Practical Workshop on Climate Assemblies ～Featuring Local Cases in Japan and the UK～ Report: Atsugi Climate Assembly 14 March 2024 Steering Committee, Atsugi Climate Assembly Mutsuko Endo, Atsugi Citizens' Power Station The translation of these slides is a provisional one by the Secretariat. It has been checked against the original text, but it is recormended to refer to the original text f Introducing the organizer
Opening ceremony for first unit, Jan. 2020, liyama district, Atsugi City We are a citizen group that has been working for six years to avert a climate crisis and achieve a society that is not depend on nuclear power. We are taking on the challenge of citizen-led local production of renewable energy for local consumption and revitalization of agriculture. We believe all citizens can work together to create a decarbonized and comfortable-living city! Mutsuko Endo, Chair Introducing the organizer
Solar Sharing: Agrisolar
System for sharing the blessings of sunlight between agriculture and power generation A small power plant of 26.28 kW (equivalent to about 7-8 standard households) Citizen investment, collective farming, welcoming visitors… the power plant has become a place of connection. Yield higher than usual depending on the crop... moderate shade could be creating a favorable growing environment (and could be ideal for agriculture in the age of global boiling?) Collective farm work Tours A field for exploration by children 3 But, the expansion of renewable energy was stagnant... There was not much progress on decarbonization in Atsugi City Feb. 2021: Mayor makes Zero Carbon Declaration Measures in FY2022: Formulation of Carbon Neutral Roadmap, revision of Global Warming Prevention Action Plan (to be implemented from FY2023) What could ignite the next step? We decided to organize a Climate Assembly in Atsugi. Invitations to participate in a "citizen collaboration project"! Objective: Hold a citizen assembly to realize Atsugi's Carbon Neutral Roadmap Invitations sent in May 2022   City government gets more proactive The city promises to accept an action plan created by citizens as its official action plan! ⇒Oct. 2022   Adopted as a citizen collaboration project   Became an official one-year project for FY2023 Let’s avoid a climate crisis and create a prosperous and comfortable future for Atsugi!
Overview of
Planning
Framework of Atsugi Climate Assembly
Organizer: Atsugi Citizens' Power Station & Atsugi City Partner: Institute for Dialogue of Environmental Policy (IDEP) Cooperation: IGES, Kanagawa Prefectural Environmental Science Center Procuring funds/Financial management Costs: about 6 mil. JPY (participant remuneration, payments to information contributors/instructors, compensation of steering committee staff) 2 mil. JPY from citizen collaboration Private sector grants: about 2 mil. JPY from Lush Japan (to cover preparatory stage from Feb. 2023) From Japan Fund for Global Environment (up to 2.5 mil. JPY) Jotal: 6.5 mil. JPY Meeting recorders Relationship with Administration: Benefits
of citizen collaboration
•City adopts “action plan” output as an official plan •City in charge of random selection •City gives the project legitimacy, good for PR, provides venues, etc. •Content fundamentally left up to Steering Committee •Showing citizens' level of determination to administration! Let's work together! A new form of democracy Participating residents Random selection of 3,000 persons, ages 16-74, men and women, from 10 districts ⇒ Started with 52 people Steering Committee staff: Most are typical citizens Put call out to citizens (power station members, agricultural support team members, residents involved in civic activities) Asked universities in and outside the city to consult/cooperate Put call out to companies in the city Introductions from advisors Jan. 2023 Steering Committee Preparatory Kick-off Meeting Facilitator Training: Organized by IDEP Official launch in Apr. 2023   (Appointments with confidentiality obligation⇒written agreements) 44 persons registered Supervisory Team, Operations Team (Secretariat), PR Team, facilitators, supporters Overview of Planning Composition of citizen participants
Steering Committee Main facilitator】 Akane Iwasaki Supervisory Team】 5 persons perations Team】 6 persons + 5 supporters_ (Facilitators)  13 persons + 6 supporters : Team】 5 people + 1 citizen illustrator 【Meeting minutes recorders】 2 persons 6 Meeting design Timeline on completion of the Decarbonization Action Plan in Atsugi Create action plan framework Create action plan draft Create action plan rough draft Special considerations when formulating the Atsugi Decarbonization Action Plan in AtsugiんんんAんん"Avoid a climate crisis and create a comfortable future for Atsugi” as the objective. Ensure the realization of the ‘Atsugi City Carbon Neutral Roadmap’. A major transformation in our society, economy and values is required. Backcasting from a vision of a decarbonized world in 2050. Be just, fair, and leave no one behind. Aim to 'create mechanisms' that enable even uninterested people to live normally while transitioning to a decarbonized society. ‘Citizens’ are the actors of the action plan. Consider actions that citizens can take, and seek cooperation from government and business to create the necessary conditions for other actions citizens want to take. Meeting outcomes Action Plan documents 74 action items separated into 5 sections Section 1: Local production of renewable energy for local consumption Section 2: Mobility and community building Section 3: Energy conservation and housing Section 4: Consumption, food, agriculture, waste Section 5: Initiatives to actualize, practice, and establish the Atsugi Decarbonization Action Plan participant
Overview of questionnaire results and reflection on assembly Questionnaire respondents: 40 out of 48 participants ■ 1. Very satisfied ■ 2. Mostly satisfied ■  3. Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied ◾ 4. Unsatisfied with some points 【Reasons】 ① Gaining knowledge and understanding (including inspiration and insights) ② Change in awareness/action ③ Networking and creating connections 11 Overview of questionnaire results and reflection on assembly l am clearly aware of what initiatives and measures should be implemented in daily life and the community towards achieving a decarbonized society. Overview of questionnaire results and reflection on assembly
Do you want to participate in activities to actualize the measures in the action plan? ■ Yes ■ No 0 10 20 【Some reflections by Supervisory Team】 ◆ Due deliberation not achieved Insufficient group discussion time Opinions not opposed or questioned added to action plan as is Facilitation issues Swayed by persons with strong opinions ◆ Was the quality and quantity of information provided appropriate? Has a major influence on group discussion Saves time during group discussion Process from sharing group discussion contents to drafting of final action plan Steering Committee operational issues 13 Toward the next proposal To do at 17 Feb. Briefing Session Section 5: Initiatives to actualize, practice, and establish the Atsugi Decarbonization Action Plan (1) Continuation of citizen collaboration Create a framework for citizen collaboration (2) Citizens will continue in citizen collaboration and engage in implementation of the Decarbonization Action Plan. City and citizens will establish a collaborative entity to ensure the early achievement of carbon neutrality.
New collaborative entity: Launch of the Carbon
Neutral Atsugi Future Project
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ Progress evaluation Information exchange with city, opinion exchange, proposals Continue 2 years as Atsugi Citizen Collaboration Project After that, find another method by which to continue Maintain independence of citizens as much as /possible, including fundraising Popularization of the action plan Initiate concrete actions, support for actions: relaxed framework that enables those who want to take action to get advice and support Build connections (in community, with other communities) Citizen Collaboration Project Atsugi Climate Assembly Report It was a challenge at the citizen level, but with the support and guidance of many people, we managed to achieve some results. We deeply appreciate it. Those paving the way to the future have begun to connect. There is a bumpy road ahead, but we will continue to rise to the challenge! Thank you 15