This seminar took place in hybrid format (online and in Brussels) on 20-21 November 2024. It was aimed at Equality Bodies, as well as, European policy-makers and other relevant stakeholders (academics, NGOs, etc.)
Background
Climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges of our time. Its impact is far-reaching, encompassing ecosystems and societies worldwide. However, such universal impact is not distributed equally. Vulnerable groups often bear the brunt of the climate crisis, which exacerbates existing inequalities. Addressing climate change is thus not only an environmental necessity but also a matter of social justice and a guarantee of equality for all.
The link between climate change and equality considerations as well as the need to bridge the gap between these different disciplines has been widely acknowledged globally and at the European level. In 2022, Equinet commissioned a research project on the link between climate change and equality, with a focus on the role Equality Bodies (can) play. More precisely, the report titled Preliminary Assessment of the EU Green Deal’s Impact on Equality. Survey of Current Practices and Needs of European Equality Bodies analyses several specific aspects of the EU Green Deal from an equality perspective and explores the equality aspect of policy domains such as fisheries, energy and transportation. The report discusses the potential role of Equality Bodies when engaging with these specific policies and legislation. As stated in the report, while few Equality Bodies had experience in this field, many of them indicated that they would be interested in building their capacity on issues related to climate change, environmental policies and their impact on equality.
In September 2023, Equinet organized an online roundtable titled The EU Green Deal’s Impact on Equality. Exploring the Role and Potential of Equality Bodies to launch the report and discuss the findings with the authors and multiple stakeholders, highlighting the specific impact of climate change and policy on individuals based on various grounds of discrimination, including gender, race, disability and socio-economic status.
Given the growing interest and urgency to address this topical issue, this two-day-long seminar aims to continue developing and enhancing the knowledge and understanding of Equality Bodies regarding climate change and its impact on equality, discussing avenues to prevent and mitigate climate and social inequality, and fostering dialogue among Equality Bodies, policymakers, experts, and civil society to promote climate justice.
Objectives
This 2-day-long seminar – comprised of presentations and panel discussions as well as interactive sessions – aims to further build awareness and capacity of Equality Bodies regarding the link between climate change and equality policies and issues as well as to develop avenues of action for Equality Bodies in the field of mitigating the climate crisis.
Participants
The target audience of this seminar is Equality Bodies staff members who are already familiar with or are planning to work on the climate/equality nexus. Other than around 20 Equality Bodies representatives, the seminar also aims to welcome international, EU, and national policy-makers, experts and other relevant stakeholders working in the field, such as academics, NGOs, CSOs, among others.
Agenda
Day 1 – 20 November 2024
09:30 – 09:40 Welcoming remarks by Patrick Charlier, Equinet Executive Board Chair and Co-Director of Unia
09:40 – 10:20 Keynote Speech: Climate & Equality, What is the Nexus?
This first introductory, keynote session is aimed to provide the audience with the necessary tools and concepts to familiarize with the key nexus between climate change and equality from an intersectional perspective, understand why climate change does not impact all in the same way and how climate policy tends to reproduce such disproportionate impact.
- Dr. Monika Mayrhofer, Senior Researcher, University of Innsbruck
10:20 – 11:10 Policy and Legal Frameworks: How to Capture this Nexus?
This session is aimed to provide an introduction to and discussion about the main international and EU policy and legal frameworks acknowledging and addressing the climate/equality nexus.
Moderator: Marta Pompili, Policy Officer, Equinet Secretariat
- Ahreum Lee, Human Rights Officer, United Nations Human Rights Regional Office for Europe
- Ursula Till-Tentschert, Project Manager, EU Fundamental Rights Agency
11:40 – 12:30 The Implications of Climate Change on Vulnerable Communities. Equinet’s Report on the EU Green Deal’s Impact on Equality
This session is aimed to present Equinet’s research report Preliminary Assessment of the EU Green Deal’s Impact on Equality. Survey of Current Practices and Needs of European Equality Bodies together with its authors, by focusing on the documented disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups.
