Participation in the K3 Climate Communication Congress (2024)

This year's K3 Congress on Climate Communication (link) took place at the University of Graz on 25 and 26 September 2024. More than 370 scientists, journalists, and activists came together to discuss the current challenges of communicating the climate crisis in science and society.

The two fellows of the Joachim Herz Doctoral School of Law, Bengt Johannsen and Maren Solmecke, took this opportunity to hold a workshop entitled ‘Talking climate law - communication about law in social transformation’, in which 25 participants took part. The workshop began with a 30-minute keynote speech by the two fellows on the legal framework of the climate crisis and the legal levers for climate protection.

This was followed by a lively discussion with the participants on the opportunities and limits of the law in social transformation, especially in the case of the climate crisis. It was emphasised that the difficult enforcement, e.g. in the case of judgements against states/governments, and the time factor limit the efficiency of the law with regard to climate protection. On the other hand, it was positively noted that the law and courts enjoy a high level of social authority and can thus contribute significantly to the legitimisation of climate protection. At the same time, it was questioned whether it is known to what extent successful climate lawsuits have actually led to concrete reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, or whether climate lawsuits have a primarily symbolic function.

Afterwards, the participants analysed an excerpt from the ECHR decision, Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland [GC] - 53600/20 Judgment 9.4.2024, and presented the main statements in the form of an ‘elevator pitch’ (of 30 seconds).