The UK is committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050. Climate Assembly UK brought together 100+ people from all walks of life and of all shades of opinion to discuss how the UK should meet this target.
The assembly members met over six weekends in Spring 2020. They heard balanced evidence on the choices the UK faces, discussed them, and made recommendations about what the UK should do to become net zero by 2050. Their final report was published on Thursday 10 September 2020.
The first UK-wide citizens’ assembly on climate change publishes its final report today, setting out a clear, internally consistent and timely path for how the UK can reach its legally binding target of net zero emissions by 2050.
Slides, videos and transcripts of our presentations from experts are available in our resources section
A citizens’ assembly brings together people from all walks of life to discuss important issues – in this case climate change. At the assembly, assembly members learn about the issue, take time to discuss it with one another, and then make recommendations about what should happen.
Citizens’ assemblies have been used all around the world, including in the UK, to help shape the work of governments and parliaments.
In June 2019, the UK Government and Parliament agreed that the UK should do more to tackle climate change. They passed a law committing the UK to reaching ‘net-zero’ greenhouse gas emissions (which cause climate change) by 2050. This means that by 2050 the UK will have to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases it produces to a much lower level than today. It will also have to balance any remaining emissions by absorbing the same amount from the atmosphere. The actions required to do this will change the way we heat our homes, our diets, what we buy, how we travel, and many other aspects of our lives, as all of these result in emissions in some way.
Find out more about climate change and net zero.
