Annual Conference 2023

Annual Conference 2023
"The Failure of Green Capitalism:
Findings, Objections, Alternatives"

Humanities Centre for Advanced Studies
"Futures of Sustainability: Modernization, Transformation, Control"
Universität Hamburg, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, 20146 Hamburg

14 September 2023
04:00 – 08:15 p.m. (CEST): Main Building, Erwin-Panofsky-Hörsaal (Lecture Hall C)
08:15 p.m. (CEST): Evening Reception at Café dell Arte (Building ESA 1 West)
15 September 2023
09:30 a.m. – 05:00 p.m. (CEST): Building ESA 1 West, Room 221

Abstract

Green capitalism promises to tackle the ecological crisis through technical innovations and market-based instruments. The idea behind this is that further growth and the global expansion of markets, production and consumption can be reconciled with the requirements of climate and species protection through ecological modernization.

However, the record of this promise so far looks more than sobering. Since the concepts of green growth and ecologically oriented markets were developed more than 20 years ago, the destruction of ecosystems has continued at the same rate and in some cases even accelerated. Typical instruments of green capitalism such as emissions trading, sustainability certifications, or sustainable consumption have largely failed or at least have not been able to stop climate change so far. Rather, they have been criticized for perpetuating unsustainable economies and lifestyles and creating new injustices. Effective means to prevent fossil energy companies from further investing billions in the exploration and exploitation of new deposits are missing. Similarly, green capitalism fails to create the necessary social conditions for a socio-ecological transformation: While the world is shaken by numerous ecological crises, social inequality is deepening on a hitherto unprecedented scale. This strengthens right-wing populist movements, parties and governments that oppose internationally agreed climate and nature protection measures and campaign against green policies.

The 2023 Annual Conference of our Humanities Centre for Advanced Studies “Futures of Sustainability” will discuss this failure of green capitalism together with internationally renowned experts and distinguished voices. We also want to give a voice to opposing opinions, which rely on the realistic enforceability of ecological modernization. Finally, the complex question arises, how alternatives to green capitalism might look like without falling prey to illusions or false conclusions.

Registration closed

Please note that the Conference will be held in German all day on 14 September and in English all day on 15 September (due to international participation).

Registration is closed: As this is an on-site Conference, we kindly ask for your understanding that only a limited number of places are available.

In case of organizational questions, please send an e-mail to: zukuenfte.der.nachhaltigkeit"AT"uni-hamburg.de

Thursday, 14 September 2023 (in German)

03:30 p.m., Arrival and Registration

04:00 p.m., Welcome and Introduction:
Sighard Neckel (Spokesperson Humanities Centre for Advanced Studies "Futures of Sustainability")

04:15 p.m.
Hermann Held (Universität Hamburg, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability)
"Möglichkeiten und Grenzen des grünen Kapitalismus im Schatten des Klimaproblems" (Video on YouTube)
Discussion

05:00 p.m.
Chair: Philipp Degens ("Futures of Sustainability")
Nina Treu (Greenpeace Germany, Hamburg)
"System Change – Warum es statt grünem Kapitalismus einer sozial-ökologischen Transformation bedarf" (Video on YouTube)

Chair: Sarah Lenz ("Futures of Sustainability")
Ralf Fücks (Zentrum Liberale Moderne, Berlin)
"Grüner Kapitalismus – was sonst?!" (Video on YouTube)

06:15 p.m., Coffee Break

06:45 p.m., Podium Discussion
Chair: Tanja Busse (Journalist and Author, Hamburg)
Hermann Held (Universität Hamburg, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability)
Nina Treu (Greenpeace Germany, Hamburg)
Ralf Fücks (Zentrum Liberale Moderne, Berlin)
Sighard Neckel ("Futures of Sustainability")

08:15 p.m., Evening Reception at Café dell Arte (Switch to the Building ESA 1 West)

Friday, 15 September 2023 (in English)

09:00 a.m., Arrival and Registration

09:30 a.m., Keynote
Chair: Sighard Neckel ("Futures of Sustainability")
Andreas Malm (Lund University):
"Overshoot: Climate Politics When It's Too Late" (Video on YouTube)
Discussion

11:00 a.m., Coffee Break

11:15 a.m.
Chair: Sarah Lenz ("Zukünfte der Nachhaltigkeit")
Iris Hilbrich ("Futures of Sustainability")
"Geoengineering the Climate: Sociotechnical Imaginaries between Normalization and ‘Emancipatory Catastrophism’"
Discussion

12:00 a.m., Coffee Break

12:15 p.m., Keynote
Chair: Philipp Degens ("Futures of Sustainability")
Adrienne Buller (Common Wealth, London)
"Green capitalism: impossible, inevitable?" (Video on YouTube)
Discussion

01:15 p.m., Lunch Break

02:15 p.m., Keynote
Chair: Benno Fladvad (Universität Hamburg, Institute for Geography)
Chantal Mouffe (University of Westminster, London)
"A Left Populist Strategy for a Green Democratic Revolution" (Video on YouTube)
Discussion

03:45 p.m., Coffee Break

04:00 p.m.
Chair: Sarah Lenz ("Futures of Sustainability")
Christa Wichterich (Global Partnership Network, Universität Kassel)
"Caring for the future and the right to say no. Feminist Perspectives on Care, Commons and Enough"
Discussion

04:45 p.m.,Closing Remarks
Sighard Neckel ("Futures of Sustainability")

05:00 p.m., End of the Conference