Insight Partnership in Action: Citizen Analysis, Well-being Assessments and Climate Risk in North Wales
A pilot to strengthen Well-being Assessments
In 2022, the North Wales Insight Partnership supported an innovative pilot that strengthened how Public Services Boards (PSBs) develop their Well-being Assessments by bringing citizen sense-making directly into the interpretation of climate evidence.
From consultation to citizen co-analysis
Led by the Civic Mission Team at Wrexham University (enabled by Dr Ann Collis, Pink Gold), in collaboration with the North Wales Insight Partnership and supported by Natural Resources Wales, the project piloted a new approach known as citizen analysis. Rather than consulting on pre-formed proposals, citizens worked as co-analysts, engaging directly with climate data and information relevant to PSB Well-being Assessments.
A diverse group of citizen analysts from across North Wales explored evidence on climate change, emissions, travel and water—surfacing how different experiences shape the way risks, priorities and trade-offs are understood. This provided PSBs with a richer evidence base, complementing quantitative datasets with insight into how communities interpret risk, responsibility and future impact.
What it revealed for prevention and place-based action
The findings directly informed problem framing for Well-being Assessments, highlighting the need for prevention-focused action, long-term decision-making beyond electoral cycles, and place-based responses that recognise poverty, inequality and access to services. Participants consistently called for practical action, clearer communication and local solutions—such as community energy, transport and nature-based approaches—that align with multiple Well-being Goals.
Link to the NWCCRA and what it enabled next
This work represented an early precursor to the North Wales Climate Change Risk Assessment (NWCCRA). It demonstrated the value of combining national climate science with local service knowledge and citizen insight—an approach now embedded at scale through the NWCCRA partnership model.
As captured through Agenda Cymru, the Citizen Analysis pilot shows how the North Wales Insight Partnership acts as enabling infrastructure: developing new methods, strengthening collaboration across PSBs and improving the quality, legitimacy and impact of Well-being Assessments across the region.
3 headline insights
- From consultation to co-analysis – Citizens worked directly with climate evidence, strengthening PSB Well-being Assessments with lived insight and shared sense-making.
- Better insight leads to better prevention – The work highlighted the need for long-term, preventative action that tackles inequality and climate risk together.
- A foundation for regional climate collaboration – This pilot directly informed the collaborative model now being scaled through the North Wales Climate Change Risk Assessment.