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Case study: Barnet’s Citizens’ Assembly

At Climate Outreach, we understand the significance of doing thorough and considerate engagement with communities to inspire climate action. Our recent Britain Talks Climate research found that “very few people say they aren’t concerned at all about climate impacts”, and people feel particularly drawn to initiatives “taking place in local areas, closer to home and face-to-face”, where they are able to discuss both their concerns and ideas with real people. 

In this case study the Barnet Council team showcases how building these crucial connections between local-level climate initiatives and communities leads to more enthusiastic, genuine engagement with climate action.

Barnet is a large borough in Northwest London, home to nearly 400,000 residents and is the second largest borough in London by geography and population. Engaging with that many residents on climate change is no simple task. 

In February 2023, Barnet Council in partnership with TPX Impact, embarked on a borough-wide initiative, with the launch of its first-ever Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change and Biodiversity. This assembly convened 40 adults and 20 young people over sessions spanning February to May 2023, with a mission to collaboratively address the climate emergency and help Barnet in its ambitions to become a net zero borough by 2042. 

Guided by the question, “What more can we do together to make Barnet more sustainable, now and in the future?”, participants generated 20 comprehensive recommendations designed to drive borough-wide sustainability. 

Leveraging the success of the council’s BarNET ZERO sustainability communications campaign launched in January 2023, the assembly fostered community engagement through innovative methods, including narrative games and exhibitions. 

Feedback from participants further emphasises the project’s impact and significance, summarised and echoed wonderfully by resident participant Niiashie: 

“I joined the Citizens’ Assembly firstly out of curiosity. As a Barnet resident, I wanted to see the scope of the council’s control and what required behavioural changes from Barnet’s residents. 

Secondly, as a father of young children, it’s an intergenerational problem that we should participate in, for the ultimate benefit of future generations. 

And thirdly, as a business owner, to understand government interventions to do with the local economy, including extreme weather events and climate-related supply chain disruptions.” 

The assembly yielded tangible outcomes, including 20 comprehensive recommendations tailored to address Barnet’s sustainability challenges. Following the close of the assembly the council took a community-organising approach to establish community action groups to continue collaborating to deliver the recommendations. This ongoing focus on collective action is at the centre of Barnet’s approach. 

This process was not only good for engagement but also powerful for increasing awareness. A survey of Barnet’s Citizens’ Panel showed that more than 46% of residents are aware of the council’s ambitions to be net zero by 2042. 

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