We know, that we are in a crisis and we know why. In theory, we also know how to stop it. But there are still many questions that remain unanswered. What are the effects on society, how well are we prepared for the crisis and how can we shape a climate neutral future that everyone agrees on and everyone looks forward to? What is the relation to other emerging crisis, how do they interact and can we solve each of them on their own?
For the start of the next semester, we have a lunch seminar series covering different aspects of the climate crisis. We want to cover a broad range of topics from the natural and societal effects (tipping points, climate displacement), how we can prepare for the crisis (natural hazard protection, climate smart cities), how we can stop it (hard to abate sectors, international aviation and shipping, what system we need for that) and how it relates to wars, capitalism and nationalism. Of course, we do not have the expertise in all of these areas, so we want to invite you to share your expertise with a group of interested people.
Each session starts with several 5-10 minute presentations about the different topics covered in that session. After the first 30-45 minutes we pen the floor for discussion, explore how the presentations relate to each other and what questions remain. After 1 hour we end the official part and people can just hang out with coffee and keep discussing.
The target group: The sessions are aimed at people from bachelor’s to post-doc level from all disciplines but of course everyone is welcome. We want to talk about climate science topics, engineering solutions or struggles, the necessary social and political systems etc. so that people from all disciplines can learn and contribute something.
1st session: 19.09.2025 at 12:15
Consequences of the climate crisis: What changes do we see or expect in nature, society and economy?
- Physical gradual impacts: heat waves, extreme events, droughts, floods, fires
- Tipping points: forest die backs, AMOC
- Societal impacts: climate displacement, climate migration patterns, food insecurity, water shortage
- Economical impacts: limits of insurability, financial crisis through uncertainty
2nd session: 26.09.2025 at 12:15
Crisis preparedness in Europe: what works, what are we doing, what are we missing?
- City-level preparedness: What measures can we take to protect people in cities (sponge city against flooding, trees in cities against heat, climate-smart buildings)?
- early warning systems
- climate adaptation in the agricultural sector: resilient crops, crop insurance
- resilience of the energy sector: hydropower in decadal drought, cooling systems for nuclear energy
3rd session: 03.10.2025 at 12:15
Climate mitigation: How do we solve the problem? Which parts do we not know how to solve?
- Overview: How do we decarbonise in different sectors (Energy, agriculture and food systems)?
- Hard to abate sectors: Which ideas are around to decarbonise steel and cement industry, aviation, shipping? What do we know about how well they work?
- Other greenhouse gasses: where do we stand with CH4 and N2O emissions?
- International perspective: How do European emissions, technology and ideas compare with other countries and how is the world developing in those aspects outside our European bubble?
- Money: What industries do we finance right now, where do we need more money and how do we leverage more money for the right projects?
4th session 10.10.2025 at 12:15
Crisis combined: The climate crisis is not the only disaster in the world right now. But many crisis are reinforcing each other – or maybe they have the same origin?
- Nationalism: Is the increased nationalism a result of climate impacts, climate migration and the fear of the future or a result of a shift in economy and social values caused by climate mitigation measures?
- War and autocracy: Do climate impacts increase the shift towards autocracies? How much carbon emissions are caused by war? How much do autocracies emit vs democracies?
- Capitalism: the cause of all evil?
5th session 17.10.2025 at 12:15
The session for hope: What have we achieved already? What projects are there, that are fighting the climate crisis? How can we further engage?