Proposal: Establish a Global Citizens Assembly on Climate Policy

Summary

This proposal calls for the establishment of a permanent Global Citizens Assembly on Climate Policy, comprising 500 randomly selected citizens from every UN member state, convened annually to deliberate on international climate governance.

Problem Statement

The annual Conference of the Parties (COP) process has produced landmark agreements but struggles with implementation and ambition. National delegations represent government positions, not citizen preferences. Polling consistently shows that public support for climate action exceeds government commitments in most countries.

A citizens assembly would provide a democratic complement to the intergovernmental process, giving voice to the global public.

Proposed Structure

Composition

• 500 members selected by stratified random sampling (civic lottery)
• Proportional representation by region, gender, age, and urban/rural residence
• Members serve one-year terms with 50% rotation annually for continuity

Mandate

• Review progress on existing climate commitments
• Deliberate on priority areas for international action
• Issue non-binding recommendations to COP and national governments
• Publish annual State of Global Climate Governance report

Process

• Four-week annual session combining online and in-person deliberation
• Expert briefings from climate scientists, economists, and affected communities
• Facilitated small-group deliberation with professional interpretation
• Recommendations adopted by supermajority (66%+)

Budget and Funding

Estimated annual cost: $15-20 million, funded through voluntary contributions from participating states, philanthropic foundations, and crowdfunding. This represents less than 0.02% of current global climate finance flows.

Expected Impact

Citizens assemblies have proven effective at national level in Ireland, France, Germany, and the UK. Extending this model globally would:

1. Increase democratic legitimacy of climate governance
2. Build public ownership of climate commitments
3. Identify solutions that technocratic processes overlook
4. Create pressure for implementation through citizen engagement

Implementation Timeline

• Year 1: Design phase -- methodology, sampling, logistics
• Year 2: Pilot assembly with 100 members from 50 countries
• Year 3: Full-scale assembly launch alongside COP

Vote

Do you support the establishment of a Global Citizens Assembly on Climate Policy?