Climate Seminar at Uppsala City Library – Climate Change Under Pressure: Polarisation, Climate Resistance and the Way Forward
- Date
- 10 June 2026, 17:30–18:45
- Type
- Seminar
- Lecturer
- Eric Brandstedt; Luis Harrison; Gracia Brückman; Lauri Peterson
- Web page
- https://www.uu.se/en/department/earth-sciences/research/natural-resources-and-sustainable-development/ness2026/ness-aktiviteter-for-allmanheten
- Organiser
- NESS 2026
- Contact person
- Karoline Hermansson
We know what needs to be done to meet our climate targets. Yet the transition is moving slowly, and in many countries energy and climate policy is becoming increasingly polarised and politically contentious. Why is this happening, and what does the research tell us about what actually works when it comes to building broad support for a fair transition?
On 10 June, Uppsala University and Uppsala City Library invite you to an open seminar with four researchers who share their insights into why the climate debate is growing more polarised, how that shapes the way we understand both problems and solutions, and what the ways forward might look like. This includes discussing how how communicating climate targets can increase public support for ambitious policy, and what makes climate governance resilient over time.
Programme
17:30 | Welcome and introduction The moderators introduce the seminar's theme and the evening's speakers.
17:35 | Eric Brandstedt, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights and Associate Professor of Practical Philosophy, Lund University Why energy issues have become increasingly polarised — and why conflicts around energy cannot be resolved through facts and information alone. Presentation in Swedish.
17:45 | Dr. Gracia Brückman, postdoctoral researcher, political science, University of Bern Communicating climate targets and policy goals increases public support for stringent energy transition policies. Presentation in English.
17:55 | Luis Harrison, PhD student, Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics, University of Brighton Climate populism, environmental policy, and how the climate issue is shaped by political conflict. Presentation in English.
18:05 | Dr. Lauri Peterson, researcher, political science, Uppsala University/University of East Finland Climate governance proves surprisingly resilient to political reversals. This presentation highlights the most critical political risks and the kinds of collaborative platforms that can endure through political turbulence. Presentation in English.
18:15 | Panel discussion and audience Q&A The moderators lead a conversation with the researchers and invite questions from the audience.
18:40–18:45 | Closing A brief summary and thank you.
Languages
The seminar is moderated in Swedish. Presentations are given in Swedish or English depending on the speaker. Audience questions may be asked in Swedish and will be translated into English where needed so that English-speaking researchers can respond.
The seminar is part of Science in the City, a series of public events organised around NESS, the major environmental and sustainability research conference hosted by Uppsala University from 9–11 June. Science in the City is supported by World Class Uppsala and aims to connect Uppsala's public with the international research that the conference brings to the city.
More public acivities here: https://www.uu.se/en/department/earth-sciences/research/natural-resources-and-sustainable-development/ness2026/ness-aktiviteter-for-allmanheten