Children and young people’s assemblies against the backdrop of the European Green Deal: opportunities for consolidating and extending a sustainable and democratic transition

The European Green Deal sets out a framework of far-reaching policy commitments in response to climate breakdown and biodiversity loss. Drawing on a qualitative study exploring a children and young people’s citizens’ assembly on biodiversity loss which took place in Ireland in 2022, this article explores how children and young people position themselves within, and take action to address, these significant global challenges, and how these perspectives and experiences compare and contrast against the theoretical and policy framework underpinning the EGD. The article considers representations and experiences of children within deliberative environmental decision-making, factors shaping effective deliberative democracy, and acts of environmental citizenship across multiple spheres of influence. The article argues that, if it is to fulfil its commitment to place citizens at the heart of the transition, the EGD must ensure children and young people’s participation, and that children’s perspectives can strengthen actions pursued within transformative policy.