At the start of 2026, the Global Assembly on Food and Climate brought together 105 people from more than 60 countries and territories, and from all walks of life. And we were lucky enough to be selected as Regional Lead for North America and the UK and Northern Ireland.
As Regional Lead, we were responsible for recruiting Community Hosts, locally rooted organisations who recruited and supported their Assembly Member through the process.
Over 7 weeks Assembly Members met online with their Community Hosts and listened to experts deliberating on one question:
“What changes, if any, should we make to how we grow, share, eat, and use food, so everyone has enough to nourish themselves, while tackling the causes and impacts of climate change?”
Each Assembly Member brought their own personal lived experience and local knowledge to the table and alongside the expert knowledge came up with solutions to the issues that were discussed.
You can watch HERE a video of the Assembly Members sharing their thoughts and experiences of the process.
This process led to them coming up with the solutions to the issues they discussed and agreeing on 22 Calls to Action which can be viewed in more detail HERE.
Iswe have taken those recommendations to form the basis of a new Deep Dive series, exploring what people around the world believe is needed to build healthier, fairer and more resilient food futures.
Both the Calls to Action and the Deep Dive series were shared at London Climate Action Week where Iswe and partners highlighted the role of meaningful public participation.
This supports the work we have been doing with Humanity project showing the growing role of assemblies in shaping decisions at every level.
In our new report with Humanity Project Neighbourhood Assemblies: A New Model for Neighbourhood Governance we set out the case for Neighbourhood Assemblies as the preferred model for community empowerment explaining how residents can play a more meaningful role in shaping the decisions, priorities and resources that affect their lives.
What is clear from the Global Citizen’s Assembly and the work we have been doing with Humanity Project is the tremendous opportunity to build new relationships between communities, public institutions, elected representatives and international institutions– and to learn from people and places who are already showing what’s possible.
Whether you’re planning on running an assembly or documenting one you’ve already run, you’ll find practical guidance, real-world examples and a free Community Assembly Guide on Iswe’s website to help you get started.
