Marsilius Bridge Seminar Winter Semester 2022/2023
Political Action and Economic Activity for Sustainability: The Bioeconomy Perspective

Different governments, international and civil society organizations emphasize that ambitious political action is needed to address rampant environmental degradation, climate change, and resource depletion. As for the EU, a series of policy solutions have been proposed to achieve a transition towards sustainability. Initiatives such as the EU Bioeconomy Strategy or the newly launched European Green Deal aim to address these issues and to put the EU on a path towards sustainability. However, these initiatives have been criticized for lacking ambition as well as their over-emphasis on unabated green growth, leaving questions related to North-South inequalities open for debate.
This seminar will give participants the latest insights into the ongoing sustainability debate and the different political actions taken on EU level toward this endeavor. More specifically, it will assess and reflect on the different national and international policies and strategies on bioeconomy, with a specific focus on the actor networks and their strategies, as well as on debates on inequalities from a global perspective.
The seminar participants will:

– gain knowledge of current political and societal debates and interdisciplinary research on sustainability, with a particular focus on the bioeconomy

– get an overview of different schools of thought, theoretical perspectives and analyses of sustainability (e.g., polycentric governance and ecology of games)

Participants will complete an interactive assignment focused on actors and networks in global bioeconomy strategies. Teaching by teacher: Preparation of class via assigned academic and non-academic readings/podcasts/videos, teaching methods: inputs by teachers, group work, discussions.

Dr. Alex Giurca, Umweltwissenschaften/Umweltpolitik

Jun.-Prof. Dr. Rosa Lehmann, Ibero-American Studies/Geography

Prof. Dr. Jale Tosun, Politikwissenschaft

Colloquium 25th and 26th of October 2022
Climate change mitigation and adaptation policies: actors, interrelationships, inequalities, and conflicts in Chile

Our research project together with the Heidelberg Center Latin America and the Heidelberg Center for Ibero-American Studies (HCIAS) organized the Research colloquium on “Climate change mitigation and adaptation policies: actors, interrelationships, inequalities, and conflicts in Chile”, on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at the Heidelberg Center Latin America in Santiago de Chile.

The colloquium provided a space for networking and discussion of relevant issues regarding climate change in Chile. It was also a great way to connect participants with similar research interests.

In addition, a workshop was held on October 25, 2022 for doctoral and master’s students in the final phase who investigate the political and social dynamics of climate change mitigation and adaptation.