Cross-generational Dialogue for cross-generational Ideas and Action

How can we embrace a more sustainable way of life, especially in light of the changes prompted by the coronavirus crisis? This question is preoccupying not just experts from science, politics and civil society, but in particular the upcoming generation. Yet so far there have been few opportunities for direct dialogue between young people and experts. Together with the Tagesspiegel newspaper, the Science Platform Sustainability 2030 (wpn2030) has now created a space for that kind of exchange. At the “Change Forum”, a virtual BarCamp event on 27 August 2020, discussions across generations revolved around eight guiding questions. 

“It’s vital for sustainable development that we as politicians, businesspeople and civil society actors increasingly take a cross-generational approach to how we think about problems, take action, and assume responsibility,” stressed Professor Marion A. Weissenberger-Eibl. “That’s why the dialogue across generations has to be strengthened – and the Change Forum is a good place to start.”

To ensure the dialogue extends well beyond the event, the discussion of the guiding questions is continuing online via LinkedIn:

• How can we prevent poverty, hunger and disease at local and global levels?
• How can we foster equality and solidarity at local and global levels?
• How can we embrace a more sustainable way of life?
• How does education have to change in future?
• How can we ensure sustainable consumption?
• What can we do to make our climate future friendly?
• What can we do to support decent employment and human-centred economic growth and innovations?
• How can we secure peace and justice in the world?

A recording of the BarCamp discussions can also be found here. Participants can continue to meet up and exchange ideas either as individuals or as groups. People who didn’t attend the Change Forum are also welcome to join the discussion.

All participants are invited to a follow-up event in November, where they will reflect on the discussion to date and its results. If the coronavirus situation allows, they will meet face-to-face this time. The experiences and results of the Change Forum will then feed into the ongoing work of the Science Platform Sustainability 2030.

The following experts took part in the Change Forum 2020: Jakob Blasel (Activist), Prof. Michael Braungart (Leuphana Universität Lüneburg/Braungart EPEA), Dr Daniela DeRidder (Member of the German Parliament), Yasmin M’Barek (journalist), Leonore Negt (Terres des Femmes), and Prof. Marion A. Weissenberger-Eibl (wpn2030).