On Wednesday, 4 June, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the University of Barcelona (UB) will host the XIII Environmental Conference organised in collaboration with Familia Torres and an advisory committee of experts led by Tomàs Molina, meteorologist, PhD in Communication, and Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Physics at the UB. This annual conference, which this year is entitled "Environmental justice: rethinking capitalism to avoid collapse", will bring together leading specialists and activists to explore how environmental law, alongside a profound rethinking of the economic model, can serve as key tools to promote urgent and effective actions in response to the current environmental crisis.
The session will be inaugurated by the Rector of the UB, Joan Guàrdia, and the President of Familia Torres, Miguel A. Torres, alongside Tomàs Molina, who will act as host for the day. The first presentation will be delivered by David Lizoain, Director General of Economic Analysis and Foresight for the Generalitat de Catalunya, who will discuss the decarbonisation of the economy amidst geopolitical uncertainty.
The conference will be structured into two main blocks. The first block will focus on climate justice and environmental law, while the second block will address the economic aspect, rethinking current capitalism to achieve a fairer model. The event will conclude with a round table discussion, providing a platform for experts and climate activists to address economic, environmental, and social issues.
In the first block, Mar Campins, Professor of Public International Law at the UB, will examine the key challenges of climate justice for the international community. Francesco Sindico, Professor of International Environmental Law at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow), will explore the role of courts in addressing the climate crisis. Miguel Pajares, PhD in Social Anthropology and author of the book Climate Refugees, will discuss climate migrations and their implications.
In the second block, Jordi Roca, Professor of Economics at the UB, will present an analysis of how to contribute to a paradigm shift that integrates sustainability and social justice. Raimon Puigjaner, Co-founder and President of B Lab Spain, will share insights into how new business models, based on B Corp certification, are transforming the global economy to benefit people, communities, and the planet.
The day will culminate with a round table entitled "Social and climate justice in a turbulent world", featuring Clàudia Custodio, Researcher at the Observatory of Debt in Globalisation; Xavier López, Director General of the UB Solidarity Foundation; Dolors Camats, Director of the Catalonia Europe Foundation; and Carlos Gª Paret, Economist and Coordinator of Political Advocacy at Greenpeace.
The event will be closed by Ernest Abadal, Vice-Rector Assistant to the Rector of the UB, Miguel A. Torres, and Tomàs Molina.
The XIII Environmental Conference will be streamed live on the UB's YouTube channel. To attend in person, registration is required at jornadesambientals.com.
