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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/21/britains-first-climate-assembly-agrees-plan-for-council-to-tackle-crisis
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Britain’s first climate assembly agrees plan for council to tackle crisis | Britain’s first climate assembly agrees plan for council to tackle crisis |
| (4 months later) | |
| Britain’s first climate assembly has agreed on 17 proposals for action to tackle the climate crisis, including installing solar panels on all available roofs and cutting fossil fuels out of local government developments. | Britain’s first climate assembly has agreed on 17 proposals for action to tackle the climate crisis, including installing solar panels on all available roofs and cutting fossil fuels out of local government developments. |
| The assembly, convened by Camden council in north London, brought together more than 50 residents and a team of climate experts to develop proposals that could be taken up by the council to reduce carbon emissions and increase sustainability. | The assembly, convened by Camden council in north London, brought together more than 50 residents and a team of climate experts to develop proposals that could be taken up by the council to reduce carbon emissions and increase sustainability. |
| The proposals focused on housing, transport and green space, and included a community energy scheme to remove fossil fuels from home heating, widespread cycle lanes and car-free zones, and programmes to ensure that all new homes in Camden are built carbon-neutral. | The proposals focused on housing, transport and green space, and included a community energy scheme to remove fossil fuels from home heating, widespread cycle lanes and car-free zones, and programmes to ensure that all new homes in Camden are built carbon-neutral. |
| The group also recommended that community input on the crisis become permanent, calling for a climate emergency group made up of experts and residents to be set up to oversee the shift to eco-friendly initiatives. | The group also recommended that community input on the crisis become permanent, calling for a climate emergency group made up of experts and residents to be set up to oversee the shift to eco-friendly initiatives. |
| Suggestions came from across the community, with local businesses and institutions such as the Roundhouse, British Museum and University College Hospital collaborating to address Camden’s carbon footprint. Residents, workers and commuters contributed more than 600 ideas through an online platform. | Suggestions came from across the community, with local businesses and institutions such as the Roundhouse, British Museum and University College Hospital collaborating to address Camden’s carbon footprint. Residents, workers and commuters contributed more than 600 ideas through an online platform. |
| Tim Hughes, the director of Involve, a public participation charity that facilitated the event, said demand for citizens assemblies had surged in the past year. “They’re really good processes for dealing with conflict and contested opinions on issues, and really help to bridge some of the divides we’re seeing in democracy and politics at the moment,” he said. | Tim Hughes, the director of Involve, a public participation charity that facilitated the event, said demand for citizens assemblies had surged in the past year. “They’re really good processes for dealing with conflict and contested opinions on issues, and really help to bridge some of the divides we’re seeing in democracy and politics at the moment,” he said. |
| Last month the House of Commons announced plans to hold its own climate assembly to inform government policymaking. A representative from the business, energy and industrial strategy select committee, Chris Shaw, attended the Camden event to learn about the process and its potential for Westminster. | Last month the House of Commons announced plans to hold its own climate assembly to inform government policymaking. A representative from the business, energy and industrial strategy select committee, Chris Shaw, attended the Camden event to learn about the process and its potential for Westminster. |
| Farhana Yamin, who as a board member of Greenpeace UK and a Camden resident was observing proceedings, said: “Many of the problems that we’ve had on the climate and issues such as Brexit are because decision-making has been too remote and citizens haven’t had enough of a say. | Farhana Yamin, who as a board member of Greenpeace UK and a Camden resident was observing proceedings, said: “Many of the problems that we’ve had on the climate and issues such as Brexit are because decision-making has been too remote and citizens haven’t had enough of a say. |
| “It’s ironic that the theme of Brexit was ‘take back control’ but actually this is what taking back control really looks like in practice – it’s citizens being given the information and being asked to decide.” | “It’s ironic that the theme of Brexit was ‘take back control’ but actually this is what taking back control really looks like in practice – it’s citizens being given the information and being asked to decide.” |
| Members of the assembly were broadly positive about the process. Anna Pick, 23, a researcher, said: “The process of engaging people with the council, making people feel that they’re a bit more empowered at the community level, making people get together and talk to each other, I think those are all really powerful things.I feel much more optimistic about Camden council’s power to do things and my ability to shape what they do.” | Members of the assembly were broadly positive about the process. Anna Pick, 23, a researcher, said: “The process of engaging people with the council, making people feel that they’re a bit more empowered at the community level, making people get together and talk to each other, I think those are all really powerful things.I feel much more optimistic about Camden council’s power to do things and my ability to shape what they do.” |
| Climate Emergency Camden, a group of residents, called on the council to take meaningful action on the proposals, warning that some residents were cynical about the impact of the process. | Climate Emergency Camden, a group of residents, called on the council to take meaningful action on the proposals, warning that some residents were cynical about the impact of the process. |
| Their concern was echoed by many members of the assembly. “There will be a lot of very good ideas suggested by people, but the crucial thing is that these ideas will be acted upon rather than be forgotten. It’s very important that they’re followed up and put into practice,” said Hamid Reza Aghaei, an Iranian refugee living in Camden. | Their concern was echoed by many members of the assembly. “There will be a lot of very good ideas suggested by people, but the crucial thing is that these ideas will be acted upon rather than be forgotten. It’s very important that they’re followed up and put into practice,” said Hamid Reza Aghaei, an Iranian refugee living in Camden. |
| The council leader, Georgia Gould, emphasised her commitment to doing so. “We declared a climate emergency and that can’t just be a statement or a piece of paper, it has to be real action,” she said. | The council leader, Georgia Gould, emphasised her commitment to doing so. “We declared a climate emergency and that can’t just be a statement or a piece of paper, it has to be real action,” she said. |
| Councils are embracing people power to take on the #ClimateEmergency while national govt flounders. Today Camden citizens are making recommendations for new climate action plan to take us to a zero carbon future, reported by @markriceoxley69 in @guardian https://t.co/oc4lVp3DZU pic.twitter.com/wTbBI8dus8 | Councils are embracing people power to take on the #ClimateEmergency while national govt flounders. Today Camden citizens are making recommendations for new climate action plan to take us to a zero carbon future, reported by @markriceoxley69 in @guardian https://t.co/oc4lVp3DZU pic.twitter.com/wTbBI8dus8 |
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