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Citizen's Forums

These have been held every year for the last three years in conjunction with Durham County Council to share information about, discuss and critically challenge, and offer support for the implementation of the Climate Change Emergency response plan (CERP)

Citizens Forum on the Climate Emergency, July 2022

 

Around 60 people attended the County Durham Citizens Forum on the Climate Emergency on 5 July 2022. The event well received and marked an important moment of citizen engagement in County Durham’s climate action. 

 

What were the key outcomes of the event? 

  • Residents were introduced to Durham County Council’s second Climate Emergency Response Plan and they had an opportunity to engage in-depth with it in small groups

  • The five Durham County Council officers present listened to ideas and suggestions brought up by residents during the event and agreed to follow up with them after the event

  • Alan Patrickson, the most senior officer present, agreed to return in a year’s time to review progress on Durham County Council’s climate action with us

 

What’s next? 
Climate Action Durham is committed to being a critical friend of Durham County Council’s climate action. That means we want to 

  • Support work towards reaching the council’s net zero goals

  • Monitor progress towards the net zero goals

  • Point out any shortcomings in the council’s plans and campaign for improvements


Read more about the outcomes of the event here.

Our second Citizens Forum on 7 November 2023 was well attended and continued the successful process of citizen engagement in County Durham’s climate action. 

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What were the key outcomes of the event? 

Residents learned about Durham County

Council’s climate action to date and how it

compares with other councils

Residents and Council officers discussed in thematic small groups,

identifying successes, barriers, and new ideas

Durham County Council and Climate Action Durham agreed to

continue this process of citizen participation in the next iteration

of county-wide climate action planning

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What’s next? 

Climate Action Durham will 

  • Climate ontinue thematic work to help stay within the county's carbon budget

  • Provide more input to the Climate Emergency Response Plan 3 (to be developed in 2024)

  • Campaign for practical improvements to how public life and private enterprise is organised to stay within the carbon budget 

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Read the full report of the event here.​

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Jpeg poster 7 nov citizens forum.jpg

Citizens' Forum 17th Oct 2024

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  • Welcome            to Citizens Forum                                                        Richard               2 mins

 

  • Introduction      lessons learned from CERP2 à CERP3               Alan/Mark               15/20 mins

 

 

  • Panel Session   Role, opportunity, challenge                                   Richard – chair

    • 3 minutes for each panellist                                                                                 15 mins

 

  • Heat and Energy              Stephen McDonald/Tom Bray

  • Biodiversity                        Stuart Priestly /Rupert Friederichsen

  • Waste                                 Jo Blackie/Fiona Dyer

  • Engagement                      Andriana Christou/Sarah Banks

  • Transport                           Mark Jackson /Matthew Phillips

  •  

  • Questions by CAD members to each panellist ‘pair’     Richard – chair

  • 8 minutes per panel pair                                                                                        42 mins

 

  • Breakout sessions   30/45mins (SMc will introduce)

Three sheets of large flipchart paper per theme. People will be asked to add their:

  • Challenges

  • Opportunities

  • What they can do to help

 

  • Close                   DCC/CAD (Richard)                                                                                  2 mins

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County Durham Citizens Forum 2024 flyer_Page_1.jpg

Read report here

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