Stockholm Series #4 with Luisa Neubauer – video and manuscript
The dual imperative of defending democracy and safeguarding our planet was the topic of the fourth event in the Stockholm Series of Public Lectures on Climate Change and Democracy, which took place on 5 December 2024 at International IDEA’s Headquarters in Stockholm, with Luisa Neubauer.
The video recording and the lecture manuscript are now available. What is more, we interviewed Luisa for a podcast episode.
Luisa Neubauer is a climate justice activist and key organizer of the German climate movement, and author of four best-selling books on justice and climate. In her lecture, Luisa presented “Ten theses on the age of collapse”. Drawing on six years of activism, and her recent experience of travelling the United States ahead of November’s presidential elections, Luisa’s lecture revolved around how our societies are characterized by crises of hope and of truth, how fossil fuel industries and authoritarian powers are on the same side, and the need for synergetic solutions to come to terms with both the climate crisis and the crisis of democracy.
The lecture was followed by a conversation with Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of International IDEA, moderated by Alistair Scrutton, Head of Communications and Knowledge Management at International IDEA. The discussion touched on the need to improve and utilize existing democratic institutions and mechanisms rather than inventing new ones, redefining the task of scientists to not only produce research but also make sure it is being received by those in power, and the importance of not shying away from disagreements while searching for common ground.
“Whoever claims to protect democracy to the expense of a few more climate disasters, whoever claims to protect the climate to the expense of our biodiversity, of human rights, of Indigenous rights—might have to be asked to think again.”
About the authors
