Dorset launches citizens’ panel to guide local climate action

A new citizens’ panel is being launched in Dorset to give local people a say in how the county responds to climate change.

A citizens’ panel brings together a group of local people - chosen to reflect the wider community - to learn about an issue, discuss it, and share their views. They hear from experts, explore different perspectives, and work together to make recommendations.

Panels like this have been used across the UK and beyond to help shape decisions on issues like climate, transport and public health. Dorset’s citizens’ climate panel will focus on how the county can respond to the growing impacts of climate change - such as flooding, coastal erosion and extreme weather.

The panel forms part of Dorset Council’s efforts to build stronger, more resilient communities that are ready for the future — a key priority for the council. It also reflects its commitment to working with and listening to residents, making sure that local voices shape the decisions that affect them.

The panel will hold its first session this weekend, kicking off a series of four meetings running through October and November.  Over the course of these sessions, panel members will hear from a range of experts, explore key climate challenges facing the county, and work together to develop recommendations that will help shape how Dorset prepares for a changing climate.

Selected by lottery from thousands of households invited to take part, the panel is made up of 22 residents who reflect a broad mix of ages, backgrounds and views on climate change. Working together, they’ll play a key role in shaping how Dorset responds to local climate impacts.

Councillor Nick Ireland, Leader of Dorset Council and Cabinet Member for Climate, said:

“This is about making sure our plans to prepare the county for the unavoidable impacts of climate change reflect what matters most to local people.

“Climate change is already affecting Dorset—each year we’re seeing more flooding, coastal erosion and extreme weather events. These challenges aren’t distant threats; they’re happening now and will only intensify. That’s why it’s so important we hear from our communities before deciding how we respond.

“The Dorset Citizens’ Climate Panel is a really exciting opportunity for residents to help shape the decisions that will affect their lives, homes and futures.”

By the end of the process, the panel will produce a set of recommendations to inform Dorset’s plan for dealing with the local impacts of climate change. These will include:

• a shared vision for a climate-resilient Dorset
• priority areas for action
• indicators of success
• guiding principles for decision-making.

The panel’s recommendations will be shared with those working on Dorset’s climate response and used to inform the development of the county’s adaptation strategy, making sure it reflects the values, concerns and ideas of local people.

The panel is being run by Dorset Council with support from Involve, a charity that specialises in public participation. Funding comes from Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living programme.

Sarah Allan, a senior associate at Involve, said:

"Citizens' panels are a powerful way to bring people together to tackle complex challenges like climate adaptation. What makes this approach so valuable is that it gives ordinary residents the time and space to learn about the issues, hear from experts, and deliberate together before making recommendations.

"We're delighted to be supporting Dorset Council with this process. The panel members represent a real cross-section of the community, and their insights will be crucial in ensuring that Dorset's climate response reflects the values and priorities of local people. This is democracy in action—giving residents a genuine voice in decisions that will shape their future."

An advisory board made up of people and organisations involved in climate planning in Dorset - including the Environment Agency and the Met Office - will help ensure the process is fair and well-informed.

To find out more about Dorset’s Citizens’ Climate Panel, including how members were selected and what the sessions will cover, visit the Dorset Council website.