Designing Effective Climate Deliberations: Lessons from France and the USA

Format: Participatory workshop
Language: English

Description:

Can citizen-led deliberations effectively shape climate policies? And how do different design choices influence the outcomes of these deliberations? What role can digital platforms, like that of Decidim or the Stanford Online Deliberation Platform, play in facilitating large-scale climate deliberations?

This interactive workshop will delve into these crucial questions by examining two prominent climate assemblies:

• The 2019-2020 French Citizens’ Climate Convention

• The 2021 American Deliberative Poll on Climate Change

Drawing from a new collaborative research project between the Stanford Deliberative Democracy Lab and Sciences Po's CEVIPOF, this workshop will explore the options and limitations for reaching the best design for climate change deliberations in the digital age.

Structure:

1. Introduction (20 minutes):

   • Brief overview of the two climate deliberations

   • Introduction to the Comparative Research Project

   • Q&A

2. Small Group Analysis (35 minutes):

   • In groups of 5-6 people, participants will identify strengths and weaknesses in the two climate deliberations, focusing on aspects such as:

     • Participant selection methods

     • Duration and format of deliberations

     • Use of digital tools and platforms

     • Expert involvement

     • Outcome implementation

3. Collaborative Brainstorming (35 minutes):

   • Using insights from the small groups, we'll collectively brainstorm:

     • Best practices for climate deliberations

     • Potential roles for digital platforms like Decidim in enhancing these processes

     • Sketching an "ideal" deliberation model for tackling climate challenges

Outcomes:

• A deeper understanding of different climate deliberation models

• Insights into the potential of digital tools for enhancing participatory democracy

• Collaborative development of best practices for future climate assemblies

Join us in this engaging session as we work together to shape the future of climate deliberations!

Logistical needs: 

• Screen/projector for presentations

• WiFi access

• Tables and chairs that can be arranged for small group discussions

• Whiteboard or large sheets of paper for collaborative brainstorming

Maximum number of participants: 30-40
Number of facilitators: 2 (one from Sciences Po and one from Stanford)