Citizen assemblies should involve citizens as experts on their own values

Summary

Citizen assemblies (CAs) could enrich policymaking by unveiling public values and preferences for climate polices. Yet, the current paradigm guiding CAs is rationalistic and primarily fact orientated. This might underexploit the potential of CAs to bring a unique contribution to climate policymaking. I propose a paradigm shift that creates explicit room for citizens’ values in CAs. Using concrete examples, I illustrate how every step of CAs could be transformed to elicit citizens’ values: from citizen selection, to setting the remit, facilitating the discussion, and shaping and institutionalizing policy recommendations.

Citizen assemblies should involve citizens as experts on their own values

Goda Perlaviciute
One Earth
July 2024
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2024.06.014

Gerelateerde publicaties

22-04-2025

Do good out loud

The words we use, who we say them to, and how often we say them can be a form of climate action unto themselves. Even if all we are doing is expressing our concern about climate change, and our desire to avoid making it worse, that is already paving the way for others to see that they are not alone.

15-04-2025

Research in tandem: dual degree master in sustainability and environmental psychology

Since 2021, the Environmental Psychology research group at University of Groningen and the Institute of Sustainable Psychology at Leuphana University have worked together to offer a Double Degree Master (DDM) in Sustainability and Environmental Psychology.

14-04-2025

Recent research video explainer: Climate Action on Twitter (now X) during COP26

Discussion about citizens and local communities demonstrates hope and solidarity in enacting pro-environmental changes from the bottom up, signaling strong public demand for ambitious climate policies and actions.

07-04-2025

“Sustainable behavior largely depends on access”: Linda Steg speaks with the Dutch National Citizens’ Assembly on Climate

Our colleague professor Linda Steg was one of the 50 experts invited to speak to the National Citizens' Assembly on Climate and share her insights on what motivates people to behave sustainably and be more accepting of pro-environmental policy.

25-03-2025

Local fossil fuel ad ban as a catalyst for global change

Although the ban on fossil fuel ads is restricted to The Hague’s jurisdiction, the decision to implement the ban challenges norms and conventions that drive fossil-fuel consumption worldwide and sets an example for other governments to follow.

17-03-2025

Disappearing funding and disappearing words: how budget cuts and government policy are threatening academic research

Budget cuts, funding freezes and the politicisation of research in America and The Netherlands are grave challenges to academic quality and freedom.

13-03-2025

Temporal stability of public acceptability of novel and established energy technologies

This study examines how stable public acceptability judgements towards novel and established energy technologies are over time, which is important to consider in decision-making about the transition to low-carbon and energy-efficient systems.

10-03-2025

Spring quarterly newsletter is out!

This quarterly edition includes upcoming events, our latest research publications, media appearances, an introduction of our new communications intern, latest news, and what we've been reading from other environmental psychology research groups.

03-03-2025

A critical reflection on behavioural difficulty: proposing a barrier-first approach

We propose a barrier-first approach, focusing on what prevents people from acting on their (strong) motivation to protect the environment and looking to remove those barriers.

25-02-2025

Values at Work: Understanding the Relationship of Individual and Perceived Organisational Values on Employees’ Motivation and Pro-Environmental Behaviour at Work

Organisations have a critical role to play in this process by reducing their environmental impact, so it is essential to understand which factors affect workplace pro-environmental behaviours (WPEBs).

24-02-2025

Climate action on Twitter: perceived barriers for actions and actors, and sentiments during COP26

We studied public perceptions of what climate actions are needed, which actors should and can act, and which factors inhibit or enable those actions using the naturally occurring discourse on climate actions on Twitter during COP26.

14-02-2025

Can behavior change increase biodiversity?

Environmental psychology research is increasingly showing that behavior change can and should play a crucial role in staving off biodiversity loss, and reaffirming that behavior change is a vital tool to help us preserve the ecosystems and species that keep our planet healthy and beautiful.

05-02-2025

People’s perception of biodiversity loss: Validation of a scale in Germany

How do people perceive this urgent but hidden crisis, and what determines their perceptions? To address this question, we developed and validated the Biodiversity Loss Perception Scale (BiLoPS), which measures people’s perceptions of the reality, causes, and consequences of biodiversity loss.

21-01-2025

Our most significant environmental psychology research insights from 2024

We asked all of the senior researchers in our group what they felt was the most significant scientific breakthrough from within our department and among our former colleagues from the past 12 months. Here’s what they had to say.

21-01-2025

Can insurance adapt to climate change?

Structures in regions prone to increasingly extreme fires and flooding are becoming less likely to be covered by insurance, not despite but because of climate change.

Citizen assemblies should involve citizens as experts on their own values

Summary

Citizen assemblies should involve citizens as experts on their own values