Скачать или смотреть Democracy on thin ice? Climate & sustainability policy, backlash& the legitimacy challenge in the EU

In this roundtable debate, the panelists examined how the EU can uphold democratic legitimacy while advancing ambitious climate and sustainability policies in times of backlash, polarisation, and democratic backsliding. The discussion highlighted both resilience and vulnerability: the EU continues to expand its environmental governance and democratic experiments, yet faces pressures from authoritarian populism, misinformation, and economic anxieties. Panellists explored citizen participation and assemblies, legal safeguards for democracy, the centrality of justice in the transition, and the global and intergenerational dimensions of legitimacy.

Speakers:
Karin Bäckstrand, Professor in Environmental Social Science, Department of Political Science (Stockholm University)
Frederik Hafen, Senior Policy Officer for Environmental Law and Democracy, European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
Kamila Paquel, Expert, Secretariat to the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC)
Ben Eersels, Executive Director, G1000
Moderator: Louisa Parks, Full Professor of Political Sociology (University of Trento).

Please note that the quality of the video in this recording may be lower than desired due to the nature of it being a Zoom recording. Furthermore, certain sections of the videos have been edited to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of the participants. This has been done with utmost consideration and respect for their rights.

Chapters:
0:00 Welcome & framing the roundtable (Louisa Parks)
3:07 Introducing the panel of speakers
6:07 Karen Bäckstrand: EU democracy & climate governance resilience
20:12 Frederick Harpen: Civil society, participation & citizen washing
31:43 Ben Ersü: Democratic innovation & citizens’ assemblies
38:11 Camila Pels: Just transition, justice & the rule of law
47:19 Lightning round: moving forward under backlash
57:00 Audience Q&A – Is the Green Deal dead?
1:02:56 Including climate skeptics in citizens’ assemblies
1:09:59 Who is the “demos”? Future generations, non-citizens & nature
1:18:06 Final reflections & wrap-up