FORUM ON EUROPEAN CULTURE
31 may - 4 june 2023
Climate change is a European reality. Ece Temelkuran is a prominent Turkish journalist, author, and political commentator on climate change and its impact on societies around the world. In her writings and speeches, Temelkuran emphasizes the urgent need for global action to address this existential threat to humanity. She will be discussing the dilemma of climate democracy with writer Eva Rovers and Clare Farrell, co-founder of Extinction Rebellion.
Europe has set ambitious climate targets, including reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and reducing emissions by at least 55% by 2030 relative to 1990 levels. In any event, the question remains whether these targets will be met in time to mitigate the impacts of climate change. While some propose new institutional forms of public consultation to circumvent political inactivity, others believe it is necessary to act more quickly. During this programme, the following question will be examined: can we save the planet without breaking the (political) system?
At the start of the programme, Loes Damhof will guide the audience through an interactive thought experiment. Based on the principles of Futures Literacy – a capability developed by UNESCO- the audience and panelist will explore multiple futures and identify their assumptions on democracy and agency. Reframed based on those assumptions they are invited to view the debate through a different lens. What does agency mean when we question our assumptions? With This quick democratic flex is followed by Ece Temelkuran’s keynote address and the successive panel discussion with Eva Rovers and Clare Farell.
