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The Climate Dialogues are an effort to stimulate and support large-scale public dialogue and deliberation about the climate. The goals are to increase understanding of the magnitude of the challenge and to help create a public mandate for comprehensive solutions.

NOTE: This page is a little out-of-date and some of the details are no longer accurate. But the gist is worth saving here. -- Phil, 2008-01-16 

There is little doubt that in the next few years, there will be federal legislation addressing global warming. If it is done right, this could be the dawn of the clean energy era. However, in the absence of a strong public mandate, we are likely to see half-measures, compromised by special interests. If that happens, we may well fail in the essential goal of stabilizing the climate.

This is an unprecedented opportunity to engage the public in real dialogue about our common future. It is especially important to expand this conversation beyond the treehugger circle, engaging business, low-income, and minority communities in a deliberative process that speaks to the foremost concerns of these communities. The climate issue provides that opportunity precisely because it is all-encompassing, will have devastating economic impacts, and will hit poor and minority communities the hardest.


The Climate Dialogues is not a single event, but a multifaceted, six month campaign to make climate the central topic of conversation, and to create a step change in public understanding of the science and policy issues. The Dialogues will culminate in a large-scale, facilitated deliberation event which includes policymakers. (A reference model is Dialogue with the City (pdf), a very successful, large-scale participatory process conducted in Perth, Australia in 2003 to address sustainability issues.)

Key activities:

1. Outreach: We will build teams of volunteers in each of Seattle's 13 districts. These teams will work with district and neighborhood councils, community groups, schools, churches, and businesses, to involve the entire community in convening the Dialogues. Teams will be independent but coordinated, sharing ideas and best practices. Phinney Ecovillage and Sustainable Ballard are examples of local groups that have expressed strong interest in participating.

2. Briefing materials: We will develop (or adapt) and focus-test briefing materials that are science-based and solutions-oriented. The briefing will not advocate for particular solutions, but will present the certainties, the uncertainties, and the clear choices that society faces.

3. Media: We will use media partnerships (newspaper, radio, TV, online) to create a regular drumbeat of information and conversation about the climate issue in local media. Including: regularly publish briefing materials, FAQs, and issue papers, host panel discussions and call-in shows, screen movies, host online forums. We expect that local media will be very responsive to the call to help convene the Dialogues.

4. Dialogue and deliberation: The heart of the Dialogues is convening well-informed, inclusive, respectful face-to-face dialogue and deliberation. We'll do this at two scales: small group and large.

• Small groups will use the Study Circle model: self-facilitated learning and discussion over 4-5 weekly sessions. Simple training is provided to the volunteer facilitators. The study circles will take place throughout the entire duration of the Dialogues campaign.
• The culmination of the Dialogues will be a city-wide, large-scale citizen participation event modeled after the "electronic town meeting" (America Speaks). This structure integrates hundreds of simultaneous small group dialogues into a plenary format that amplifies common themes and consensus positions. It is a prime opportunity for policymakers to engage a large number of constituents face-to-face. Our Citizens' Climate Summit will coincide with the Mayor's Climate Summit which is tentatively planned for October, 2007.

Impact: Our goal is to convene 100-200 study circles in each city district, totalling about 2,000 city-wide, and engaging roughly 20,000 people. Our large-scale event will engage an additional 3,000 people. Many thousands more will participate through online forums and public media. We expect the Dialogues will not end with the Summit, and 2People will provide ongoing support for citizens who want to continue meeting and taking action.

Outcomes: The Dialogues are not just about talk, they are about building community, building a public mandate, and influencing policy at the local and national levels. By demonstrating a public mandate, we give policymakers both the political cover, and the imperative to take action. Because of our partnership with the City of Seattle, we have a unique opportunity for access to the Mayor, and to create a model for the nation.