2018 Utrecht Conference on Earth System Governance
Governing Global Sustainability in a Complex World
Key Research Insights & New Research Directions
5-8 November 2018
Draft Programme
Hosted by:
Earth System Governance project
Utrecht University, Faculty of Geosciences, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, The Netherlands
Co-hosted by:
Colorado State University, Environmental Governance Working Group, United States of America
German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Germany
Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Germany
Keio University, Japan
PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
Utrecht University, Strategic Programme “Institutions for Open Societies”, The Netherlands
Utrecht University, Strategic Programme “Pathways to Sustainability”, The Netherlands
University of Toronto, The Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Canada
University of Waterloo, Faculty of Environment, Canada
Wednesday, 31 October – Sunday, 4 November
2018 Utrecht Winter School on Earth System Governance
Academic Directors: Dr Rakhyun E. Kim and Dr Joost Vervoort, Utrecht University
Separate application only
Sunday, 4 November
Conference Excursion: Living with Water – Exploring Dutch Polders, Dikes, and Canals
Time: 10.15-18.00
Academic Advisor: Carel Dieperink, Utrecht University
Separate registration required
Conference Registration
Time: 15:00-18:00
Location: Academiegebouw
Early Career Welcome Drinks
Time: 17:00-19:00
Location: Academiegebouw, Room 1636
We provide an informal setting in which early career scholars can meet while enjoying a drink and a bite – the perfect way to start the 2018 conference! All early career researchers are invited!
Lead Faculty Reception
Time: 18:00-20:00
Location: Academiegebouw
Invitation only
Welcome Reception for members of the old and new Scientific Steering Committee, Lead Faculty and Lead Authors of the 2018 Science and Implementation Plan.
Welcome Addresses
Bas van Bavel, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Maarten Hajer, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Monday, 5 November
Opening plenary
Time: 9:00-10.30
Opening Address
Frank Biermann and Agni Kalfagianni, Co-Chairs
Welcome Addresses
Henk Kummeling, Rector Magnificus, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Piet Hoekstra, Dean, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Keynote Presentation: “Earth System Governance: The Scope of the Challenge”
Joseph Alcamo, Professor and Director of Sussex Sustainability Research Programme, and former Chief Scientist, United Nations Environment Programme
Launch, Earth System Governance journal (Elsevier)
Frank Biermann / Elizabeth Dirth, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
2018 Oran Young Award
Presentation by Heike Schroeder, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom
Laudatio by Oran R. Young, University of California at Santa Barbara, United States of America
Parallel panels I
Time: 11:00-12:30
Lead Faculty Lunch
Time: 12:30-13:30
Invitation only
Semi-Plenary Session I – Architectures of Earth System Governance
Time: 13:30-15:00
Panel Convenor: Rakhyun E. Kim, Co-Author, 2018 ESG Science Plan, and Utrecht University
The Institutional Diagnostic Approach to Earth System Governance
Oran R. Young, University of California at Santa Barbara, United States of America
Governance for Sustainable Development: What Works When, How and Why
Peter Driessen, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
The Global Architecture of Sustainable Development Goals
Norichika Kanie, Keio University, Japan
Semi-Plenary II – Agency in Earth System Governance
Time: 13:30-15:00
Panel Convenor: Vasna Ramasar, Co-Author, 2018 ESG Science Plan, and Lund University
Agency beyond the State: Harvesting Insights from the Earth System Governance Project
Michele M. Betsill, Colorado State University, United States of America
Cities in Earth System Governance
Harriet Bulkeley, Durham University, United Kingdom
Systemic Risks: Challenges for Earth System Governance
Ortwin Renn, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Germany
Parallel panels II
Time: 16:30-17:00
Parallel panels III
Time: 17:15-18:45
Welcome Reception
Time: 19:00
Hosted by Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University
Inauguration of the Earth System Governance International Project Office at Utrecht University
