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Climate change: 'Citizens panel' aims to tackle climate change questions

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sir-david-attenborough.Image source, Getty Images
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The broadcaster spoke to members of the climate assembly this weekend

Should flying be taxed more? Should more money from taxes go into wind power? Should certain cars be banned?

These are some of the big climate change-related questions that a 'citizen's panel' made up of 110 members of the public will look at when they meet for the first time this weekend.

TV presenter and environmental campaigner Sir David Attenborough has spoken at the assembly and has said that he thinks the UK needs a longer 'fixed-term' Parliament.

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He said that he thinks part of the problem with tackling climate change is that five years isn't long enough to plan and make real changes.

"It is very difficult to persuade politicians that they should give money and time and attention and worry about an issue which is not going to come to a climax - and people won't know if it is successful or not successful - for 10 years hence, 15 years hence."

Before the assembly, Sir David spoke about how grateful he was for the assembly and what he wants it to achieve.

"I am grateful to the 110 people from all corners of the United Kingdom who are giving up their weekends to take part in this very important discussion of how we in the UK reach our net zero emissions target," the broadcaster said.

"These people have been picked to represent our population as a whole, they come from all walks of life, and together they will deliberate carefully on behalf of us all.

"We should listen closely to their recommendations."

The plans and recommendations to the Government will be published in April and it's hoped they can help the government with their plans to help the UK reach zero emissions.

What is the climate assembly?

The Climate Assembly is a group of people who've brought together to discuss climate issues, and talk about what they think should happen next.

The people who take part are meant to reflect all sectors of society.

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The citizens' panel will spend four weekends in Birmingham from 24 January and will listen to evidence from experts on how climate policy and science will affect the UK.

They will then suggest ways in which the government can reach its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The idea for the assembly came from Members of Parliament (MPs) who wanted to hear the public's opinion on how climate change should be tackled in the UK.

What is net zero?

The government says it wants the UK to be "net zero" by 2050.

Net zero describes reaching an overall balance between the emissions produced and emissions removed from the atmosphere.

That means emissions from homes, transport, farming and industry will have to be avoided completely or - in the most difficult examples - offset by planting trees or sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere.

The group will mostly hear presentations from academics, though they will also hear from people working in industries like farming.

The announcement by MPs to form a citizens' assembly on climate change was announced on 20 June 2019 as part of the commitment to reach net zero by 2050 and 30,000 invitations to join the panel were sent out in November.