EU Cities Mission – Supporting Collective Imagination for a Hope-filled, Equitable Transition
The EU Cities Mission will host the first webinar in its new “Philanthropy Talks: Towards Climate-Neutral Cities through Imagination, New Skills & New Economies” series on 27 November, on “Supporting Collective Imagination for a Hope-Filled Equitable Transition towards Climate-Neutrality”, with Climate-KIC.
The climate crisis is suffering a collective crisis of the imagination. We need new, positive narratives, images of a future worth having, to spark climate action and secure sustained support for the green transition from citizens across Europe. In the context of the EU Cities Mission, the need and opportunity is particularly acute for a set of images and stories that can encourage positive emotions about the green transition, bringing to life the possibility to create a sense of purpose and inspire action.
This webinar will explore the role of collective imagination in supporting urban transformation. The discussion will focus on how to foster a vision of a future that inspires hope. How to create emotional activation for different peoples, cultures and contexts that will help us to overcome our polarisation and anger. This is just as much about equity and justice as it is about vision.
Achieving climate-neutrality is an unprecedented challenge which requires unparalleled (re)actions, mind-bending visions nurtured by hope instead of fatalism. Public administrations and citizens cannot do it alone. Foundations are increasingly involved in supporting cities committed to reach net-zero emissions: by fostering the shift to renewable energies, by facilitating the increase of energy efficiency, or implementing sustainable practices in transportation, industry and agriculture.
Philea and Climate-KIC are launching the “Philanthropy Talks Series” to bring together thought leaders on three topics: imagination, new skills and new economies, and spotlighting emergent programmes around them.
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