Customers have been using our tools to consult on climate issues for a long time – but in the past couple of years this type of activity has really ramped up. In 2019, many councils in the UK declared a climate emergency, and there have been sweeping global movements and national policies to a similar effect since then (such as the UK Government’s announcement this week that their goal is to cut emissions by 78% by 2035.)

So in honour of Earth Day, we thought we’d showcase some of the brilliant work our customers have been doing to engage their citizens on the climate crisis and how we move forward on the road to net zero carbon. 🌏

London Borough of Redbridge, UK

Redbridge used Simulator to gather insights on how residents would allocate a Carbon Budget for the borough. They allocated six different categories: transport, waste, property, energy, businesses and food and beverages.

Options for spending points within those categories ranged from smaller, localised actions like ‘Creating greener transport for school runs’ to more ambitious actions such as ‘introducing planning policies that priorities green construction methods’.

Climate Change Commission, New Zealand

He Pou a Rangi, or the Climate Change Commission, is an independent body that ‘provides independent, evidence-based advice on climate change issues to Aotearoa’s [New Zealand’s] government of the day.’

They drafted their first package of information and evidence, and asked for New Zealanders’ views and comments via a consultation on Citizen Space to factor into the final document before they presented it to the government.

Scottish Climate Assembly, UK

The Scottish Climate Assembly was a citizens’ assembly, commissioned by the Scottish Government in 2020 as a way of answering the question: ‘How should Scotland change to tackle the climate emergency in an effective and fair way?’

Given that the climate emergency is something that affects every citizen, the Scottish Climate Assembly set up a Dialogue to allow those not invited to take part a chance to have their voices heard.

Anybody who wished to participate could share an idea about what they thought the Assembly should discuss, and rate and comment others’ ideas. Ideas were taken into consideration in the development of the agenda for assembly weekend.

Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), ROI

The DECC in Ireland is hosting a national climate conversation on Citizen Space. Ireland is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050, and created a Climate Roadmap in 2019 in relation to that goal. Now they’re consulting on a 2021 version of this roadmap and want to hear opinions and feedback from people across the country. They’re running two simultaneous activities: a consultation that’s open to the general public, and a call for expert evidence from stakeholders and organisations.

Somerset West & Taunton Council (SW&T), UK

SW&T, like many UK councils, have declared a Climate Emergency and are working towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Looking for actions that could make a significant difference to carbon emissions, they identified that ‘the planning system plays a key role in tackling the Climate Emergency.’

Work had already started on a new Local Plan for the area, but they recognised that change needed to start now. So they consulted on an ‘interim policy statement’ that examined ways in which planning policy could be changed in order to help tackle the climate emergency.

If you’d like to find out more about how our tools can help your organisation on the road to net zero carbon, do get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.