Citizens’ Jury on Climate Actions | Research group for innovating democracy

In April 2021, we organised a citizens’ jury tasked with assessing the social justice and effectiveness of Finland’s climate measures. The jury was commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment and the Climate Policy Roundtable appointed by the Government. Research related to the citizens’ jury was funded by the Strategic Research Council as part of the PALO research project.

The jury’s results were used in preparing the Medium-term Climate Change Plan (KAISU).

Once per electoral term, Finland’s climate measures are set out in the statutory Medium-term Climate Change Plan under the Climate Act. The citizens’ jury was piloted as a complementary form of participation in preparing the plan. The jury’s task was to assess the fairness and effectiveness of climate measures covered by the plan and to form a public statement on the topic. The jury took a position on the fairness of emissions-reduction measures related to housing, mobility, and food.

A random sample of 8,000 citizens were invited. Every Finn aged 18–80 had an equal probability of being invited. From those who volunteered, about 50 people were selected so that the jury would reflect Finland’s population as well as possible in terms of age, gender, education level, and place of residence. In addition, one participant with Sámi background was recruited separately. After random selection and quota setting, 33 citizens ultimately participated.

The citizens’ jury met online a total of three times via remote connection. Before the jury, participants familiarised themselves with the topic using background materials. During the process, the jury heard from several experts from different sectors. The jurors then deliberated different perspectives and the information they received, and jointly drafted a public statement on the fairness of climate measures. The discussion was based on a list of measures prepared by the Ministry of the Environment, containing 14 possible measures within the scope of the climate plan. The statement was delivered to the Ministry of the Environment and the Climate Policy Roundtable for use in drafting the climate plan.

Project Researcher Katariina Kulha, kasuku@utu.fi