Slowing Down to Move Together: Democratic  Listening Circles for a Just Transition

Jack  Nicholls; Emilia Melville; Kirsty Tait; Rachel  Moffat; Emma Green; Olivia Sweeney

Slowing Down to Move Together: Democratic Listening Circles for a Just Transition

Jack Nicholls, Emilia Melville, Kirsty Tait, Rachel Moffat, Emma Green, Olivia Sweeney

Research output: Other contribution

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Abstract

We piloted a powerful new approach to public dialogue: a Democratic Listening
Circle, rooted in the Way of Council. This method enables participants to be deeply heard and speak freely, allowing underlying truths and hard tensions around Just Transition to surface - without pre-set agendas or forced consensus.

Our findings show that deep-rooted conflict, mistrust, and polarisation can begin to shift when people are truly listened to. Not just heard but held, with dignity, care, and attention.

Original language	English
Type	Policy Brief
Publisher	University of Bristol
Number of pages	4
Publication status	Published - 1 Jun 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

Just transition
listening practices

Access to Document

Full-text PDF (final published version)Final published version, 4.37 MB

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-library/sites/policybristol/briefings-and-reports-pdfs/2025/Slowing%20Down%20to%20Move%20Together%20Democratic%20Listening%20Circles%20for%20a%20Just%20Transition.pdf

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Cite this

Nicholls, J., Melville, E., Tait, K., Moffat, R., Green, E., & Sweeney, O. (2025, Jun 1). Slowing Down to Move Together: Democratic Listening Circles for a Just Transition. University of Bristol. https://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-library/sites/policybristol/briefings-and-reports-pdfs/2025/Slowing%20Down%20to%20Move%20Together%20Democratic%20Listening%20Circles%20for%20a%20Just%20Transition.pdf

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Nicholls, J, Melville, E, Tait, K, Moffat, R, Green, E & Sweeney, O 2025, Slowing Down to Move Together: Democratic Listening Circles for a Just Transition. University of Bristol. <https://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-library/sites/policybristol/briefings-and-reports-pdfs/2025/Slowing%20Down%20to%20Move%20Together%20Democratic%20Listening%20Circles%20for%20a%20Just%20Transition.pdf>

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