Climate change is one of the most urgent issues of our time. It crosses cultural, social, political, and economic boundaries, revealing the interdependence of human societies. Addressing its impacts will require unprecedented cooperation and conflict management on local, regional, and global levels, such as intergovernmental efforts to mitigate its effects under future climate scenarios. Climate change also demands individual, collective, institutional, and systemic reflection on our consumption patterns, living practices, and responsibilities—to each other, to ecosystems and diverse species, and to future generations.

The effects of climate change vary by region, amplifying unpredictability. Droughts, floods, hurricanes, and rising sea levels disrupt our sense of place, undermining local knowledge. In the Pacific islands, sea levels are rising; in Southern Africa, droughts are intensifying. India faces erratic rainfall and floods, while Australia and the U.S. West endure prolonged wildfires. Glaciers melt in the Himalayas and Arctic, and desertification spreads in the Middle East and West Sahel. These local impacts are part of a global crisis, with causes and effects crossing borders. Yet, communities face unequal burdens in an unequal world.This conference will focus on interdisciplinary, multidimensional, and multi-scalar approaches to understanding climate change and the conflicts it both mirros and generates, with an emphasis on using this knowledge to drive meaningful change.

Schedule:

Thursday October 17th 2024, Gerlinger Lounge

4:00pm: Welcome remarks
4:30pm: Panel 1
6:00-7:30pm: Dinner

Friday October 18th 2024, Global Scholars Hall

8:45am: Coffee and pastries 
9:00-10:15am: Panel 2
10:15am: Break with coffee
10:45-12:00am: Panel 3
12:00-1:30pm: Lunch – Special speaker with Our Children’s Trust
1:30-2:45pm: Panel 4
2:45pm: Break with coffee and treats
3:00-4:15pm: Panel 5

Saturday October 19th, 2024, Global Scholars Hall

8:45am: Coffee and snacks
9:00-10:15: Panel 6
10:15am: Break with coffee
10:45-12:00am: Panel 7
12:00-1:30: Lunch and Discuss: What’s next?

Organizers:

A. Aneesh
Yvonne Braun
Matthias Vogel