Learning Call: The Dutch Citizens' Assembly on Climate

The Dutch Citizens' Assembly on Climate (Nationaal Burgerberaad Klimaat) took place from January to September 2025, considering the question 'How can we as the Netherlands eat, use things and travel in a way that is better for the climate?'

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The assembly is groundbreaking for a number of reasons. First, it is the largest climate assembly to date, recruiting 175 members. Second,  it had to navigate a challenging political context. From commissioning to the delivery of its recommendations, two governments have fallen and a new one is in the process of formation. A debate and vote on the future of the assembly took place within Parliament while it was doing its work. Third, the assembly was innovative in the way that it built its evidence base in collaboration with assembly members. The Dutch Assembly has a lot to teach us about how to enable deliberation within a highly polarised context.

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We will be joined on the Learning Call by its independent Chair Nienke Meijer, Tobijn de Graauw (Programme Lead) Yannick Wassmer (Lead Facilitator), Marvin Tiemessen (Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth) and a couple of assembly members.

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