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Euractiv Events

How to talk climate? Engaging all EU citizens in the climate discussion

16-12-2020

How to talk climate?  Engaging all EU citizens in the climate discussion

WATCH THE RECORDING HERE



Climate science and technology are complex topics with a high potential for controversy. But ensuring people adequately understand the climate challenges is an essential element of the global response to the climate crisis.

More than ever before, the European Commission is driving Europe's ambition to lead the fight against climate change. The European Green Deal announced by Commission President Von der Leyen in December 2019 is testament to that. As part of the Green Deal, the Commission launched a European Climate Pact to give everyone a voice and space to design new climate actions, share information, launch grassroots activities and showcase solutions that others can follow.

Whereas many EU citizens understand the urgency of global warming, the topic highlights certain social and economic divides. For example, the less privileged can perceive the debate as elitist. While the happy few worry about the end of the world, the majority worries about the end of the month, as was witnessed during the Gilet Jaunes movement in France.

'Climate literacy' is playing an increasingly important role in helping citizens to understand the issues and orient them towards action and social change. Inaccessible language and the failure to create an inclusive debate around climate change risks delaying citizen engagement and action.

Join this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to discuss how the strengthening of climate education and engagement can be one of the most effective ways to achieve carbon-neutral societies by 2050. And who should take the lead.....policymakers, teachers, media, climate activists?

Supported by:

EIT Climate-KIC

Location

Online

Panellists

Clara De La Torre, Deputy Director-General, DG CLIMA, European Commission
Lídia Pereira, MEP, European Parliament
George Marshall, Founding Director, Climate Outreach
Julia Fiedorczuk, writer and lecturer, School of Ecopoetics (Szkola Ekopoetyki) at Warsaw’s Institute of Reportage
Julian Popov, former Minister of Environment of Bulgaria, member of the Advisory Council of EIT Climate-KIC

Moderator

Brian Maguire, Journalist, EURACTIV

Schedule

16:00 - 16:05 Welcome and house rules
16:05 - 16:20 Panellists statements
16:20 - 17:10 Moderated discussion and Q&A
17:10 - 17:15 Closing statements

Contact

Matea Krivanek
matea.krivanek@euractiv.com

Related article

Green transition ‘has to happen locally’, EU Commission says

Green transition ‘has to happen locally’, EU Commission says

The green transition needs to happen at a local level, with citizens engaged in climate activism and policy, the European Commission said at the launch of the Climate Pact on Wednesday (16 December).