Climate Citizens' Council for the Saarland adopted
The Saarland state parliament has for the first time created a randomly composed Climate Citizens' Council. The 51-member committee, chosen by lot, is to make proposals for achieving climate protection targets in the state. These will then be discussed by the state parliament. The ruling SPD and the opposition CDU agreed to the establishment of the Citizens' Council, while the AfD abstained.
"In a way, we are breaking new ground with the Citizens' Council. We are launching an experiment," said state parliament president Heike Becker (SPD). "With the Citizens' Assembly, we are testing an instrument for more participation and involvement beyond the rituals and possibilities of everyday parliamentary life."
A small majority of people are "dissatisfied with the way democracy works in this country", according to the state parliament's resolution. Citizens are looking for "alternative ways to participate". The state parliament therefore wants to "test new participation formats to supplement the representative model of democracy".
The minimum age for participation in the Citizens' Council is 14. An external service provider is to be commissioned with the selection process to ensure "balanced participation".
The establishment of the Climate Citizens' Council by the Saarland state parliament is aimed at making proposals to achieve climate protection targets. These proposals will be discussed and potentially implemented in the Parliament, contributing significantly to the state's environmental efforts.
Source: www.dpa.com
