Sustainability Science Center > Sustainability Lectures
Sustainability Lectures at the University of Copenhagen
Climate related lectures
In January 2008, the University of Copenhagen launched a series of distinct Copenhagen Climate Lectures. The series was part of the University's climate effort in the run-up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.
Sustainability Lectures
In 2011 University of Copenhagen is launching a new lecture series - Copenhagen Sustainability Lectures - in order to maintain focus om sustainabilty and climate change and make visible the challenges that we are facing and the available solutions.
Purpose
Copenhagen Sustainability Lectures aims to create attention and visibility of the challenges of global sustainability. Danish and foreign speakers will visit University of Copenhagen to focus on a broad array of topics concerned with sustainability, pass on their experiences, and give their opinions on how to approach the challenges we are facing now and in the future.
Coming Lectures
Minister for Development Cooperation Christian Friis Bach gives a sustainability lecture the 6th of June, 3-4 pm in the Lundbeck Auditorium, Copenhagen Biocenter, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 København N. The topic is Rio+20. More information follows
Mike Hulme, professor of climate change at teh University of East Anglia gives a sustainability lecture the 21st of June at 10:00-11:00 am at Univarsity of Copenhagen, Emil Holms Kanal, Building 22, auditorium 22.0.11. The lecture is titled: "What sort of knowledge for what sort of politics? Science, Sustainability and the Challenges for Democracy". Mike Hulme, among other things, works with the illumination of the numereous ways in which climate change is deployed in the public, political and sceintific discourses.
(The form is in Danish, but just fill in name and email, and tick of the Lectures you want to attend)
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Lectures held
Debate on the arctic: A collaboration between WWF and Sustainability Science Centre.
When the ice melts the northern areas of the planet becomes accesible. This means new trade routes and new opportunities for mining and tourism. Large economic and political interests are in play. This was debated by:
- Gitte Seeberg, general sekretary of WWF, Denmark
- Villy Søvndal, Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Martin Breum, Journalist and author of the book ”Når isen forsvinder (When the ice melts”
- Professor Katherine Richardson, University of Copenhagen
- Professor Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen, Centre for Military Studies, University of Copenhagen
- John Nordbo, Cheif of climate and environment, WWF Denmark
- Aqqaluk Lynge, chair of the pan arctic collaboration, Inuit Circumpolar Council
See podcast (in Danish) of the conference and debate here:
The first lecture of the year was with Michael Grubb from Cambridge University giving the lecture: "Planetary Economics: The Three Domains of Sustainable Enery Development". The lecture took place at LIFE in auditorium A1-01.01, Bülowsvej 17 on the 18th of January. See his slides here.
See podcast of his lecture here
The 8th lecture was with Rajendra K. Pachauri and took place the 19th of December in The ceremonial Hall, Frue Plads 4, from 10-11am. The Chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning IPPC gave the lecture: "Is Today's Economic Growth Sustainable?" See his slides here.
The 7th lecture was with Prof. Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, and took place on the 18thof November 10 am at "Festauditoriet" at the faculty of Life Sciences. The title of the lecture was:"A Social Contract for Sustainabilty. But What If We Fail?". Prof. Schellnhuber has a background in theoretical physics. He is Founding Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. He actively serves on numerous german and international panels for scientific policy advice on environment & development matters. Unfortunately, slides form the lecture are not available.
The 6th lecture was by Gerhard Dieterle, who is Forest Advisor for Agriculture and Rural Development in the World Bank. The lecture took place at the Faculty of Life Sciences on the 13th of september in Auditorium A 1-04.01, 1st floor, Grønnegårdsvej 7, 1870 Frederiksberg C. See his presentation here.
The fifth lecture was by Nobel prize winner Wangari Maathai with the title: "Environment, Democracy & Peace: A critical link". The lecture was held July 6 from 3 to 4 pm in the Ceremonial Hall, Frue Plads, København K
The fourth lecture was given by Dr. Stephen Toope, president at University of British Columbia, which is at the forefront in terms of integrating sustainability into research, education and university operations. The lecture was held at Faculty of Law on the 27th of June 2011 in "Annex B", Studiegården 6, from 15-16 pm. Read his inspiring speech here.
The third lecture was by member of the European Commision Connie Hedegaard on March the 11th from 9:30-10:55 am at the ceremonial hall, Frue Plads. More than 360 guests joined the debate on the EU's role in international climate negotiations and the EU's roadmap towards a more sustainable future. The lecture was arranged in collaboration with European Research at the University of Copenhagen, EURECO. See webcasts from the lecture here.
The second lecture was by Vice President of Sustainable Development in the World Bank Inger Andersen with the lecture "Greening Development: Moving towards Rio+20 and beyond". The lecture was followed by interventions by the following panelists: Vice Dean and professor Katherine Richardson, University of Copenhagen, Deputy Director General Tony Simons, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Director Bruce Campbell , Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and State Secretary for Development Policy, Ib Petersen, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You can find the presentations here.
The lecture series started with Finn Tarp and Per Pinstrup-Andersen, who gave the lecture "Sustainable Development in a Period of Climate Change" at Faculty of Life Sciences on Monday January 31st 2011, at 15-16.30pm. You can find the presentations here.