Piet Hoekstra, Dean, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University
Tuesday, 6 November
Parallel panels IV
Time: 09:00-10:30
Semi-Plenary III – Accountability and Democracy in Earth System Governance
Time 11:00-12:30
Panel Convenor: Jonathan Pickering, Lead Author, 2018 Science and Implementation Plan, and University of Canberra
Democracy in Earth System Governance
John Dryzek, University of Canberra, Australia
Accountability in Earth System Governance: Findings from the Project’s Accountability Taskforce
Susan Park, University of Sydney, Australia
Legitimacy in Earth System Governance
Steven Bernstein , University of Toronto, Canada
Semi-Plenary IV – Allocation and Equity in Earth System Governance
Time: 11:00-12:30
Panel Convenor: Andrea Gerlak, Lead Author, 2018 ESG Science Plan, and University of Arizona
Allocation and Access in the Context of Climate Change and Land
Lennart Olsson, Lund University, Sweden
Equity Matters for Global Food Security and Sustainability
Jennifer Clapp, University of Waterloo, Canada
From Environmental Equity to Planetary Justice
David Schlosberg, University of Sydney, Australia
Research Centres Lunch
Time: 12:30-13:30
Invitation only
Book Launch
Time: 12:30-13:30
Parallel panels V
Time: 13:30-15:00
Plenary Session: Earth System Governance Research – Taking Stock, Moving Forward
Time: 15:30-17:00
Earth System Governance: Insights from a Global Research Network
Frank Biermann, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Earth System Governance: The New Science Agenda
Sarah Burch, Waterloo University, Canada
Aarti Gupta, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Cristina Inoue, University of Brasília, Brazil
Agni Kalfagianni, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Åsa Persson, Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
Conference dinner
Time: 19:00-22:00
Wednesday, 7 November
Parallel panels VI
Time: 09:00-10:30
Semi-Plenary V – Adaptiveness and Transformation
Time: 11:00-12:30
Panel Convenor: Joost Vervoort, Lead Author, 2018 Science and Implementation Plan, and Utrecht University
Global Transformation: A View from Africa
David Mungai, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Transforming Global Governance for Sustainability
Dirk Messner, United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), Germany
Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and Achieving 1.5C: A Challenge of Transformation
Diana Liverman, University of Arizona, United States of America
Semi-Plenary VI – Concepts and Theories
Time: 11:00-12:30
Panel Convenor: James Patterson, Lead Author, 2018 Science and Implementation Plan, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
The United Nations and Earth System Governance
Lorraine Elliott, Australian National University, Australia
International Environmental Law and Earth System Governance
Michelle Scobie, University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago
The Conceptual Foundations of Earth System Governance
James Meadowcroft, Carleton University, Canada
Lunch Earth System Governance Journal
Time: 12:30-13:30
Invitation only
Parallel panels VII
Time: 13:30-15:00
Parallel panels VIII
Time: 15:30-17:00
Closing Plenary
Time: 17:15-18:15
Research Fellows Party
Sponsored by Elsevier
Time: 18:30 – 00:00
Venue: EKKO, Bemuurde Weerd WZ 3, Utrecht
Wednesday 7 November ends with an informal Research Fellow party at one of Utrecht’s nicest pop venues EKKO. There will be food, drinks and music. We also have a stage, a microphone and an acoustic guitar available which we’d like to share with you. Please inform Karlijn at k.b.muiderman@uu.nl or during the party if you’d like to perform on stage!
Thursday, 8 November – The Taskforce Space
This day is reserved for taskforces, harvesting initiatives, and similar working groups of the Earth System Governance Project to find collective space to advance writing projects, plan new events, and shape the research and outreach agenda in the numerous subfields of the Earth System Governance Project.
Opening Plenary: A New Role For Science in the Anthropocene?
Time: 9:00-10.30
Panel Convenor and Chair: Ruben Zondervan, Executive Director, Earth System Governance Project, and Lund University
Parallel Workshops
Time: 11:00-18:00
More information about the Special Taskforce and Meeting Day