Deliberative democracy and environmental justice: evaluating the role of citizens’ juries in urban climate governance

Understanding mechanisms of policy engagement and the participation different actors in urban climate governance is particularly important as cities follow emergency declarations with corresponding action, to ensure that inequalities are not exacerbated by action. Citizens’ juries a deliberative democracy tool allows demographically representative sample population learn about contested issue from experts, discuss, debate develop recommendations. Leeds City Council declared March 2019, compelling local authority take serious measures implement reduction carbon emissions net zero 2030. A citizens’ jury was established an independent body, Climate Commission, various possible courses action response declaration. This research critically examined processes surrounding embedded focus on procedural justice representation justice. Emerging lessons include recognition power differentials between social groups should be carefully considered throughout achieved decision making. Representation demands those who included making spaces able harness their position voice experiences, opinions, hopes concerns deciding which trade-offs will made. In juries, facilitation style techniques play critical role achieving this participatory parity, alongside other factors. There potential for co-benefits emerge, such trust-building, place identity hope future.