What is the follow-up to the Citizen’s Climate Convention in Grenoble?

This year, the city of Grenoble launched a citizens’ convention on climate. The participants, chosen by lottery, submitted their report last October, a series of 219 recommendations aimed at reducing the region’s carbon emissions. Will they be redeemed?

There was the Citizens’ Climate Convention, then there was the Business Environment Convention. For several months, hundreds of citizens worked on the same model of participatory democracy, this time on the side of the metropolis of Grenoble. The Isere community of 49 municipalities recruited many women and men to ask them to come up with proposals aimed at reducing the area’s greenhouse gases. There are so many solutions aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. In mid-October, the participants of this collective adventure presented a report with their recommendations.

Metropolis shows that the convention’s proposals are scrutinized by 119 elected officials who must vote or not vote on every action taken by the collective of citizens. And this is during the Metropolitan Council scheduled for March 2023. to wait Nicholas Chartres, one of the participants of the convention, shows we have a limited number of volunteers to publicize and present our offers. » Especially during events with the participation of economic and political actors. Next date: December 10. The International Observatory for Participatory Democracy, which brings together communities and experts from all over the world, will welcome the public at its metropolitan headquarters on that day. This will allow Nicolas Chartrain ” come and discuss with the citizens “.

“Promises are hard to keep”

We ask his approach. “ I did not agree to participate in the adventure to make some additions”, he says. This 48-year-old freelance web consultant said yes because she believes she has a role to play in the public debate. Always better to say However, he has no illusions like the others. “I saw how the climate convention ended at the national level. » He understood that many of the recommendations had not been adopted, particularly when the Climate and Sustainability Act was voted on in 2021, while the executive had previously ensured otherwise. The head of state even confirmed that he wants to deal with the whole issue.” without filter “.

“It’s easy to make promises, he admits but they are harder to catch. » And to add: “We know that money does not fall from the sky and certain choices have to be made…” Nicolas knows this well not everything can be done”. Especially among the 219 events where regional convention participants volunteered as a priority “recommendations from the regional level”. But the idea is elsewhere. Rather, he wants elected officials to embrace the Convention’s ideas so that they can bring them to public debate if they are deemed to have impact and be beneficial to the Grenoble area and the surrounding area. Nicolas says that therefore he will need “good” reasons in case of refusal or political “joke”, to use Emmanuel Macron’s formula when he rejects certain ideas at the traditional, national level.

“I’m listening, no barking”

In other words, Nicolas envisions a discussion of ideas and society in which we can discuss political orientations after weighing the impact (positive or negative) of the recommendations of a citizens’ convention. A calm, useful, constructive discussion. Finally, as he was able to benefit during the various working sessions held among the members of the convention last year.

“We were listeningsaid not barking. » There were men and women of all ages and professions, covering all areas, from the city center of Grenoble to the more rural municipalities. Like many people who aren’t necessarily, he explains: ” extensive environmental baggage “, at the beginning. However, talking to experts such as Gerhard Krinner, author and member of the IPCC, theoretical astrophysicist at CNRS PierreYves Longaretti or Sandra Rome, a member of the Institute of Urban Planning and Alpine Geography – all were aware of the magnitude of the task due to the climate emergency. As well as the effects that are already felt on a daily basis. ” this summer notes, we were working in hot weather, it was not very pleasant. But it reminded us why we are together. » All these elements may have helped them” move the lines and finding a common language, those of diverse and diverse backgrounds. Because it is clear that we must act as soon as possible Now », not in 2050.

♦ (re)read the article: Citizen Baubri wants to convince people of climate emergency

More efficient public transport

First of all, the land and forests that are victims of fires in France are becoming weaker and weaker with the increase of the average temperature and the protection of infinity. The goal of the game: capture and store carbon, on the one hand, and emit less and less, on the other.

This includes transport, which accounts for 30% of GHG emissions in the area. Especially the use of a private car. Nicholas remembers meeting others “epic discussions”because the ambition is to be able to find solutions to limit the impact while sharing the effort among everyone. “We must manage to reduce the number of trips by car, but especially without forcing residents of remote municipalities. Many need it to get around.

We can achieve this especially by developing public transport. Nicholas remembers the controversy over free admission. “I’m not in favor of it, but we thought we could offer it to the youngest first. » As with weekends, a certain number of municipalities, such as Clermont-Ferrand, have already been established. Difficulty, above all: supply, regularity, etc. progress in terms of “Strengthen access lines to the mountain”.

Municipalities with more vegetation

Citizens also recommend that parents have an alternative and accompany their children to school. develop concept of pedestrian and bicycle buses ». Promoting the practice of sharing electric and non-electric vehicles is also a focus, for example, allowing area residents to leave their cars in the garage for a little longer. The goal, always: to encourage people to change their daily habits, without limits.

First of all, being aware of the consequences that the implementation of such and such measure may cause. Nicholas talks about the greening of cities. It is especially necessary in case of strong heat. “But if we put greenery everywhere, we would lack manpower to maintain all these places. » Thus, the Convention proposes to recruit “the people who run the plants », especially through cooperation with the Pôle emploi or zero long-term unemployed area. It is also important for the thermal repair of buildings, which is also important. Ambition: To support individuals and companies. And “support real professional sectors in home improvement”.

“We wanted to send strong signals,” he concludes. A few weeks after the publication of the Congress report, he assures us to calmly await the return of the politicians. He will follow the debates closely… ♦

Bonuses

• Civil Convention. It offers 219 so-called priority measures (which received at least 60% of the participants’ votes during internal voting) covering many areas. Especially the economy, the business world can reduce carbon impact.

Challenge: help resettle the area as much as possible, promote more local, healthier and environmentally friendly agriculture. The idea is also to encourage a diet with less meat and more vegetables. And to stop continuing on the path of overconsumption. The purpose of the operation: do it without new and if possible, for second hand, why not for rent.

Find all offers here.