Climate citizens’ assemblies and their political systems: a comparative analysis of transmission mechanisms in action

National climate citizens’ assemblies (CCAs) are often praised as democratic innovations capable of enhancing climate policymaking, yet many struggle to translate their recommendations into policy. This paper offers a new perspective on the problem of transmission by introducing a conceptual framework grounded in agonistic political theory. Rather than viewing transmission as a linear, procedural process, we conceptualize it as dynamic and contested, shaped by evolving relationships, institutional conditions, and political uncertainty. Through a comparative analysis of CCAs in Denmark and Scotland, we show that successful transmission depends not only on formal mechanisms but also on the strength of institutional arrangements, shared expectations, and trust between facilitators and commissioning authorities. Our findings highlight the importance of informal dynamics and relational infrastructure in determining whether deliberative outputs gain political traction. For policymakers and practitioners, this underscores the need to support not just design quality but the broader ecosystem in which CCAs operate.