TRAJECTS in the DAAD Global Centres for Climate and Environment Conference. Photography ©DAAD/Stefan Zeitz
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From September 10 to 12, 2024, the Global Centres for Climate and Environment Conference took place in Berlin, organized by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), under the theme "Imaginaries of Climate Futures: Cross-Regional insights to get Knowledge to Action”. During the event, which brought together experts and academics from around the world, several TRAJECTS panelists actively participated in key discussions on global climate challenges and potential solutions for a more sustainable future.
Climate Imaginaries from Latin America
The opening conference featured participation from Dr. Andrea Cardoso of the Universidad del Magdalena, representing Latin America in the roundtable titled "Imaginaries of Climate Futures Around the World: Perspectives from Different Global Centres". In this session, panelists discussed how different regions of the world envision a desirable climate future and the steps needed to achieve it, based on factors such as history, culture, and economic conditions. Cardoso provided a regional perspective highlighting the unique challenges of Latin America in the fight against climate change.
Dr. Andrea Cardoso (right) participating in the opening session: “Imaginaries of climate futures around the world. Perspectives from the different Global Centres”. Photography ©DAAD/Stefan Zeitz
Citizen Participation in Just Transition Processes
During the conference, the TRAJECTS team was also represented in the roundtable "Key Challenges and Opportunities for Citizen Participation in Just Transition Processes". Moderated by Dr. Paola Andrea Yanguas Parra, the session included contributions from experts Jesse Burton, Anna Mazur, and Julia Schwab, who shared experiences from Colombia, South Africa, and Ecuador on how citizen participation has been crucial in energy transition processes. The discussion emphasized the importance of involving communities in decision-making, especially in the context of phasing out fossil fuels.
Dr. Paola Yanguas (left) moderating the discusión panel: “Key and opportunities for citizen participation in just transition processes out of coal, oil and gas”. Photography ©DAAD/Stefan Zeitz
TRAJECTS Leading the Discussion on Water Security Management in a Climate Change Context
Professor Erasmo Rodriguez from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and Director of the Latin America Hub of TRAJECTS chaired a key session on water security management in the face of climate change impacts. The session featured presentations by experts Ernestina Annan, Triambak Baghel, Elanchezhiyan Duraiseakaran, and Dr. Fabian Falter. This session highlighted the importance of integrated strategies to ensure water security, both in terms of quantity and quality, in a world increasingly affected by climate change.
TRAJECTS Session: Sustainable Futures for Fossil-Fuel-Dependent Regions
In this session, led by Dr. Andrea Cardoso, all presenters were experts and academics from TRAJECTS, addressing the challenges and opportunities to build sustainable futures in regions dependent on fossil fuels. Presentations included an analysis by Juan Pablo Cárdenas on the role of intermediary organizations in promoting community-owned renewable energy in Colombia and South Africa, and Abiola Kehinde’s research on the barriers facing biogas in South Africa’s energy transition. Professor Victor José Olivero Ortiz highlighted the technological opportunities for decommissioning solar parks in the Vida Cesar-Magdalena Corridor. Moyahabo Masipa presented South Africa’s contradictions in sustainable energy transitions asking, “Implementation or Transformation?”. In the final presentation, Dr. Michelle Pressend delivered a critical reflection on relational theories and praxis, exploring decolonial approaches to energy transitions. The panel emphasized the importance of inclusive and sustainable energy solutions, focused on social justice and community participation.
Left to right: Moyahabo Masipa, Juan Pablo Cárdenas, Dr. Andrea Cardoso, Abiola Kehinde, Dr. Michelle Pressend and Professor Victor José Olivero Ortiz. Photography ©TRAJECTS/Aranza Banda
Innovation in Energy Systems in the Global South
Another notable intervention came from Julia Tatham, who presented a comprehensive review of economic and energy modeling tools in her presentation, "A Review of Energy Systems and Economic Modeling Tools Capable of Estimating Financial Needs and Relevant Responses for Energy, Water, and Food Security in South Africa in the Face of Climate Change". Her research analyzed both the financial needs and the responses required to address climate challenges in South Africa, highlighting the importance of an integrated approach encompassing water, energy, and food security.
Eduardo Arias, TRAJECTS researcher presenting “Systemic Environmental Transitions from Agroecological Territorial Communities in Colombia to Face the Planet's Food Crisis”. Photography ©TRAJECTS
Agroecological Solutions in Colombia
Eduardo Arias-Pineda, a TRAJECTS researcher, presented the progress in systemic environmental transitions from agroecological communities in Colombia. His research highlighted how these communities can offer viable responses to the global food crisis through sustainable and adaptive practices, linking agroecology with food security and climate change mitigation.
Collaboration in Inclusive Environmental Interventions
Dr. Michelle Pressend, Academic Coordinator of the TRAJECTS Africa Hub, also participated in the roundtable titled "Collaborative Knowledge Production for Effective, Just, and Inclusive Environmental Interventions". In this session, moderated by Professor Michael Bollig from the University of Cologne, panelists discussed how collaborative knowledge production can improve climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable land management. Pressend contributed her experiences from the African context, underscoring the importance of interventions based on local knowledge.
Dr. Michelle Pressend (left) participating in the "Collaborative Knowledge Production for Effective, Just, and Inclusive Environmental Interventions". Photography ©DAAD/Stefan Zeitz
Conclusions
TRAJECTS’ participation in the conference reaffirms its commitment to developing innovative, just, and sustainable solutions to global climate challenges. Their contributions to the panels and discussions are a clear example of how academic research can influence public policy and drive energy and food transitions toward a more sustainable future.
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