Extinction Rebellion tours region to test idea for a national ‘people’s climate assembly’

PEOPLE across the North East are being urged to have their say on a plan to create a type of ‘people’s parliament’ to drive forward Britain’s climate policy.

The idea is for a national citizens’ assembly (CA) capable of producing fully-researched and debated ideas for the nation’s response to climate change – effectively giving the public a ‘direct voice’ in Parliament.

The idea comes from the Extinction Rebellion (XR) activism group, which says traditional party politics isn’t up to the task, because it’s too divisive, adversarial, short-termist and self-interested.

The assembly would be permanent but with constantly-changing members drawn from the general public, to keep ideas fresh and avoid the lobby-influenced ‘jobs for life’ system which XR says makes party politics unfit for purpose.

This week, XR campaign buses have been visiting Darlington, Middlesbrough, Durham, Consett and Gateshead as part of a nationwide tour to gauge public feeling on the idea of a CA on climate.

On Sunday (October 9) the North East leg of the tour concludes with a ‘people’s assembly meeting at the Star and Shadow Cinema in Newcastle, to discuss the idea and people’s reactions to it.

North East XR member Steve ‘Woody’ Ridd said the aim is to put the public right at the heart of the decision-making process.

“The citizens’ assembly is a system that’s been tried – and works – and it’s a system that’s shown it can find solutions to even the most difficult of issues … such as abortion in Ireland.

“It brings people together and creates a harmonious decision-making process. People can get behind it and support it because they feel they’ve had their voices heard.”

But he acknowledged that while the citizens’ assembly approach to ‘deliberative democracy’ (building consensus on open-minded, informed discussion) is attractive, the challenge is how to persuade politicians to take any notice.

“It is a tricky one,” he admitted. “It needs a more progressive government than we have now, whatever form that takes. Extinction Rebellion are not party-political, we’re just looking for the best solution we can.

“It would take a progressive and brave government, because we do need brave, committed steps to address the climate and energy crises, and the cost of living crisis – because they’re the same thing.

“But if we can learn to have the courage to accept different opinions to ours, then I think we’ve got a brighter future and a better way of getting out of the difficulties we find ourselves in.”

The concept of a citizens’ assembly on climate change isn’t new, but the idea of one which is permanent and powerful enough to directly influence Parliament is.

If you’d like to take part in the Extinction Rebellion People’s Assembly, it’s due to run from 3-6pm on Sunday, at the Star and Shadow Cinema, in Warwick Street, Newcastle.