Observer Session Weekend 8

17:03:03 Welcome to the eighth Observer session of Scotland’s Climate Assembly. Thank you for the questions you submitted in advance. Please do add your additional comments and questions into the chat as we go. NOTE: We are recording this session to share
17:13:49 Fantastic feedback [REMOVED], [REMOVED] and [REMOVED]. Well done
17:14:31 Thanks [REMOVED], [REMOVED] and [REMOVED] - you remain the guiding lights for this assembly!
17:18:06 So proud of our Members of Children’sParliament and your contribution to this Important work. Well done [REMOVED], [REMOVED] and [REMOVED].
17:18:39 👍
17:19:00 Hi all, I am sorry but I have to leave the session now due to a prior engagement. [REMOVED] will share reflections which also reflect my own views. It’s been a pleasure working with you all on this citizens assembly. Best wishes, [REMOVED]
17:19:28 Thanks [REMOVED]
17:19:39 Thanks [REMOVED]
17:26:56 I’m impressed but the strength of these responses by Assemblymembers to the weak response the Government has show to your  recoemdations
17:28:04 All respondents have stated that the Scottish Government has fallen far short of the recommendations of Scotland’s Climate Assembly, and at best has watered them down to align with the existing published policies. Is there any way forward for Scotland’s Climate Assembly to seek further engagement with the Scottish Government, or does funding stop now?
17:28:06 they really went with a fine comb through the government response
17:29:47 I felt the children (once again) helped change the conversation and mood
17:30:32 ScotGov response - published just before Christmas: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-government-response-scotlands-climate-assembly-recommendations-action/ - does it reflect the imperative of the Climate Emergency in the same way ScotGov has responded to the Climate Emergency?
17:30:50 Really impressed with the citizens response to the government - saying it as it is.. Well done.
17:31:05 It's so heartening to hear that the commitment and knowledge of the children is having such an impact.
17:34:04 [REMOVED]'s blog https://www.involve.org.uk/resources/blog/opinion/hope-despair
17:34:10 [REMOVED], Assembly Members have called for 'an ongoing and sustained dialogue' with Scottish Government to maintain the accountability for the long haul.
17:34:25 SCAN is a brilliant network and gaining momentum
17:34:52 How is this critical review by Assembly Members being shared?  These are representative citizens speaking not interest groups.  How can the democratic deficit - where fossil fuel corporations hold greater sway over policy development / allocation of resources - be addressed to take on citizens’ views once they understand the urgency!
17:35:05 Thanks [REMOVED] and [REMOVED] for sharing your hugely important feedback, especially after already working so hard all weekend!
17:35:42 👏
17:36:00 We really need local assemblies now to get this information to more people like [REMOVED] and [REMOVED].
17:36:06 link to the Scottish Communities Climate Action Network for more info  https://www.scottishcommunitiescan.org.uk
17:37:06 Thanks [REMOVED] and [REMOVED] for everything you’ve done and are doing
17:37:18 [REMOVED]'s filmed comment on the Government's response to the Assembly's recommendations points out that there is some good work going on in and by the Government, but it is patchy rather than coherent and systematic. That comes through in Assembly members statements just now.

Hearing both the ability of Assembly members to think through the issues and hearing your strong criticism of the Government’s response to your recommendations, do you think it is possible for Government to make the changes we need? 

Or do you think that it is impossible for Government (whether as civil servants or politicians) to steer these changes? Is the main pressure on them to maintain the status quo rather than transform it?

Do we need a climate assembly that arises from society at large, and welcomes Government to join it, rather than one steered by those who are - inevitably, and through no fault of their own - so close to the machinery of Government?
17:40:18 @[REMOVED] mentioned the programme that Scot Gov has invited SCCAN - Scottish Communities Climate Action Network to run this year.  Based on the very effective “Conversations for Change” run by the Australian NGO “Climate for Change” it invites participants to gain a sense of agency in this crisis.  After all this is NOT an “Information Deficit” problem but one of prioritising what is important - more at https://www.scottishcommunitiescan.org.uk/become-a-conversations-for-change-facilitator/ - tho we’ll be reviewing the name of the sessions as that framing is already used by the mental health support network in Scotland ;-)
17:40:46 Thanks so much for this reflection, [REMOVED].
