Outcomes of citizens’ assembly feed into topical climate plans

At the citizens’ assembly organised in February, the participants formulated knowledge-based and deliberated views on actions that guide energy policy and the energy consumption of households.

The participants of the citizens’ assembly drew up a declaration that was submitted to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and Ministry of the Environment on Monday 3 March. According to the declaration, energy policy solutions should take into account people’s different kinds of life situations, economic resources, types of housing and regional differences. The citizens consider that, besides promoting demand response solutions, energy storage should be developed.

The declaration of the citizens’ assembly supports the national policy preparation that is under way at the ministries and the implementation of policy measures decided in the EU in Finland. The Energy and Climate Strategy is being prepared under the lead of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and, at the same time, the Ministry of the Environment is preparing the Medium-Term Climate Plan.

“The citizens’ assembly has a unique and important role as it provides well deliberated views in support of policy preparation on the fairness of actions from the citizens’ perspective. At the Ministry of the Environment the results of the assembly bring a valuable contribution to the preparation, especially with respect to themes related to housing,” says Juhani Damski, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment.

“Consumers are the key players, whether we are concerned with energy solutions or the use of electricity. This is why it is important to activate the citizens and hear their views,” says Riku Huttunen, Director General at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

The assembly organised by the University of Turku and researchers of the Finnish Environment Institute brought together 54 randomly selected citizens. During the six days of work, the participants heard presentations by experts and asked questions, and deliberated on the topic and the different perspectives in small groups and together. The researchers will publish a report on the implementation of the citizens’ assembly later this spring.

Deliberative citizens’ juries and assemblies have become increasingly common in different parts of the world, especially in climate issues. They are used to support political decision-making and policy preparation and to provide information to citizens who need reliable and structured information on topical policy issues. Studies show that citizens’ assemblies can increase the acceptability of decision-making and reduce polarisation in society.
 

Inquiries

Maija Setälä
Professor, University of Turku
tel. +358 29 450 2737
[email protected]

Magnus Cederlöf
Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of the Environment
tel. +358 295 250 060
[email protected]

Markku Kinnunen
Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
tel. +358 2950 64792
[email protected]

• Declaration I utu.fi (in Finnish)
• Press release of the University of Turku I utu.fi (in Finnish) 
• Recording I tiedekulmamedia.fi