Democracy & Climate
Abstract
Decision-makers worldwide face significant challenges in swiftly and fairly responding to the climate and ecological crisis. Existing systems of governance, including those in Europe, have proven inadequate in delivering timely and comprehensive policy responses. Moreover, they have sometimes struggled to effectively involve citizens in decision-making, contributing at times to a lack of trust in both processes and outcomes. At the same time, democratic institutions, processes, and norms are under growing pressure, marking a prolonged period of democratic decline. This talk will explore how we can achieve successful and inclusive climate transitions, as outlined in the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement, while strengthening democratic governance. It will discuss the role democratic innovations such as citizens’ assemblies can play in creating the conditions for more inclusive climate transitions.
Bio
Dr. Diarmuid Torney is an associate professor in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University and Director of the DCU Centre for Climate and Society. His research focuses on climate change politics, policy, and governance. He is coordinator of a Horizon Europe project focused on strengthening democratic governance for climate transitions called RETOOL (www.retoolproject.eu).