Climate action has such an impact on people’s lives that citizens must be more involved in decision-making than before. It is therefore necessary to set up a citizens’ forum. The Brenninkmeijer Committee, which was commissioned by the cabinet, is in favor of this to investigate how citizens can be better involved in climate policy.
The advice will be presented tomorrow. According to Brenninkmeijer, a new cabinet could adopt his recommendation at the formation table.
Such a citizen forum must consist of a representative group of people who participate intensively during six months about the choices at hand. For example, plans are currently being made all over the Netherlands in energy regions (the so-called RESs) for more wind and solar energy. But also making homes natural gas-free is an example of a climate measure that has far-reaching consequences for residents of neighborhoods.
Fierce resistance
Many citizens also want to be involved in decision-making about climate policy, the committee points out. But the way in which citizens can traditionally participate, such as during a public consultation evening, is not very satisfactory. Residents then notice that plans have already been made, and the influence they can still exert is often only small.
The arrival of windmills, for example, regularly leads to fierce resistance. “The experiences with resistance from the environment of (large-scale) wind farms have contributed greatly to awareness about the importance of participation,” Brenninkmeijer writes in his advice.
During the implementation of the climate agreement, it was already considered that the process must take place ‘from the bottom up’, but this does not guarantee that citizens are sufficiently involved. When the government still determined where large-scale wind farms should be located, this led to a lot of anger. That is why it has now been agreed that local authorities take the lead, instead of the national government.
Put in the refrigerator
But even the new working method does not mean that people can participate sufficiently. “In fact, it would have been better if citizen forums had been formed everywhere when the energy regions were established,” says Brenninkmeijer.
Meanwhile, several plans for wind turbines or solar parks have been put on hold after protests, or people are still angry if the plans did go ahead. For example, the arrival of a solar park in Finsterwolde in Groningen was called off after local resistance, people are still indignant about the installation of windmills in the IJsselmeer and the municipality of Amsterdam has decided at IJburg to allow windmills only if they are further away from the buildings come. And the list is much longer.
Desk drawer
It is important for the plan, says Brenninkmeijer, that a number of preconditions are met. For example, it must be clear in advance what politicians do with the advice of such a citizen forum. Because if it just disappears in a desk drawer, as happened with the citizens’ forum that existed on the electoral system, then the gap will only widen, he warns.
For example, it can be laid down that a municipal council may only deviate from the position of the citizen forum if there are good arguments for it. Or it is said that it is taken over in full if an advice has been worked on within certain limits.
Buried in its own right
In some other countries, such as Ireland (on gay marriage), or France (the climate), citizen forums are already being used successfully. Citizens everywhere want to have a say. It is important that all interests are listened to locally and that the large, quieter middle groups also have their say, instead of just activists. A citizens’ forum can initiate dialogue.
Brenninkmeijer says: “In some places the situation is now comparable to a fight divorce. People are buried in their own right. It is best to bet on mediation, on mediation. That does not massage away all opposition. one country where there is no opposition, and that is North Korea. “
“But you have already achieved a lot when people say: I am not happy with it, but it has been honestly decided.”
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