Within the scope of the Izmir Citizens’ Assembly for Climate project, a study visit to London was organized between 7-10 April 2025 with the project team consisting of representatives from YUVA Association, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and HUDOTO. The main purpose of this visit was to observe the implementation of citizen assemblies in the UK and to ensure that the experiences gained can contribute to the process in Izmir.
During the program, climate-themed citizen assembly practices in the municipalities of Camden, Wandsworth, Barnet and Westminster were examined. Many topics such as the climate policies of the municipalities, participatory methods, the way the public is included in decision-making processes, and the applicability of the assembly outputs were evaluated on site. In addition, detailed information was obtained on how the process is structured in line with the principles of transparency, representation, accessibility and sustainability.
During the visit, workshops were also organized with leading experts in the field.
- The workshop withSarah Allan discussed how to design citizen assemblies more effectively, how participants can better engage with the process, and what needs to be considered for practices to have a lasting impact.
- The closing discussion with Graham Smith and Mel Stevens provided important ideas on how to integrate the knowledge gained into the Izmir Climate Assembly process.
During the visit, the following topics in particular stood out:
- The design of inclusive spaces where participants can testify with confidence,
- The importance of representation when creating a participant profile,
- How and at what level municipal decision-makers will be involved in parliamentary processes,
- Transparently sharing the outputs of the assembly with the public and clarifying implementation mechanisms.
This study visit was of great importance in terms of giving the citizens’ assembly process in Izmir a stronger structure that is fed by international experiences and to implement good practices in the local context.
