Unexpected Encounters

The event series on collaboration and climate change!

Unexpected encounters

How do we feel, talk, see, embody and agree on climate change?

Foundation We AreSocial Design Showdown and Pakhuis de Zwijger will host a series of talks as part of this design research programme. During these events we invite various inspiring speakers who work in different domains to set up unexpected encounters to find out how to make sense of climate change and find ways to work together. During this first episode, we will invite psychologists, scientists and activists to talk about what they feel when it comes to climate change. How do we begin to interpret climate change and what position can we take? How does it feel? How do we want to feel? How should we feel?

upcoming events

Unexpected Encounters #5

Date: 11 June, 2024 | 19:30-21:30
Location: Pakhuis de Zwijger, Amsterdam

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How do we make agreements on climate change?

In this fifth and final episode, we dove deep into the barriers standing in the way of real climate action. Despite the urgency, why does progress seem to stall? Our speakers unpacked how short-term interests and well-funded corporate lobbying regularly derail efforts toward systemic change.
Rob Weterings, Dieuwertje Wallaart and Yann Robiou du Pont spoke of the intricacies and hollowness of ‘policy jargons’ and the coming generational shifts. Mert Kumru, Jantijn Anema and Nina de Pater gave us a unique insight into the work they do towards achieving climate justice and the importance of stubborn optimism. Covering landmark moments of climate justice, from Mileudefensie’s famous Shell trial to the Urgenda case against the Dutch State, to the the Republic of Vanuatu asking the UN’s International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on what the obligations of countries across the world are when it comes to climate change.

Moderated by Marsha Simon, this closing session brought negotiators, researchers, activists and lawyers together.

Past events