17:43:36 What [REMOVED] and [REMOVED] are saying about Assembly members showing a real depth of understanding sounds right. Maybe that is why members are clearly refusing to accept the nicely presented ‘No’s from Government. Do Assembly members need to be having conversations with the public, or is it not more crucial for members to stay together to be bringing pressure on Government?
17:44:06 precisely [REMOVED] - that's what they're calling for.
17:44:21 'they' = assembly members
17:46:05 [REMOVED], you’re bang on and shows just how vital a weekend like this one is in scrutinising the gov’s reply and not letting the process fizzle out with a response that’s not up to the task. A cracking precedent for all future assemblies, consultations etc etc….
17:46:38 Can assembly members speak to other networks?
17:46:54 As an example of the inadequacy of resources being allocated so far to tackle the Climate Emergency - I spoke this afternoon to a resident of post-war Moredun Multi-storey flats in S Edinburgh who have been told that their cold draft expensive / impossible to heat flats may never get insulated properly because Edinburgh social homes require at least £700million to upgrade and just £200million allocated for all of Scotland for such work?  So impressed with clear call for Passivhaus Standard for new build and EnerPHit Standard for retrofit BUT disappointed by little change evidence in how the Building Standard update process has gone in England & Wales - not listening to the experts pressing for radical improvements and continuing the very incremental approach suited for building industry.
17:48:01 STUC Our Climate Our Homes Campaign?
17:48:19 @[REMOVED], yes, they have already spoken to lots of different networks and they are free to talk about their experience with other networks if they would like to
17:48:54 Having follow-up sessions to institutional responses to assemblies MUST become standard practice
17:49:41 We will be signposting them to networks as part of working with them to become a peer supported network [REMOVED] so do email me anything you think could be considered: [REMOVED]
17:50:11 Thanks [REMOVED], [REMOVED] and [REMOVED] - speaking to networks etc is great, but it is Government policy that needs to change to drive the structural changes we so desperately need to address poverty etc while addressing climate change. Maybe the key question is how can assembly members continue to bring pressure on Government?
17:50:58 And there was a lot of emphasis this weekend on ongoing accountability and periodic review - they’ve made specific requests about this
17:51:04 SCCAN is hosting a Gathering for Community Led Climate Action initiatives on Friday 11 March and we’d be delighted to welcome any member of the Climate Assembly to join us in Edinburgh or via zoom - we’ll be blending the meeting to enable friends from the Islands to participate - Contact [REMOVED] if anyone interested ;-)
17:51:36 @[REMOVED], that was a major topic of discussion today. There were also some interesting responses from Minister on this in the Q&A which should be online shortly
17:52:26 @[REMOVED] - government estimate for delivering energy efficiency measures in social housing is £6/7bn - the current Net Zero Heat Fund meets 3% of this amount
17:53:46 Has there already been reflected much on how the assembly design/organisation could be improved a next time? I'm particularly interested in whether there are thoughts on the involvement of children in the Assembly - what went well, what could be better? Thank you for all these updates!
17:54:00 [REMOVED] & [REMOVED] - that sounds great, but given that Government has made nice sounds rather than promised genuine action in response to these recommendations, we maybe need to assume Government won’t act unless we bring much more powerful collective e pressure
17:55:05 @[REMOVED]. there is a parallel research programme to help us learn what can be improved next time. They will publish their report in the next few months and it will be very useful for learning for next time.
17:55:06 Thanks for better data, @[REMOVED].  Clearly a challenge!  But what would the co-benefits in better health outcomes, less lost time from school and work due to illness and the tax income from the activity if Community Wealth Building principles are applied to the implementation programmes needed.
17:55:06 I agree with that [REMOVED] - for the assembly work to count as it should there must be broader public support and collective action
17:55:31 Hi [REMOVED] - There are some reflections on exactly this in the ‘Lessons learned’ document on the ‘Thinking’ page of the grassroots2global.org website
17:55:53 Scottish Government has invited SCCAN to help develop ten Community Climate Action Networks across Scotland - see more at https://www.scottishcommunitiescan.org.uk/investing-in-regional-networks/
17:57:13 The Assembly also demonstrates there is no “the public aren’t up for it” excuse the gov can claim as a reason not to go further faster - the process and the recommendations and today’s verdict shows when folks are able to take time to learn and digest they get the urgency and are up for bold change
17:57:24 Early morning [REMOVED]!
17:57:28 Agree @[REMOVED]
18:01:07 I wasn’t able to get my question in on time, but I’ve pasted it in above at 17:37.
