Today’s Solutions: April 04, 2025

By now we’re all aware that democracy has some pretty big flaws. But that doesn’t mean it’s absolutely hopeless. Just look at Ireland’s bottom-up approach to policymaking, which is helping to spur real change on the country’s most contentious issues. Ireland has what’s called The Citizens’ Assembly, in which 99 randomly selected citizens are tasked with weighing in on a particular issue and creating recommendations for how to deal with it. The Citizens’ Assembly spearheaded Ireland’s vote to overturn an abortion ban in 2018, as well as a vote to allow same-sex marriage in 2015. Now a new assembly, which was given the latest and greatest in climate change research, has put together 13 recommendations for how the government should deal with climate change. How closely the government sticks to these recommendations will have to be seen, but the structure of Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly could become a model for other nations to create a more participatory democracy—one in which the people have a greater say when it comes to climate action.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

Friendships across income lines boost social mobility, study shows

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A new study has found that friendships bridging economic divides can meaningfully improve social mobility—and even boost future ...

Read More

New cat color unlocked: ’salty liquorice’ sheds light on feline genetics

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a surprising turn for feline genetics, scientists have officially identified a new cat coat color that defies ...

Read More

3 myths about self-help and personal growth we should all stop believing

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When you hear the term "self-help," you may envision a stack of books with catchy, motivational titles. However, ...

Read More

Do you have a toxic friend? A therapist’s advice on how to set boundaries 

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Friendships can be a source of joy and comfort, but unfortunately, even the most intimate connections can become toxic. ...

Read More