Participation at the UACES 55th Annual Conference 2025

In the past week at the UACES 55th Annual Conference, our partners participated in a dynamic discussion on a pressing and complex issue: fostering synergy between democratic governance and the urgent challenges of climate change.

The conversation centred on the critical role of public participation, with a focus on citizens' assemblies and mini-publics. As the climate crisis intensifies, it is becoming clear that a top-down approach is not enough. The transition to a sustainable future will require profound changes in society. To legitimate these changes, which have to be effective and just, they must be built on a foundation of broad public support and engagement.  Among other topics, they discussed how public participation, such as citizens' assemblies and mini-publics, can help bridge the gap between democratic governance and the fight against climate change.