Jersey's  

Climate Conversation

Monday 1st February 2021 Dear Islander,

You could be one of 45 people selected to take part in Jersey's citizens' assembly to answer the question:

How should we work together to become carbon neutral?

The Assembly of the States of Jersey has agreed that a climate emergency exists and is likely to have huge effects in Jersey.

The States Assembly called a citizens' assembly to find out what people like yourself think we should do next. They have asked Islanders how should we work together to become carbon neutral?

The answer could change the way we heat our homes, how we travel, our diets, what we buy, the taxes we pay and many other aspects of our lives.

The citizens' assembly will be held online over 14 sessions between 13th March and 12th May and each session will last around two and a half hours. If you are selected to take part, we will give you £420 to thank you for your time.

If you do not have a device or internet access that will allow you to join the online sessions we will provide this for you. If you need us to, we will provide you with some training so that you can take part. We can also provide access to British Sign Language interpretation or

help with child or respite care or other support you might need to take part.

The citizens' assembly will bring together a diverse range of people, from across

Jersey, to hear evidence, discuss how to become carbon neutral, and produce a set

of recommendations for how and when we should become carbon neutral. These recommendations will go into a report delivered to the States Assembly and will be used to develop a long-term action plan.

Everyone aged 16 or over, who lives at this address, can register their interest in taking part by visiting www.sortitionfoundation.org/register or calling Freephone 0800 009 6486 (9am-5.30pm, Monday-Saturday) by Monday 15th February.

This is a fantastic opportunity for you to help shape how Jersey tackles climate change and we hope that you will be interested in joining us. If you're not selected to take part there will be lots of other opportunities to join in and have your say, we'd love to hear from you. For more information go to www.climateconversation.je

Yours faithfully,

Deputy John Young   Mark Egan

Minister for the Environment  Greffier of the States

Frequently Asked Questions: Jersey's Carbon Neutral Citizens' Assembly

What is a citizens' assembly?

A citizens' assembly brings together people from all walks of life to discuss important issues – in this case the climate emergency. At the assembly, participants – who are randomly chosen and reflect the characteristics of the wider Jersey public – learn about the issue, take time to discuss it with one another, and then make recommendations about what should happen.

Citizens' assemblies have been used all around the world to help shape the work of governments and parliaments.

Why is this citizens' assembly happening?

In 2019, the Assembly of the States of Jersey (States Assembly) agreed that a climate emergency exists and is likely to have profound effects in Jersey.

In early 2020 the States Assembly approved a Carbon Neutral Strategy which sets out a people-powered' approach and gives Islanders a real say over when and how we should become carbon neutral. The States Assembly called a citizens' assembly to help understand how islanders think we should work together to become carbon neutral.

They have given the citizens' assembly the power to make any recommendations it sees fit but have asked that the assembly consider how we become carbon neutral – including when – and what happens after this point.

What do we mean by carbon neutral?

To become carbon neutral Jersey will have to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we produce to a much lower level than today and then balance our remaining emissions by absorbing the same amount from the atmosphere. The actions required to do this will change the way we heat our homes, how we travel, our diets, what we buy, the taxes we pay and many other aspects of our lives.

Exactly what actions we need to take will depend on when and how Jersey becomes carbon neutral. It is already agreed that Jersey will become carbon neutral, in line with international legal obligations.

What will taking part involve? Do I need any prior knowledge of the topic?

If you choose to register your interest, and are then selected to take part, you will have the opportunity to meet, online, with people from across the island. You will participate in discussions and hear from engaging experts and from speakers who will have different views on how Jersey should work together to become carbon neutral.

There is no requirement for you to have any prior knowledge of the topic, and it doesn't matter what your views are about climate change. All the information you need will be provided in an interactive, easy-to-understand way. During the assembly you will be asked to consider everything you hear, and work with the other participants to come up with recommendations about when and how Jersey should become carbon neutral.

What will happen to the citizens' assembly's recommendations?

During the assembly we will note down your ideas and recommendations. We will do this anonymously so that our records do not show who said what. A member of the States Greffe will then use this anonymous information to write up the citizens' assembly's recommendations. That report will be presented back to the citizens' assembly to agree if it accurately represents the assembly members' views.

Once the citizens' assembly have confirmed that it does, the recommendations will be presented to the Government of Jersey who will use it to shape a long-term plan to become carbon neutral. If there is anything in the report that the Government doesn't agree with they will explain clearly why this is.

The report of the citizens' assembly will also be presented to the States Assembly and published for all Islanders to read.

When and where will the citizens' assembly take place?

