Format: digital, Big Blue Button Link: https://bbb.hu-berlin.de/b/drm-et1-iku-dwt

Beschreibung: Local governments have become increasingly proactive in tackling climate change. In light of the failure of national governments to curb emissions and reduce vulnerability to extreme weather events, increased activism by local governments has been a welcome development. However, research has currently struggled to unravel the drivers and mechanisms explaining the increased ambition of cities in the field of climate change. Why should thousands of cities engage in something where less than 200 national governments have consistently failed? Could this be yet more Blah Blah Blah (Thunberg, 2021)? Case studies of urban climate action show that there’s more to it than empty promises. The seminar will present ongoing work on the case of Berlin, linking the evolution of the city’s climate plan to its institutional, biophysical, and socioeconomic characteristics.