The first Citizens' Assembly in the Middle East discussing energy justice and priorities

Under difficult conditions in Lebanon and the challenges of public gathering in these pandemic times, a pilot of the first Citizens’ Assembly launched with its first session last Friday 23 October. The physical meeting took place under several adaptation measures including a reduction in the number of Members from 50 to 33, covid-screening, social distancing and mask-wearing. To limit the need for overall face to face contact, the sessions were also reduced to two hours spread over three days, with digital engagement with presentations and material in the interim periods between each session.

During the first session of the Citizens’ Assembly on energy justice, expert speakers faced challenging and insightful questions from 33 members of the public selected to represent the Hamra neighbourhood population.

Ziad Aburish, a historian, presented a historical account of the establishment of EDL, the leading electricity company. Jessica Obeid, an energy expert, set the scene with basic facts of the electricity sector, and the budget deficit caused by energy subsidies. RELIEF Centre community research coordinator Mayssa Jallad presented data on electricity supply and costs from the Hamra Neighbourhood. Najat Saliba, a well-known professor in chemistry, discussed the impact the increasing use of diesel generators is having on air pollution and public health, especially cancer rates. Videos of all of these presentations are here.

The 33 Assembly Members watched a series of expert presentations setting the scene and informing them of the discussions they will have over the next three sessions in the following week before they make their recommendations on how their community in Hamra and Lebanon can achieve energy justice. The gathered members gave feedback through a range of interesting, challenging and practical questions throughout the session in a Q&A session.

Questions included:

"What does an 'energy regulator’ mean and is it possible actually to have one?

What are the criteria for choosing members and what are the conditions necessary to build trust?"

"What are the mechanisms we need to adopt to reduce pollution?

What are the solutions and practical assumptions that exist?"

"Is the best solutions more privatisation in the electricity sector?"

17% of the Member thoughts Affordability and Responsibility in the energy sector were the two significant dimensions of energy justice that need to be prioritised. While accessibility and sustainability followed with 15% and 13%. We will be exploring these dimensions further in the course of the Assembly to see if there is a change in these priorities as more presentations are viewed.

When Najat Saliba, was asked “Is the best solutions more privatisation in electricity sector?” She answered that she did not believe replacing one large company with fifty smaller companies will solve the energy crisis, and proposed community renewables where residents co-invest in renewable energy to have control over solar energy production eg at the building level.

The 33 Assembly members, specifically selected to reflect the community in Hamra across characteristics like age, gender, and nationality before they started the process, have agreed to commit eight hours of their time and energy to hear expert evidence and deliberate on electricity and energy justice.

The Citizens’ Assembly will result in a report. The Assembly was organised by the RELIEF Centre and AUB Issam Fares Institute. The RELIEF Centre is a partnership between University College London, American University of Beirut and the Lebanese University of Beirut.

This is the first-ever independent attempt at a citizens’ assembly; the organisers still have to focus on a few key elements particularly helping Members understand and navigate the new hybrid model and working with the members to think of pathways to impact following the recommendations after the CA concludes.

“This type of gathering gives Lebanese youth a voice and space to express their opinions on issues where our opinions have never mattered” Kamal, 33.

“The problem of electricity in Lebanon is a political problem, and the solutions are many, but the state does not want to listen to us and to implement our idea.” Nariman, 56.

“I am amazed that there are people in Lebanon sitting this late at 8 pm discussing these kinds of topics under this much pressure from all angles” Najat Saliba, Professor.

For more information:

Marc Ayoub – +9613589311

Mariam Daher - +96171684284