Bürgerrat Klima:
A Citizens’ Assembly on Climate for Germany

The final report, »Recommendations for the German climate policy«

Climate assembly design for Germany’s first Citizens’ Assembly on Climate required a visual identity system spanning print, digital, and spatial applications. Germany is a signatory to the Paris Agreement on climate protection and wants to contribute to limiting the global rise in temperature to 1.5 degrees centigrade. In order to reach this target, the German Bundestag passed a climate protection law in 2019. However, it is uncertain that Germany will be able to achieve its climate targets through this law alone.

A complex selection process formed Germany’s first Citizens’ Assembly on Climate to develop pathways toward a climate-friendly way of living and doing business. In a non-partisan and open setting, 160 randomly selected citizens representing society as a whole discussed how Germany could meet its climate protection targets in a fair way. The assembly focused on four key topics: transportation, buildings and heating, energy production, and food.

Patron Horst Köhler holding the final report publication

The patron of the Citizens’ Assembly on Climate was former German President Prof. Dr. Horst Köhler. An alliance of civil society organisations supported the project throughout its duration. The German Citizens’ Assembly on Climate was organised by BürgerBegehren Klimaschutz e.V.

The bespoke logo and wordmark for Bürgerrat Klima

The Citizens’ Assembly on Climate project was officially launched in December 2020 when Scientists for Future called for a broad, democratic and participatory involvement of the public in shaping and securing the future before the end of 2021.

Members of Bürgerrat Klima holding a banner in front of the Reichstagsgebäude

During the coalition negotiations for Germany’s new federal government, the Citizens’ Assembly ensured that policymakers heard and considered the public’s recommendations.

The Bürgerrat Klima brochure making its way to the Reichstag

Together with Parat.cc, we developed a holistic visual identity for the project. We designed the icon, wordmark, website, and printed matter, creating a climate assembly design system that connected all media. We also created a striking and far-reaching social media campaign and produced environmental graphics and the final Citizens’ Report, ultimately placing the work in front of leading policymakers.

Various icons and pictograms created for the project
Infographics and visual language of Bürgerrat Klima
Various social media ads
Various social media ads

Client:

 BürgerBegehren Klimaschutz e.V. (BBK)

Partners:

 Parat.cc, Studio Tillack Knöll

Studio Tillack Knöll is a multicreative design practice that concerns itself with the visual and spatial aspects of communication. We design exhibitions, wayfinding systems, books, posters and cultural identities for a variety of clients involved in architecture, art, science and commerce to cultural institutions and NGOs.