- Siel Hoornaert, Katrien van der Heyden and Babs Verhoeve, Authors of the Equinet Report
14:00 – 14:45 Workshop I: Equality Mainstreaming in Climate Policy. Good Practices from Equality Bodies
This first workshop aims to shed a light on what role Equality Bodies can play in mainstreaming an equality perspective in environmental/climate policies and strategies, and in carrying out traditional or innovative actions in a variety of fields. Presentations are aimed to create an interactive discussion.
Moderator: Magdalena Maier, Policy and Legal Trainee, Equinet Secretariat
- Néphèli Yatropoulos, Defender of Rights, France
- Nina Bogunović, Office of the Ombudswoman, Croatia
- Sara Isabel Trindade, Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality, Portugal
15:05 – 15:50 Workshop II: Cooperation between Equality Bodies and Other Stakeholders
This second workshop is aimed to discuss practical avenues for Equality Bodies to potentially cooperate with civil society actors, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders, in order to share data and knowledge as well as to explore common actions. Presentations are aimed to create an interactive discussion.
Moderator: Ilaria De Capitani, Communication Trainee, Equinet Secretariat
- Katharina Rank, Disability Ombudswoman, Austria
- Michaela Ujházyová, National Centre for Human Rights, Slovakia
15:50 – 16:00 Closing remarks by Moana Genevey, Senior Policy Officer, Equinet Secretariat
Day 2 – 21 November 2024
09:30 – 09:40 Welcoming remarks by Tamás Kádár, Co-Director (Operations, Policy and Legal), Equinet Secretariat
09:40 – 10:20 Climate Litigation in Focus and Recent Developments
This session is aimed to present the key role of climate litigation and its recent developments within the ECtHR as well as the implications for future litigation, especially from an equality perspective.
Moderator: Moana Genevey, Senior Policy Officer, Equinet Secretariat
- Natalia Kobylarz, Senior Lawyer, Registry of the European Court of Human Rights
- Nele Schuldt, Doctoral Researcher, Human Rights Centre, University of Ghent
- Mandi Mudarikwa, Head of Strategic Litigation, Amnesty International
10:40 – 11:15 Focus Groups
These focus groups are meant to be break-out sessions, each two happening at the same time, where the audience gathers to discuss the impact of climate change on a specific population group, based on an individual ground of discrimination. An intersectional perspective is anyhow welcome and encouraged in each group, where an initial speech by an expert is meant to stimulate discussion.
Each participant signs up for two focus groups based on their interests and areas of expertise. The focus groups are:
- Gender, by Alexandrina Satnoianu, Campaigns Coordinator, European Institute for Gender Equality
- Age and Disability, by Marie Denninghaus, Senior Policy Coodinator, European Disability Forum and Julia Wadoux, Policy Manager, AGE Platform Europe
- Race and Ethnic Origin, by Bernard Rorke, Advocacy and Policy Manager, European Roma Rights Centre
- Socio-economic Status, by Juliana Wahlgren, Director, European Anti Poverty Network and Veerle Stroobants, Collaborator, Service de lutte contre la pauvreté, la précarité et l’exclusion sociale.
11:50 – 12:00 Closing remarks by Marta Pompili, Policy Officer, Equinet Secretariat
Resources
- Concept Note and Agenda
- Siel Hoornaert, Katrien van der Heyden and Babs Verhoeve, The Importance of Equality and the EU Green Deal
- Nina Bogunović, Equality Mainstreaming in Climate Policy – Examples of good practice
- Ahreum Lee, Policy and Legal Framework: How to Capture this Nexus? Focus on international human rights framework & a human rights-based approach
- Dr. Monika Mayrhofer, Climate change and equality from an intersectional perspective
- Katharina Rank, Cooperation between Equality bodies and Other Stakkeholders
- Nele Schuldt, Climate Litigation in Focus and Recent Developments
- Veerle Stroobants, Climate change and its equality implications in focus: tools for equality
- Ursula Till-Tentschert, Fundamental rights in a just and green transition
- Sara Isabela Trinidade, Tackling Climate Change with Gender Equality
- Michaela Ujházyová, Exploring Climate Change and protection of the environment within EB and NHRI mandates
For further information, contact Marta Pompili (marta.pompili@equineteurope.org) and Magdalena Maier (magdalena.maier@equineteurope.org).