Climate Change and Democracy: Economic, Social, and Political Challenges

Europe aims to be climate neutral by 2050 and cut its greenhouse gas emissions by around 55 percent by 2030. Germany and the European Union have both announced targets for climate neutrality and decarbonization. The climate action needed to achieve them – phasing out coal, higher CO₂ prices, and massive investment across almost all sectors, among other things – nevertheless creates some fundamental governance and distribution problems.

Democratic political institutions are working against the clock to drive transformation, mobilize resources, distribute burdens, and balance conflicting goals. What are the effects of this pressure for change on the stability and innovativeness of our model of society and the democratic system?

We are inviting experts, stakeholders, and members of the public to discuss this question with us at the MPIfG’s 15th Annual Colloquium.

For this year’s event we are looking forward to welcoming Michèle Knodt (TU Darmstadt) as our opening speaker and contributors including Rebecca Elliot (London School of Economics), MPIfG alums Roland Czada (Osnabrück University), Reiner Grundmann (University of Nottingham), and Andrés López Rivera (University of Hamburg). We will also be hosting a fireside chat with Philippa Sigl-Glöckner (Dezernat Zukunft) and talking with representatives from politics, business, and associations about the specific challenges they face under the pressure of adapting to climate change.