Conflict and Climate Justice
The purpose of this seminar is to focus on how climate change and the
related policy measures are creating new conflict thresholds and
precedents that require increased attention from both the academia and
the policy world. The seminar aims to answer the following questions:
- How is climate change leading to new conflicts?
- How is climate change exacerbating existing global inequalities?
- How is climate change creating new resources and leverages for developed and developing countries?
- How is climate change highlighting new ideas and opportunities for conflict management?
To answer these questions, the seminar aims to look at concepts of
justice and discuss what it means for mitigating/adapting to climate
change. The different concepts of justice and fairness define how
conflicts are developed and managed. In addition, the seminar will
discuss the value driven concept of the global common good as a guiding
framework for how we want to live a good life as society. In detail, two
examples of country/culture specific value concepts/philosophies such
as “buen vivir” (Latinamerica) and “Ubuntu” (Africa) will be introduced.
As practical entry points, case studies of how climate justice is
negotiated in each of the specific partner countries will be presented.
Having discussed concrete case studies of climate change, especially
regarding aspects of justice and fairness, the debate of overarching
value frameworks will be linked with how conflict can be managed.
Finally, the seminar will answer the guiding questions: how can we
achieve global climate justice? Where are the entry points in each and
everyone´s social and professional environment? And how does a
discussion of values help initiate action and resolve conflicts?
Why is the topic so relevant as topic and as challenge?
Climate change is one of the most urgent, complex and demanding
challenges global society has to deal with. We believe that a discussion
on values, value frameworks and a focus on common values will allow the
participants to better understand underlying values that drive action.
Identifying joint values and focusing on the “good life” allows to
envision positive utopias of our society. Only when we are able to
picture a positive future, it is able to work towards this
transformation.
Learning Outcomes:
This module will combine theory and practice as well as the global
and the local level. We will discuss theoretical concepts of justice and
value frameworks and apply this to challenges of climate change.
Additionally, we will discuss theoretical ideas of culturally and
country specific value frameworks and apply this on concrete case
studies or best practices regarding climate change. Participants will
gain knowledge on the global challenge climate change with a focus on
questions of justice. With this knowledge they will look at their local
context and analyse which values underlie specific best practices or
case studies regarding climate change from their home countries. At the
end participants will be able to identify what values underly certain
discussions regarding mitigation/adaptation to climate change in their
home countries. They will also have discussed how this inspires action.
At the end of this module, participants will have gained the following skills: They are able to:
- Distinguish different concepts of justice in the context of climate change
- have an overview of values relevant to discuss climate justice
- Awareness of different concepts of how values emerge
- Networks as a laboratory/ suitable space to negotiate values
- Networks as an instrument to negotiate and resolve conflicts
- Identify leverage points in own institution/social environment to trigger a discussion of values in order to create action
