The University of Westminster has launched the UK’s first university-based citizens’ assembly on climate, bringing together a representative group from its community to agree on the future direction of the University’s climate action.
Climate assemblies bring together a diverse group of everyday people selected by democratic lottery to learn, deliberate and make recommendations on aspects of the climate crisis, according to The Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies (KNOCA).
The innovative decision-making process at the University of Westminster Climate Assembly (UWCA) will consist of six sessions between January and March and will involve around 45 participants, including students, academics, professional services staff and contractors, all selected through democratic lottery to make sure the University’s diverse community is fully represented. The group reflects the University’s diversity in gender, ethnicity, disability, college or directorate, level of study (for students), current position (for staff) and level of concern about climate change. Alongside participants around 20 members of the Westminster community - 15 of whom are students - have been professionally trained as facilitators by external facilitator Sarah Allan. They will be leading the discussions to reach agreements on what the University should do to take action on climate change. Numerous other community members are also working behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of the assembly, showing how the University is rallying behind the cause.
Photo: Third-year Interior Architecture student Hy Le's drawing of the first session of UWCA 2026 in Fyvie Hall, Regent Campus
The ultimate goal of the assembly is to answer the question: “How can the University and its community take forward meaningful action on climate change in a way that helps make the University a great place to study and work?”
Over 200 climate assemblies have been organised across Europe, mostly by local, regional or national governments. Recently a small number of universities in Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland have used this participatory approach on climate. The University of Westminster is joining this select group thanks to generous funding from the Quintin Hogg Trust.
Westminster is a signatory to the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges' (EAUC) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Accord and the London Higher Sustainability Pledge, being committed to integrating the United Nations' 17 SDGs into teaching, research and operations.
The University adopted the United Nations’ SDGs in 2019, using the Goals to frame the University’s strategic decisions to support its commitment to being progressive, compassionate and responsible. In doing this, Westminster has been recognised as one of the top 13% out of over 2,300 universities globally for its commitment to sustainable development and has been named as a global sustainability frontrunner in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. Building on this work, the Climate Assembly opens a new phase for the University of Westminster in working towards Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action and Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
Photo: Yasmin Kulasi, Dr Ro Spankie and Professor Graham Smith opening UWCA 2026
Dr Ro Spankie, Assistant Head of the School of Architecture + Cities at the University of Westminster and UWCA organiser, said: “In 2022 I set up the School of Architecture + Cities Climate Action Task Force. What soon became apparent was something as complex as the climate crisis required a collective response rather than a disciplinary specific approach. The UWCA was conceived as a unique way to meaningfully engage people across the whole University.”
Professor Graham Smith, Professor of Politics and UWCA organiser, said: “I’ve been working on climate assemblies for many years, providing advice to governments and civil society organisations. It’s a real pleasure to be bringing this democratic innovation to the University of Westminster. It's a rare chance to hear from such a diverse group from across the University community about how we can take further action in response to the climate crisis.”
Yasmin Kulasi, Associate Head of College at Westminster Business School and UWCA organiser, said: “What I value most about UWCA is how inclusive it is and how we’re all working together on one of the most pressing issues the world faces. Our students from across the University are involved in every aspect of the assembly in genuine partnership and co-creation. This kind of collaboration is what universities aspire to, but we at Westminster are actually doing it.”
Learn more about UWCA 2026 on its dedicated Substack feed.
Read more about Sustainable Development at the University of Westminster.
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Bonfield welcoming participants
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