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic the citizens' assembly will take place online. It will take place over 14 sessions and you need to be able to attend all of them. Each session will last around two and a half hours.

The dates are:

• Saturday 13th March - sessions 1 (10am – 12.30pm) & 2 (2pm – 4.30pm)

• Sunday 14th March - session 3 (10am – 12.30pm)

• Wednesday 17th March - session 4 (7pm - 9pm)

• Saturday 27th March - sessions 5 (10am – 12.30pm) & 6 (2pm – 4.30pm)

• Sunday 28th March - session 7 (10am – 12.30pm)

• Wednesday 31st March - session 8 (7pm – 9pm)

• Saturday 17th April – sessions 9 (10am – 12.30pm) & 10 (2pm – 4.30pm)

• Sunday 18th April – session 11 (10am – 12.30pm)

• Wednesday 21st April – session 12 (7pm – 9pm)

• Saturday 10th May – session 13 (10am – 12.30pm)

• Wednesday 12th May – session 14 (7pm – 9pm)

How will you ensure that the event is accessible?

The citizens' assembly will be held online. We know that everyone has different levels of online skills and confidence, and it is important to us that this is not an obstacle to taking part. If you are selected to take part in the citizens' assembly, you will be asked about your internet access, whether you have a device you can use to access video calls and how confident you are in participating in an online video conference.

If you have your own device with video capability (a laptop or a tablet is best) and your own internet connection then you should be able to access the sessions. If you do not have a suitable device or internet connection these can be provided to enable you to take part. There will also be group and one-to-one support sessions before the citizens' assembly starts to make sure you are familiar and comfortable with how to take part in online discussions.

If you require BSL interpretation or other communication support, or any form of additional support such as assistance with childcare or other caring responsibilities, then every

attempt will be made to provide this. If you are selected please just state your specific requirements when you are contacted.

Who can take part?

Everyone in a household that has received this invitation can register their interest to be part of the citizens' assembly as long as they:

• live in a household that has received an invitation

• are 16 or over and have lived in Jersey for either:

• the last 2 years, or

• the last 6 months plus any other period(s) which total five years then, regardless of your nationality, you can register your interest

Note, however, that a maximum of one person from any single household will be selected to participate.

If you are selected to take part, you will receive £420 to compensate you for your time.

Members of the States Assembly and Senior Managers of the Government of Jersey and Non-Ministerial Departments cannot apply to join the citizens' assembly, though members of their family can.

How was I selected to receive this invitation?

Your household was one of 9,000 addresses randomly selected, by the Government of Jersey Information Governance Team, from the Jersey Land and Property Index.

How do I register my interest in the citizens' assembly?

You can register your interest at www.sortitionfoundation.org/register or by calling Freephone 0800 009 6486 (9am-5:30pm, Monday-Saturday).

The deadline for registering your interest in the citizens' assembly is Monday 15th February 2021.

After I register my interest, what happens next?

Once registration has closed, we will randomly select 45 people, from all the eligible people who registered their interest, to take part in the assembly. This random selection will be weighted to make sure that the citizens' assembly is broadly representative of the Jersey population (aged 16 years old and over).

If you are selected, we will contact you by phone and/or email on or after Tuesday 16 February to let you know. We will then be back in touch to explain the process and talk through any accessibility requirements you may have.

Where can I find out more information?

More information about the event is also available on the website www.climateconversation.je

Who is paying for the citizens' assembly?

This citizens' assembly is being funded by the Climate Emergency Fund, which was established by the Government of Jersey to support projects that help tackle the climate emergency. The Fund receives money from taxes on petrol and diesel, among other sources.

Who is running the citizens' assembly?

The citizens' assembly has been called by the States Assembly. To enact this, the Government of Jersey has contracted three independent organisations experienced in the field:

The Sortition Foundation is a not-for-profit company that promotes the use of randomly selected groups of people in decision-making. It is responsible for recruiting a diverse and broadly representative group of people to take part in the assembly. See www.sortitionfoundation.org

The Involve Foundation (Involve') is a public participation charity on a mission to put people at the heart of decision-making. Involve will lead on the design of the Assembly and be in touch with you to support you throughout the Assembly process. See www.involve.org.uk

The New Citizenship Project is an innovation company, established in 2014 to help catalyse the shift to a more participatory society. They use creative strategy to promote the role of people and encourage better participation in society. See https://www.newcitizenship.org.uk/

To register your interest visit

  www.sortitionfoundation.org/register or call Freephone 0800 009 6486

(9am – 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday) before Monday 15th February.