Democracy and Climate Change: What Can Deliberative Democracy Contribute?

• DOI: 10.1111/ajph.12025
• Publication Date: 2015-10-13T04:58:40Z
• Authors: Simon Niemeyer
• Keywords: Deliberation; Deliberative Democracy; Polity

This paper argues that deliberative democracy is best placed to meet the challenge climate change poses systems of governance, although task implementing it challenging. Deliberative extends on basic idea by emphasising way in which citizens engage with issues, requiring reflection all relevant dimensions. Where easily crowded‐out prevailing nature political debate, deliberation helps make salient less tangible and complex dimensions associated issue. Evidence presented support capacities deliberate change, evidence drawn from a mini‐public Australian Capital Region. The possibilities for “scaling up” these benefits polity as whole are then discussed. Although not straightforward, specific mechanisms engendering among wider public suggested. If successful, only promises transform action but also build capacity respond improving underlying conditions environmental governance.