitations to a wide range of organisations across the constituency and nearly seventy people attended. It was an opportunity for people to share ideas and discuss how we might respond to the challenges of climate change and nature loss, prompted by the slow progress of the CAN bill through Parliament and the National Emergency Briefing on Climate and Nature. 

Working in small facilitated groups, participants discussed their concerns about climate and nature loss and put forward practical responses. Every person had a space to talk, to make connections and to be actively listened to. The experience reinforced Hélène Landemore's argument about the 'shy sovereign'. Many participants who might never normally speak contributed thoughtful, insightful and deeply personal reflections. Clearly, people are far more capable of participating directly in political decision-making than our current electoral system allows.

Of course, our assembly was not perfect. Those attending were self-selecting and probably already interested in climate issues. There were few young people and I didn't encounter any climate deniers. Yet, the local MP attended and engaged in Monbiot's 'radical listening'. Rather than presenting his own views, he listened carefully and appeared open to the ideas discussed. Afterwards he said that the discussions had given him 'ammunition' to take back to Parliament: evidence that his constituents genuinely care about climate and nature and want stronger action. The response from participants was overwhelmingly positive and encourages us to organise another assembly in the near future.

I still feel nervous about approaching strangers on the street and facilitating discussions at an assembly. But these experiences have changed the way that I think about democracy. I no longer believe that people are apathetic. Most have political frustrations, experiences and hopes that rarely find the space to be spoken aloud apart from maybe in their homes. Sometimes all that is needed is an invitation to talk - and someone willing to listen.

Being involved with Common Ground and the Climate and Nature Assembly has felt, in the words of another member of the group, 'inspirationally infectious'. If you have a chance to do something similar in your local community, I am sure that you will find it worthwhile. Turn the despair into action.

Listen to Hélène Landemore talking with Amol Rajan: Would citizens do a better job than politicians? and the Accidental Gods podcast on collective effervescence with Isabella Roberts.

#citizensassemblies; #democracyinaction; #deliberativedemocracy; #shytalking; #climateaction;