Workshop at the annual Democracy R&D summit, October 2025

Our consortium partners attened the annual Democracy R&D summit in Brussels. They held a workshop and gathered democracy practitioners to explore a vital question: how can democratic innovations like climate assemblies deliver real climate action while deepening trust in governance?

They shared emerging findings from their research on RETOOL. The review of hundreds of studies shows that key issues, like capacity, accountability and justice, are often overlooked in research. Meanwhile, their case studies reveal that assemblies can powerfully bridge political polarization, showing citizens are ready for strong climate measures. But we must be careful not to overload a single process with impossible expectations; not every assembly is designed to directly change policy overnight. 

In discussion, participants highlighted impacts that go far beyond policy papers: the clear empowerment of participants, the crucial role of follow-up task forces and the importance of capturing personal stories of change that can shift culture. 

To move forward, we must better understand how assemblies synergize with wider climate movements, intentionally center justice and civil society and creatively reach the broader public through community gatekeepers. This means honestly mapping power dynamics and designing for the full lifecycle of impact. The path is challenging, but the dialogue in Brussels confirmed a shared commitment to a future where democracy and climate action are strengthened, together.