The European Climate Resilience Summit, to be held in Vienna on August 28 and 29, will bring together scientists, experts, and young people from European cities and regions to discuss and debate strategies for creating a more resilient future in the face of advancing climate change. The conference, organized by the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and of Social Sciences, in partnership with the Bertelsmann Stiftung, the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and the European Academies Science Advisory Council, will conclude with a Call to Action and an appeal to set up networks and shape change.
With the effects of climate change becoming more prominent, it is essential for current and future generations to implement a climate resilience strategy. This strategy requires a significant shift in society and the economy towards sustainable lifestyles and production methods. “Innovative and far-reaching measures for protecting the climate must be developed and implemented in overarching solution consortia in Europe’s cities, districts, and regions. Only then will future generations have the opportunity, not only to perceive and comprehend the risks, but also to surmount them,” says Brigitte Mohn, Executive Board Chair of the Bertelsmann Stiftung.
The conference aims to give a voice to local actors, with a focus on young people, and involve them in decision-making processes. The goal is for communities and interest groups to collaborate, share experiences, and establish networks that can take proactive action on a large and local scale. Several mayors of major European cities, including Vienna, Paris, Bologna, Braga, and Cologne, have been invited to participate in the event, given their responsibility in assessing and managing risks at the local level. The Bertelsmann Stiftung will provide its expertise and funding as a conference partner.
The Climate Resilience Strategy is built upon three pillars: cutting global warming, adapting to the effects of climate change, and driving societal change towards sustainability. “Societal change means a fundamental shift in the values and behavior of people towards greater global sustainability,” explains Mohn.
With a focus on intergenerational responsibility, the conference will place young people at the center of discussions. Twelve workgroups will develop recommendations for action, which will be presented in a plenary session as a Call to Action. This Call to Action will serve as a global agenda for change, with multiple partners and allies working towards making young people’s visions and solutions for healthy living a reality.
The Bertelsmann Stiftung, founded as a charitable organization by Reinhard Mohn in 1977, is committed to promoting equal participation in society in all aspects. Their programs focus on education and the next generation, democracy and cohesion, digitization and the common good, Europe’s future, health, and a sustainable social market economy. For media inquiries, please contact Kirsten Witte (kirsten.witte@bertelsmann-stiftung.de) or Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook (cathryn.cluever.ashbrook@bertelsmann-stiftung.de).
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