The "Alberta Climate Dialogue: Deliberative Democracy and Climate Change in Alberta and Beyond" is a project led by the University of Alberta in Canada. Involve is delighted to be part of this project which will explore how the direct participation of citizens in problem-solving and decision making can enhance our ability to respond effectively to tough problems like climate change.

The research alliance brings together leaders from Albertan cities, industries, and environmental NGOs and provincial ministries; Canadian and international organizations expert in convening citizens to solve tough problems. Together, the partnership will design and hold citizen deliberations in Albertan municipalities and then provincially. Thousands of Albertans will be supported in understanding scientific, economic, social, and individual aspects of climate change. They will pool their diverse perspectives; weigh tradeoffs and identify opportunities; and decide on actions to take together in their communities as well as on recommendations to take forward to municipal and provincial governments.

This deliberation plan reflects several strategic assumptions. First, it capitalizes on the strong interest of our municipal partners, and their willingness to engage citizens on climate questions. Second, it acknowledges the role that cities and towns can play in mitigating and adapting to climate change, through their own policies and through efforts initiated outside government. Third, it reflects the lesson learned in other communities that deliberative democracy is most effectively built ‘from the ground up', assembling citizens first at the local level and connecting them with interconnected levels of policymaking. Finally, it recognizes the importance of local institutional structures for holding policymakers and other actors accountable for the promises they make and for continued deliberation.

Universities and community organizations in Alberta and beyond have committed over $3.3 million in cash and in kind contributions to this project. This has been enhanced by a recent $1 million grant from the Community-University Research Alliance program of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.The project will share learnings through policy documents and briefings, deliberation and evaluation toolkits, workshops, new media, and scholarly articles and presentations. A full project website will be developed soon. Contact: Simon Burall simon@involve.org.uk

 Photo: A Guy with a Camera