Launching Jersey’s Climate Conversation

The challenge

In early 2021, the Government of Jersey set out to develop a long-term plan for achieving carbon neutrality, seeking an approach that placed citizens at the heart of decision-making. New Citizen Project and Involve were commissioned to design and deliver an inclusive, deliberative process that would engage the whole island.

The goal was to invite every islander to consider: “How can we work together to become carbon neutral?”

Our approach

Using our RAPID Democracy framework, we designed and co-delivered Jersey’s Climate Conversation - a groundbreaking participatory democracy initiative combining large-scale public engagement with a citizens’ assembly.

Over an initial six-week island-wide campaign, we invited all residents to share their views through a bespoke digital platform, social media, and in-person activations which included a “public living room” designed to spark discussion. Influencers and climate activists were involved to amplify reach and encourage broad public input.

Around 1,000 citizens contributed their ideas, which informed the next stage of the process; Jersey’s Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change. A group of 45 randomly selected, representative islanders deliberated online for 40 hours. We at New Citizen Project provided strategic oversight, process design, lead facilitation and project management - ensuring the process was inclusive, transparent and collaborative throughout.

Impact and learning

At the end of the process, Assembly members finalised, voted on and prioritised a series of recommendations. This included adopting 2030 as a target date for carbon neutrality, banning the new registration of petrol and diesel cars by 2025, retrofitting buildings and supporting community energy initiatives.

The Assembly’s recommendations were written up in a report which was used by the Government of Jersey to shape its long-term climate action plan and roadmap to carbon neutrality.

Alongside the assembly on climate, we also supported Jersey’s Citizens’ Jury on Assisted Dying. Together, these processes demonstrated the power of deliberative democracy in shaping real policy outcomes, strengthening trust between citizens and government, and demonstrating new approaches for participatory decision-making in the UK and beyond.