The Stockholm Series of Public Lectures on Climate Change and Democracy (“Stockholm Series”) is a cooperation between renowned Stockholm-based institutions with a particular focus on climate change and democracy from different perspectives, including the Stockholm Environment Institute; the Stockholm Resilience Centre; Future Earth; the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung’s Nordics Office; LSU – The National Council of Swedish Children and Youth Organisations; and We Don’t Have Time. It aims to inform, inspire, and engage experts and the general public alike by providing high-profile public lectures on the interlinkages between climate change and democracy, followed by debate.
Jennie King’s lecture “Overheated – The Fight for Information Integrity, Climate Action, and Democracy” took place on Tuesday, 23 April 2024, at International IDEA’s Headquarters at Strömsborg in Stockholm, Sweden.
Democracy demands a public mandate, translating our common will into policies that can benefit the whole. This is especially true for the climate crisis, as we face a ‘brief and rapidly closing window’ (IPCC) to act for a liveable future. Despite the urgency and gravity of this moment, public discourse on the issue is increasingly fragmented, partisan, and unmoored from science. Climate action has become a lightning rod for conspiracism and mistrust of institutions and is being weaponised to deepen social divisions. How did we get here? Who stands to benefit? And, above all, how can we chart a pathway forward?
The lecture was followed by a conversation with Dr Victor Galaz, Associate Professor, Stockholm Resilience Centre & Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General, International IDEA, as well as questions and comments from the audience, and a reception.
