International press release
The Citizens Assembly for Norways future – What Do People Think About Norway’s Wealth?
Norway is a wealthy country in a world facing serious challenges. What decisions do we make today that will shape our common future? For the first time in Norway, a national Citizens' Assembly will discuss how the country's wealth can be used for the benefit of both current and future generations.
The Citizens Assembly for Norways future is a national Citizens' Assembly that brings together a representative sample of the population from across the country – spanning various age groups, political views, and backgrounds. The panel will meet seven times over four months to gain insights from experts, discuss the issues together, and ultimately present recommendations for what Norway should do. These recommendations will be presented to decision-makers and shared publicly.
On November 13th, SMS invitations will be sent to 40,000 Norwegians, and of those who respond positively, a lottery will decide which 66 citizens will participate in the panel. The participants will be selected based on five criteria: age, gender, location, education, and a question about their views. This ensures that the panel members reflect the diversity of our country.
The question that the Citizens Assembly for Norways future will answer has been set by seven civil society organizations: Save the Children, Norwegian Church Aid, The Norwegian Children and Youth Council (LNU), Caritas, WWF Norway, Langsikt (the think tank for long-term policy), and The Future in Our Hands. Never before have so many organizations come together to organize a Citizens' Assembly, making this a globally unique initiative. - Here we would like a quote from Graham Smith
"With the Citizens Assembly for Norways future, we aim to spark a national conversation about how Norway can contribute to a better future for both current and future generations in the face of shared global challenges. We hope the panel's recommendations will influence political decisions across party lines," says Eirik Mofoss, CEO of the think tank Langsikt.
Norway has a strong democratic tradition, but research shows that many groups, including young people, are often excluded from decision-making processes.
"The Citizens Assembly for Norways future will place special emphasis on youth participation and engagement," says Jakob Aandera, Chairman of the Norwegian Children and Youth Council (LNU). "We hope this will raise awareness about Norway's potential and strengthen our democracy."
An advisory board, featuring well-known figures such as Kristin Halvorsen, Sally Kamara, Leo Ajkic, Yohan Shanmugaratnam, and Else Kåss Furuseth, supports the process and represents different perspectives and interests related to the panel's topic. This council will have an advisory role without being bound to the panel's recommendations. It will assist throughout the panel's work, ensuring the process is transparent and fair.
The project is funded by several national and international partners, including the European Climate Foundation, The Sunrise Project, Ragnhild and Jens Ulltveit-Moe, and the Værekraft Foundation.
Framtidspanelet follows OECD. guidelines for Citizens' Assemblies, and the process is designed to ensure broad legitimacy and a balanced, independent dialogue.
A secretariat, led by the non-profit company SoCentral with support from We Do Democracy, is responsible for organizing the entire process, from participant recruitment to facilitating meetings. They ensure that the panel has access to neutral and relevant information so participants can make well-informed decisions. They are also responsible for ensuring that the process is conducted independently and impartially, with an arm's length distance between the organizers and the panel participants.
Timeline:
October 2024: Public launch of Framtidspanelet
November-December 2024: Invitations sent to 40,000 Norwegian citizens → Selection of 66 participants
January-April 2025: Citizens' Assembly meetings (seven meetings, both digital and physical)
May 2025: Conference to present the recommendations
May-September 2025: Promotion of the panel's recommendations ahead of the parliamentary election
Facts: What is a Citizens' Assembly?
A Citizens' Assembly is an internationally recognized, research-based involvement method recommended by the OECD. Countries like Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands have all used such panels. In Norway, the government launched the first national Citizens' Assembly in October, focused on sustainable consumption, and several municipalities have also used these assemblies. Last year, the City of Copenhagen established a permanent climate panel.
A Citizens' Assembly engages new voices to discuss complex societal challenges. Citizens are given the opportunity to meet with experts, learn about the topic, discuss with other citizens, and deliberate on dilemmas. This helps bring people more directly into issues that affect their own daily lives.
The Citizens' Assembly method is characterized by three key points:
The members are randomly selected and demographically representative of a region, city, or country, which sets them apart from traditional political election processes.
The members gain in-depth knowledge of the topic, presented by a range of experts.
The process takes place over time and is designed so that members discuss with people who hold different views before reaching consensus on the recommendations.
For more information, contact:
Thomas Berman
Email: thomas.berman@framtidspanelet.no
Phone: +47 907 87 982
