Climate Action discussion groups are over – find out what’s next

Citizen’s group discussion

Between September 2023 and April 2024, Debating Europe ran four online focus group series (small and facilitated citizen group discussion) to discuss four strands of the EU missions on climate action. 160 citizens supported the efforts to a green future by sharing their views, ideas and solutions on:

1. Transforming our Cities: Cities play a crucial role in achieving climate neutrality (net zero greenhouse gas emissions) by 2050. Cities consume over 65% of the world’s energy and account for more than 70% of global CO2 emissions. What is your city doing to become climate neutral? How can business, citizens and the European Union help?

2. Living with Climate Change: Despite continuing efforts to reduce emissions we are still off-track from reaching our climate targets and as the planet continues to warm we will need to adapt our lives to  the inevitable effects of climate change. Are you ready to live with the effects of climate change? What can government, businesses and citizens do to make the necessary changes? 

3. A Healthy Soil for Europe: Healthy soils are indispensable for food security, clean water, biodiversity conservation, and to mitigate climate change. They underpin our cultural heritage and are a cornerstone of our economy. We can’t live without food – as simple as that!

4. Protect our Ocean and Waters: Oceans and waters are a singular, interconnected system, facing many threats —ranging from pollution and overfishing to habitat destruction and the impacts of climate change. Once again, we cannot imagine a world without clean water – as simple as that!

Citizen-focused debates

1. Easy move: Smoother Journeys, Better Cities, Happier Citizens: focusing on the EU mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, our esteemed speakers Valentin Lungenstrass, Deputy-Mayor of Lyon, France, Philipp Rode, Executive Director & Associate Professor, LSE and Ivo Petrov, Citizen and part of Debating Europe’s Community, dive into the future of mobility to make our cities smarter, cleaner, and more livable. Watch the full discussion here.
2. EU’s Road to Fair Climate Adaptation: Citizen Voices and Local Impact: exploring innovative approaches to climate justice, Sofia Hedén, Deputy-Mayor of Malmö, Sweden, Marine Cornelis, Founder of Next Energy Consumer & Energ’Ethic and Micol Sagal Ambroso, Citizen, Citizen and part of the Debating Europe’s Community, discuss ways to ensure a resilient and fair future for communities across Europe. Watch the full discussion here.

About the SSH Centre project:

The SSH CENTRE project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101069529 and from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee [grant No 10038991].