The Climate Citizen Assembly, the world's first permanent national-level body for climate discussions, has been launched in South Korea.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok attended the assembly's launch on May 16, where he expressed his commitment to incorporating the recommendations generated by citizens into government policy. "The Climate Citizen Assembly represents a new model of climate governance where citizens actively participate in policy formation and implementation, rather than being mere subjects of policy," he stated.
He emphasized the importance of democratic values of participation and deliberation, hoping the assembly would serve as a model for practical solutions. He also noted the government's plans to integrate artificial intelligence and energy transition efforts to find new pathways for overcoming the climate crisis while promoting economic growth.
Global Climate and Environment Ambassador Kang Geum-sil proposed a 'Green First' initiative that integrates decarbonization and nature conservation into daily life. She expressed hope that people would embrace the discomfort and challenges of this transition as a new way of living.
The Climate Citizen Assembly, established under the Carbon Neutrality Basic Act, consists of a 220-member citizen participation group that will identify issues and propose policies through discussions.
The selection of the citizen participation group considered various demographic factors, including youth, people with disabilities, the elderly, and multicultural families.
The Prime Minister's Office stated, "This is the world's first permanent national-level body for climate citizen discussions, allowing all citizens to participate equally in addressing climate issues through deliberation."
In January, the Presidential Committee on Climate Crisis held a related forum, declaring the assembly as the first of its kind to be institutionalized at the national level globally. They assured that the policy recommendations derived from citizen participation and deliberation would be reviewed and adopted as part of the climate agenda, ensuring their effective implementation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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