Citizens' Assembly for Climate of Catalonia

The work of the Assembly

The citizens participating in the Assembly will be given a particular task: to produce recommendations for specific climate change policies. The Generalitat de Catalunya has decided to adopt an innovative approach that takes on board the lessons learned from other assemblies, emphasising the following points:

·        Climate change is too complex for all its dimensions to be addressed in a single Assembly. For this reason, the decision has been taken to address two specific challenges of climate change, in the fields of energy and food and agriculture.

·        These challenges have been considered from the perspective of political issues. These are difficult issues to resolve, in which the possible answers are beyond the scope of technical solutions, and may involve both benefits and other impacts or costs to be taken into consideration. The aim is therefore for citizens to define their position on the different alternatives for addressing climate change after assessing the relevant information.

·        The issues raised are linked to the policies and powers of the Generalitat de Catalunya.

Consensus and starting points

·        Climate change is a scientific fact, and we are facing a climate emergency.

·        Drastic reductions in emissions are needed.

·        Denialist positions and positions opposing the scientific consensus will not be invited to participate in the discussion.

A technical working group was established in order to define the issues and questions for consideration by the Assembly. This group produced a proposal which was subsequently ratified by the parties responsible at the Generalitat de Catalunya and finally submitted to the Steering Group, which finally selected the issues and questions for consideration by the Assembly:

Issues and questions to be resolved

Climate change and the deployment of renewable energies

Issue: Building a sustainable and self-sufficient energy model that contributes to reducing emissions and addressing the impacts of climate change requires the use of renewable energy. Achieving energy self-sufficiency from these energy sources brings significant benefits, but also requires the construction of many installations with other potential impacts on the territory. 

Question: What criteria should be used to decide or prioritise the type of renewable energies and their associated energy production and distribution infrastructures (self-consumption or large onshore installations) and their location, taking into account both their benefits and their impacts and costs on the territory?    

Climate change and the food model for the future

Issue: The current model of food and agriculture production and consumption generates both emissions that contribute to climate change, and environmental, social and economic benefits that help us adapt to its effects

Question: What actions or changes among the possible alternatives need to be carried out in relation to the pattern of food and agriculture production and consumption in order to mitigate emissions and provide incentives for measures to adapt to climate change, taking into account both the benefits and advantages and the costs and disadvantages involved?

In addition, when addressing both issues from a broad-based perspective, the participants will have to take into account a "climate justice" aspect, with questions such as the following:

1.      What changes are necessary for citizens, government bodies and business? To what extent are we willing to change?

2.      How should the efforts involved be distributed? Who should bear the possible environmental/economic costs and how should they be met?

3.      What should governments do to make this possible in a socially just way?