'Giving people a voice in climate policy'

The Netherlands‘ first national Climate Citizens’ Assembly began on 18 January 2025. 175 participants came together in Amersfoort to get to know each other and begin their deliberations. The mini-public is focussing on the topics of sustainable consumption, the circular economy and travel.
Ministers Sophie Hermans and Judith Uitermark, together with Citizens' Assembly Chair Nienke Meijer, opened the programme with a question and answer session. Minister Uitermark emphasised the value of citizens' assemblies as a democratic instrument: ’Politics made by people should be made with people. This is the first time that a national citizens' assembly on climate has been organised in the Netherlands. It offers the people of this country a unique opportunity to express their opinions and ideas directly. A citizens' assembly also gives a good picture of how people in the Netherlands think about this issue and helps to find broad-based solutions.’
‘Giving people a voice in climate policy’
Minister Hermans (Climate and Green Growth) emphasised the importance of the initiative for her policy: ‘This Citizens’ Assembly is an important step in giving people a voice in national climate policy. Because what we are going to do to make the Netherlands cleaner and more prosperous affects us all and requires something from everyone. We have to do this together: the governments, the companies and the people in this country. That is why we are asking the Citizens' Assembly for advice on how we can do this together.’
Citizens‘ Assembly Chair Nienke Meijer is delighted that the mini-public is now out of the starting blocks: ‘’We have a wonderful group of 175 people today. You could say it's the Netherlands in miniature: young and old, from all provinces, with different levels of education and different opinions on climate policy. And they clearly have one thing in common: they are all looking forward to getting started, getting to know each other and are curious about the discussions over the next six months.'
A special birthday present
In mid-November 2024, 70,000 randomly selected residents of the Netherlands received an invitation to take part in this Climate Assembly. Those drawn had until 1 December 2024 to apply to take part. 4,070 invitees expressed their interest in participating.
For Eva Rovers from the Bureau Burgerberaad organisation, sending out the Citizens' Assembly invitations on her birthday is a special birthday present. ‘After four years of asking, talking, writing, advising, (lovingly) pushing and pulling to set up a national Climate Citizens‘ Assembly in the Netherlands, today of all days is the starting signal,’ she wrote on her birthday on the social network LinkedIn.
In the newspaper De Correspondent, she wrote: ‘Democracies all over the world are faltering or even disappearing altogether. Dutch democracy is also under pressure: the political divide is deep, decision-making is faltering (...) and dissatisfaction with politics and government is on the rise. As a result, a third of the Dutch are in favour of a more autocratic form of government.’
Hope through citizens' assemblies
However, there is also hope in the growing number of citizens' assemblies. They are a reflection of society that makes weighty recommendations for problems that cannot be solved by politicians. This is a smart approach to solving the biggest problems of our time. ‘Without polarisation and party politics, but with an eye for different perspectives and the long term,’ said Rovers.
Citizens' Assembly Chairwoman Nienke Meijer says: “We are really creating something new and special with this national Climate Assembly. I hope that the people who have received our invitation will also participate. After all, we are faced with decisions that are not only important for ourselves, but also for our children and grandchildren. My appeal to those invited is therefore: register. Your ideas are important!’
Chairwoman is the contact person
Chairwoman Nienke Meijer studied psychology and marketing. Among other things, she is co-founder and partner of the De Buitenboordmotor foundation, a member of the supervisory boards of PostNL and Deloitte and chairman of the board of De Volkskrant foundation. The government elected her as Chair of the Citizens' Assembly because of her experience in bringing together different groups and parties.
The Chairwoman of the Citizens‘ Assembly is the point of contact for the members of the mini-public, but also for ministers, parliament and journalists. When the Citizens' Assembly meets, she ensures that the deliberations run smoothly and that everyone treats each other with respect.
175 participants
The Citizens' Assembly website states: ’The decisions that the government takes to combat climate change affect everyone.’ For example, people would have to pay more for single-use plastic or expect a flight tax. The government therefore believes it is important for people to have a say in these decisions.
The Citizens' Assembly consists of up to 175 people aged 16 and over, who are a reflection of society in terms of age, gender, education, place of residence and attitude towards climate policy. The participants are tasked with finding an answer to the question of how eating and travelling can be made more climate-friendly and how people can live in a more environmentally friendly way. This includes the question of whether non-sustainable products should be more expensive. And how far the state should go to promote sustainable behaviour among people.
Experts and stakeholders
The first Citizens' Assembly meeting took place on 18 January 2025. In the first half of the year, the citizens' assembly will meet on six weekends in Amersfoort. All participants will receive an expense allowance of 120 euros per meeting month. Childcare is also provided. Travel and accommodation costs are reimbursed.
The assembly participants learn about climate change and climate protection from experts and stakeholders from associations, business and civil society, as well as through excursions. As far as possible, the assembly members decide for themselves what knowledge and information they want to receive and use and which experts and stakeholders they want to talk to. An independent advisory board ensures that the information provided is balanced.
Government obliged to respond
In September 2025, the Citizens' Assembly members submit their recommendations to the government. Parliament then discusses the recommendation and the government's response to it. In September 2026, the Citizens' Assembly will hold a final meeting with the government and parliament to discuss the implementation of the recommendations. A corresponding agreement obliges the government to provide a response to the recommendations within six months. It must indicate for each recommendation whether it is accepted. Reasons must be given if recommendations are rejected.
The mini-public is organised by the Overlegorgaan Fysieke Leefomgeving (Advisory Board for the Physical Living Environment - OFL). The OFL is an independent platform for consultation and cooperation between government, citizens, businesses and civil society organisations. It deals with the environment in which people live, work, travel and recreate.
14th National Climate Citizens' Assembly
The Climate Citizens‘ Assembly in the Netherlands is the 14th national citizens’ assembly on climate protection. Similar citizens' assemblies have previously been held in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and the UK. A citizens' assembly on consumption and climate protection is currently underway in Norway.