London Borough of Hackney: Citizen’s jury on heatwaves

This case study was collected by London Councils as part of their London Leading: Case Studies in Climate Resilience Leadership report, which showcases how London boroughs are making climate adaptation a priority and embedding action within councils.

Hackney’s first Citizens’ Climate Jury in Spring 2025 engaged 15 randomly selected residents. The goal was to prioritise protecting vulnerable residents from extreme heat while addressing climate change and promoting social justice. This aimed to ensure equitable participation in climate policy development. Participants learned from experts, discussed solutions and made recommendations. The Council has committed to responding to all recommendations.

It was instigated by two key factors: the borough’s Climate Action Plan and a manifesto commitment to empower residents through citizen engagement on climate issues. Officers secured funding and staff time for participant selection and project design, including a process to recruit a representative sample of residents, including vulnerable groups. 

The jury supported the Council’s approach by validating existing strategies, prioritising actions (urgent and long-term) and improving governance structures. It identified vulnerabilities and the measures that matter the most to residents. 

Engaging residents directly also empowers communities to take action. The jury’s focus on vulnerable groups helped to ensure that everyone benefits from climate action. Progress against the recommendations will be monitored and reported through the Hackney’s annual Decarbonisation Report. 

• Resources: Over 50 officers were engaged in the project. Time constraints required careful planning to balance complex topics like climate change and social justice issues within a limited timeframe while ensuring meaningful deliberation.
• Policy integration: Balancing community input with governance processes to translate jury recommendations into actionable policies. Providing detailed feedback was crucial to guide the jury’s recommendations. 

The importance of using various deliberative engagement forms rather than relying solely on Citizens’ Juries. This approach should be integrated more broadly across the council to add value. Lift pitch insight: Deliberative engagement can effectively address specific and complex climate issues by helping to prioritise equity and community involvement. 

This case study was collected by London Councils as part London Leading: Case Studies in Climate Resilience Leadership report. You can view the full report on the London Councils website.

Hackney Council Formal Responses to Citizens’ Climate Jury Recommendation

Stephanie Li 
[email protected]