Conference on Environmental Science and Technology

Climate Assemblies are structured deliberative processes that bring together a diverse group of citizens to deliberate on complex environmental challenges and contribute to shaping policy responses. This presentation explores the evaluation framework that was developed under the Horizon Europe-funded CLIMAS project. Through targeted surveys, different actors of a climate assembly (participants, observers, experts, organizers and facilitators) experiences, focusing on their understanding of climate issues, engagement during the process, and perceived outcomes of their participation were assessed. Results show that participants generally felt well-informed and supported, appreciated the inclusive nature of discussions, and valued the opportunity to discuss critically on climate adaptation challenges. However, the analysis of the responses indicated areas for improvement, such as enhancing diversity among participants and refining the learning phase to improve accessibility and engagement. This study highlights the importance of ongoing evaluation and feedback to optimize the design of participatory processes. It provides evidence that well-structured climate assemblies can strengthen civic engagement, support critical thinking, and contribute meaningfully to more democratic and effective climate action.