In response to the climate crisis, public–citizen collaboration has in recent years become a key policy instrument in cities across the world, intended to bring local needs and knowledge directly into public decision-making. Although its democratic potential is well documented in both practice and research, less attention has been paid to how such policy innovation unfolds beyond the process and becomes – or fails to become – concrete action on the ground.
Drawing on Vienna's participatory budgeting, this talk discusses multiple intersecting challenges that come up when collaboration moves from deliberation into implementation. It will also address strategies for researchers to study and practitioners to navigate that space.
This Open Coversation is organised by a project group of the student-led Studium Oecologicum at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the event, participants will be able to reflect on strategies and conditions for effective public–citizen collaboration, drawing on insights from research and practice to understand how local knowledge, civic engagement, and institutional capacities can contribute to more equitable urban climate action.
Speakers
Keynote:
- Byeongsun Ahn, Challenge of Urban Futures, Department of Sociology, University of Vienna
Panel:
- Philipp Rhein (Volunteer Coordinator Berlin-Neukölln)
- Ragnhild Soerensen (Berlin-based non-profit Changing Cities)
- Michael Unger (Berlin-based non-profit platform Kiezattacke)
- Dusty Bock (German food bank Tafel Deutschland)
Moderator:
- Julika Stern (student at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)
