Post-Climate Assemblies: Supporting Citizens to Continuous Long-Term Engagement in Local Climate Action
Author
Refsing, Nanna Kent
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2023
Abstract
Climate change, driven by human activity, requires collective action across society. Around the world, climate assemblies—citizen panels that learn, deliberate, and make recommendations—are being used to address climate challenges. Studies show that many participants leave these assemblies more motivated to reduce their environmental impact in daily life. This thesis examines how that motivation can be supported so citizens can develop local climate initiatives after taking part in a formal climate assembly. Drawing on empirical material from the Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies (KNOCA) collected through participatory methods, the thesis proposes three practical support processes. It then considers how these processes could be implemented using two analytical lenses: Actor-Network Theory, which maps relationships among people, institutions, and material things, and the Multi-Level Perspective, which describes how innovations move from small niches into the dominant socio-technical system (the regime). These frameworks help identify existing networks, roles, and entry points where the proposed processes might connect with and influence current practices. The thesis contributes by addressing a current knowledge gap about citizens’ post-assembly experiences and by outlining ways to engage and support assembly participants in initiating local climate action.
Klimaændringer, drevet af menneskelig aktivitet, kræver fælles handling i hele samfundet. Over hele verden bruges klimaborgersamlinger—borgerpaneler, der lærer, drøfter og giver anbefalinger—til at håndtere klimaudfordringer. Studier viser, at mange deltagere bliver mere motiverede for at mindske deres miljøpåvirkning i hverdagen efter en samling. Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan denne motivation kan understøttes, så borgere kan udvikle lokale klima-initiativer efter deltagelse i en formaliseret klimaborgersamling. Med udgangspunkt i empirisk materiale fra Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies (KNOCA), indsamlet gennem deltagende metoder, foreslår afhandlingen tre praktiske støtteprocesser. Implementeringen af processerne vurderes gennem to analytiske perspektiver: Actor-Network Theory, som kortlægger relationer mellem mennesker, institutioner og materielle ting, og Multi-Level Perspective, som beskriver, hvordan innovationer bevæger sig fra små nicher ind i det dominerende socio-tekniske system (regimet). Disse rammer bruges til at identificere eksisterende netværk, roller og mulige indgange, hvor processerne kan koble sig på og påvirke gældende praksisser. Afhandlingens hovedbidrag er at udfylde en nuværende videnmangel om borgeres oplevelser efter en samling og at skitsere måder at engagere og støtte deltagerne i at igangsætte lokal klimahandling.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]