Policy panel co-organised with FEPS

This policy panel is co-organised with the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) in the context of the Interdisciplinary conference on European Advanced Studies (IDEAS). 

The structural transformation of our economic systems to a state that no longer inflicts harm on climate and environmental systems provides opportunities to also tackle multidimensional inequalities. Some observers have suggested that environmental destruction and increasing inequalities stem from the same causes, policies and ideas. In this context, inequalities are not only limited to economic issues but can also pertain to unequal access and visibility with regards to decision making in climate policies and to the unequal suffering of adverse effects from the climate crisis and environmental degradation. Policy discussions in Europe and across the world have started to incorporate the inequality dimension through concepts such as the “just transition” and “climate justice”. Notably, these concepts go beyond compensatory measures and consider the reduction of inequalities as a necessary condition for climate action. At the EU level, proposals for a Social Climate Fund and Just Transition Mechanism seek to integrate an inequalityfocused perspective by including policies such as investments in affordable energy and transport systems as well as industrial and labour market policies that aim at providing low carbon employment. Currently, these initiatives are, however, still being debated and contested. Hence, there is value in further specifying the design and the interplay of policies that can be both environmentally friendly and help reduce inequalities. The panel will look at climate policies that help reduce inequalities across multiple levels of governance and integrate perspectives from policymakers, academics and civil society.  

Programme

15:30 – 15:35 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS  | Chair: Laszlo Andor, FEPS Secretary General

15:35 – 15:55  KEYNOTE | Diederik Samsom (Head of Cabinet of Frans Timmermans, European Commission) 

16:00 – 17:00 DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE POLICY 

Discussant: Andreas Dimmelmeier, Policy Analyst, FEPS   

  • Javi Lopez, Member of the European Parliament (ES, chair of PES Environment, Climate Change & Energy Network). 
  • Stéphanie Lepczynski, Cabinet member of the Secretary of State, Brussels Capital Region, Responsible for Economic Transition and Scientific Research
  • Félix Mailleux, Advisor on Climate, Energy and Industrial Policies, ETUC
  • Chiara Armeni, Professor, Université libre de Bruxelles  

 17:00 – 17:30 Q&A  

17:30 – 17:40 CONCLUDING REMARKS   | Andreas Dimmelmeier, Policy Analyst, FEPS  

Registration

The registrations for this event are now closed. The session will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel. 

 

 

Photos and videos will be taken during the panel and potentially used post-event. Please let the organisers know if you do not wish to be filmed or photographed.