How can the energy transition be achieved in a socially and economically sustainable way? This is the focus of the third Oldenburg Climate Symposium next week. The programme includes, amongst other things, a public lecture by the renowned sustainability economist Claudia Kemfert.
‘Climate, People and Energy’ – this is the theme of the third edition of the Oldenburg Climate Symposium, taking place from Wednesday to Friday, 7 to 9 October. Organised by the University of Oldenburg, this interdisciplinary symposium brings together academia, industry and society – including many renowned researchers from Germany and abroad. The focus is on the transformation of the energy system, as well as political and social issues surrounding the energy transition. To kick off the event, the well-known sustainability economist Prof. Dr Claudia Kemfert will give a public evening lecture on Wednesday 7 October at 6.00 pm at CORE Oldenburg (Heiligengeiststraße 6–8). Attendance is free of charge; no registration is required.
“I am delighted that, as a university, we host the Oldenburg Climate Symposium every two years – a unique event driven by the great commitment of our researchers,” says University President Prof. Dr Ralph Bruder. “It is part of our remit to bring scientific findings into the public debate and to promote dialogue. The Climate Symposium is an excellent example of this: it brings research, practice and society together in dialogue, provides valuable impetus and has a positive impact on the city and the wider region.”
The opening lecture on 7 October by Claudia Kemfert, Professor of Energy Economics and Energy Policy at Leuphana University Lüneburg and Head of the Department of Energy, Transport and Environment at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), will explore why climate protection and the energy transition are central to prosperity, security and competitiveness. The expert will also analyse misguided energy policy decisions, debunk common myths and highlight ways in which the energy transition can be successfully achieved both socially and economically.
The following day, the focus will be on academic exchange in the university’s lecture theatre centre on the Haarentor campus. A total of seven specialist presentations in English by international researchers will address topics such as energy communities, the North Sea as a hub for the energy transition, the digitalisation of energy systems, and the question of what policies could enable carbon neutrality by 2050. There will also be academic poster presentations and information stands run by various networks from Oldenburg and beyond.
Through the Climate Symposium, we bring together research and society to discuss different perspectives on the energy transition.
Jannika Mattes and Astrid Nieße (organisers of this year’s Climate Symposium)
The public programme also includes a film evening: on Thursday evening, 8 October, at 6.30 pm, ‘Cine k’ (Bahnhofstraße 11, 26122 Oldenburg) will be screening the documentary ‘2040: We’re Saving the World!’. In his film, Australian filmmaker Damon Gameau aims to convey a positive vision of the future. He explores which solutions already exist today for various environmental problems and how a future worth living in can be created. Admission is free.
On Friday, the Climate Symposium will conclude with two panel discussions for invited guests on the topics of energy communities and intergenerational justice in the energy transition. Students are playing a key role in organising this part of the event.
“Through the Climate Symposium, we are bringing research and society together to discuss different perspectives on the energy transition. For example, what technological challenges exist and how we can best tackle them. Or how society can be more closely involved in shaping the future energy system. In doing so, we particularly want to take issues such as justice and trust into account,” say the two organisers, Prof. Dr Astrid Nieße (Energy Informatics) and Prof. Dr Jannika Mattes (Social Sciences).
The Oldenburg Climate Symposium has been held every two years since 2022 – each time featuring ‘climate’ and ‘people’ alongside a new focus in the title and programme. This year, the event is supported by the Oldenburg University Society (UGO) (UGO), the Oldenburg-based companies energy & meteo systems GmbH (emsys) and EWE AG, the Lower Saxony Energy Research Centre (efzn) and the ‘OLDIES e.V.’ alumni association of the Department of Computing Science.
