In April, around 40 randomly selected Cumbria residents came together to explore how citizens can influence decisionmakers to take meaningful action on the climate crisis. Facilitated by Shared Future, the assembly met over several weeks, heard from and questioned a wide range of experts, and worked collaboratively to produce a powerful set of prioritised recommendations to put people at the heart of climate decision-making.

The Assembly was made possible by funding Futureproof Cumbria secured from the National Lottery Community Fund on behalf of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership. 

We fully support the objectives and participatory approach of the Cumbria Climate Assembly. It has enabled local people to develop bold, informed recommendations aimed at influencing the climate decisions of key stakeholders such as the local authorities. The recommendations and the inclusive process behind them, that draws on lived experience, offer a powerful foundation for the future of decision making in Cumbria.

Our staff team and Board will review the outcome of the Assembly in detail and look forward to hearing directly from Assembly members. We will identify where their proposals align with our work and how we can contribute to delivering their asks. We are committed to sharing the findings of the Assembly through our extensive county-wide networks – both to champion its recommendations and to raise awareness of the value of participatory processes like this in tackling the climate crisis.