Local MP James Sunderland met local Climate Assembly UK representative Clare Odds and her husband Peter to talk about their work with Climate Assembly UK - a project established by the House of Commons.

Clare is of the 108 selected representatives from across the UK, who met with Parliamentarians to feed back views on getting to net zero by 2050.

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. A Select Committee is a group of MPs from different political parties – they examine policy issues, hold the Government to account and make proposals for new laws.

The six Select Committees involved were Business Energy and Industrial Strategy; Environmental Audit; Housing, Communities and Local Government, Science and Technology; Transport; and Treasury.

A citizens’ assembly brings together people from all walks of life to discuss important issues – in this case climate change. At the assembly, assembly members learn about the issue, take time to discuss it with one another, and then make recommendations about what should happen.

Citizens’ assemblies have been used all around the world, including in the UK, to help shape the work of governments and parliaments.

www.climateassembly.uk