18:01:12 I have to leave now but i’ve learned a huge amount in my engagement with this process.
18:01:39 I hope we have all learned enough so that we can gather together (Assembly members and critical and constructive well wishers) to take responsibility to collectively make the Government and all those with power make the changes we all so desperately need.
18:01:48 Hi there! Thank you so much for this. I'm interested in international policy and hybrid-democratisation so I'm wondering what you all think the power of a citizen assembly is: Do you think this experience strengthened or weakened the members trust in government? Did it make everyone involved feel more a part of government?
18:02:31 thanks [REMOVED] for all your contributions both within and outside the process - I hope that continues!
18:02:38 Wonderful, thank you everyone! Vert excited to see this!
18:03:05 Thanks [REMOVED], and thanks all
18:03:57 [REMOVED] thanks from me too - I would be happy to have a chat on your questions
18:04:16 @[REMOVED], just checking: with 'the children earned their place', did you mean that beforehand it wasn't planned that the children's recommendations would be included in the final report, but because they were so valuable this decision was made? If so, I'm interested, who made this decision to include them? The adults in the Assembly, or the organisers? Thank you!
18:05:00 Thank you very much!
18:05:18 [REMOVED], I meant to initially there wasn’t a blueprint and through their contribution they took centerstage in the process
18:05:56 in other words: they came to help and stayed to co-lead
18:06:32 @[REMOVED], thanks!
18:07:21 @[REMOVED]It was always seen as a joint process - my interptretation of [REMOVED]'s comment is that they earned the degree of impact they had on the adults, and the overall shape of all goals and recs, by just being so amazing too.
18:07:24 Gratitude to all the professionals who have nurtured this Climate Assembly process.  History will tell whether the recommendations were radical enough but appears that a “gently as we go approach” in the formal response in December appears NOT to be sufficient.
18:07:36 Hello from North London. Thank you for allowing me to be an observer today. It’s been a very interesting session.
18:08:59 As @[REMOVED] says Parliament will scrutinise next steps - so it’s very important all of us as constituents to raise these recommendations with our elected lawmakers - our MSPs!
18:09:23 spot on [REMOVED]
18:11:12 Were all the presentations in the classic expert speaker to audience format or were varied ways of presenting information used?
18:11:48 I should also have said that most members found the traffic lighting a helpful way to start organising their thinking - but didn't rely on it to tell them where to focus.
18:11:55 Did the assembly members have an opportunity to invite speakers to address the assembly?
18:12:17 You can see all of the evidence sessions on the assembly website.
18:12:53  https://www.climateassembly.scot/meetings
18:13:05  all the evidence can be viewed on our website
18:13:33  With the children, my colleague and I created a child-friendly summary of the response and also used a traffic lighting system to review with them (. we used red, yellow and green objects from around our houses to prompt discussion about each of the different themes!) This was prior to yesterday, when the children met with the adults. We now also have received a 6 minute video response from the Deputy First Minister directly to the children, describing their calls to action. This is significant in itself as the children asked for a film response as this was included in their report - good to see this was delivered.
18:13:49 Members were given the opportunity to request additional evidence and an additional weekend.
18:14:32 Check out the next Fridays For Future Global Strike on Friday 25 March https://fridaysforfuture.org/march25/ and the Together We Can Summit being run by Transition Together 11 - 21 May with SCCAN https://twitter.com/TransitionTog and the prospect for a Climate Fringe Month in September - hopefully aligning with Scot Gov / Public Bodies Climate Change Week 2022 and ECOLISE European Day for Sustainable Communities on Saturday 17 September.
18:14:36 Expert speakers also joined break out groups in various formats to discuss the evidence in more detail
18:15:09 … and inspiring. Congratulations.
18:16:33 I am interested in hearing to what extent assembly members could actively invite alternative evidence rather than additional.
18:18:49 How well was it publicised?  i spoke with some Glasgow University  students who had no idea the CA was going n even though it was mid way ??
18:18:57 Thank you for your thoughtful reflections!
18:19:52 Yes, @[REMOVED], we do all hope that this does not sit on a shelf - push it out there!
18:19:53 Thanks Susie and everyone - inspiring!
18:19:55 Thanks everyone!
18:19:57 Well done all!
18:19:59 As always, very impressive and inspiring! Thank you everyone for your work!
18:20:02 Thanks everyone
18:20:06 👏