Conference programme

ACCTING’s Final Conference

Empowering change:
Building a fair and inclusive Green Deal

29 April 2025, Brussels

The European Green Deal aspires to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, with a commitment to ‘leave no one behind.’ However, current environmental policies often overlook the diverse social impacts on marginalised groups. Low-income populations, racial minorities, women, or rural communities frequently bear the brunt of environmental challenges, while also facing significant barriers to accessing green solutions. These groups are often excluded from decision-making processes despite possessing the necessary local knowledge and demonstrating resilience and innovation in the face of environmental challenges.

ACCTING has critically examined the social and economic impacts of the European Green Deal on marginalised groups. By employing a gender+ intersectional approach, the project has demonstrated how Green Deal policies affect individual and collective behaviours, potentially exacerbating existing inequalities. Based on these extensive research insights, ACCTING has developed innovative, evidence-based solutions, including pilot actions and thematic recommendations that empower vulnerable communities and guide inclusive policymaking.

The ACCTING Final Conference, “Empowering Change: Building a Fair and Inclusive Green Deal,” invites a diverse audience of civil society representatives, NGOs, policymakers, researchers, and Green Deal stakeholders to engage with actionable strategies for achieving a socially just and inclusive Green Deal.

Programme

The conference will open with a keynote address, setting the stage for three thematic sessions that will present ACCTING’s research findings, innovations, and proposed actions for a fairer Green Deal. These sessions will address key challenges, showcase pioneering solutions, and foster cross-sector collaboration to ensure that the benefits of the Green Deal are equitably distributed across all segments of society.

Session 1: Research

Learning from the grassroots: Engaging with marginalised groups to co-create a just transition

Session 2: Innovation

From innovation to impact: Leveraging commons for a just transition

Session 3: Action

Advancing behavioural change through partnerships and collaboration

09:00 – 09:30	Coffee & registration
09:30 – 10:00	Welcome addresses Antti Tahvanainen, ACCTING project coordinator, European Science Foundation Sofia Strid, ACCTING scientific coordinator, University of Gothenburg Fabio Domanico, Unit for the Fair Green and Digital Transition, European Commission
10:00 – 10:30	Keynote speech: “Redefining the Public Interest” Tunç Soyer, Politician and lawyer
10:30 – 12:00	Session 1: Research Learning from the grassroots: Engaging with marginalised groups to co-create a just transition Marina Cacace, Knowledge & Innovation Lina Sandström, University of Gothenburg Lara Houston, Anglia Ruskin University Helen Cole, Autonomous University of Barcelona Esin Düzel, Sabanci University Moderation: Ayşe Gül Altinay ACCTING is built on a composite theoretical approach that integrates environmental justice perspectives with a strong focus on multidimensional and intersectional vulnerabilities, recognising the agency of marginalised communities and their role in bringing about change towards sustainability. In this framework, behavioural change is framed as a complex object that cannot be reduced to a purely individual dimension but strongly relates to collective and structural dimensions. The results of ACCTING document the extent to which the success of Green Deal policies depends on engaging with the wide range of vulnerable communities threatened by environmental crises and the policies designed to address them. By harnessing their diverse knowledge, creativity and energy, it is possible to alleviate the tension between environmental and social goals that is so often at the root of resistance to change and backlash. In this session, environmental/social tensions, their challenges and their potential in relation to the Green Deal policies will be illustrated through an intersectional lens and the unique perspectives of different communities.
12:00 – 13:15	Lunch break
13:15 – 14:00	Poster presentations
14:00 – 15:30	Session 2: Innovation From innovation to impact: Leveraging commons for a just transition Dimitra Papaioannidou, EcoMuseum Zagori Sophie Bloemen, Commons Network Burcu Borhan Türeli, Sabanci University Moderation: Jannis Niethammer ACCTING’s research underscores the impact commons can have on a just transition. Commons are inherently inclusive, and their impact on marginalised populations is real. By fostering shared ownership and agency through participatory decision-making, collaboration, and equitable access to resources, commons empower marginalised groups to tackle structural inequalities and strengthen their resilience and their voice. Therefore, policymakers and communities committed to ensuring an inclusive transition should consider promoting both existing and newly created ones as a sensible investment In the current context of rising inequalities, environmental degradation and social divide, the need for policy innovations to promote the commons and processes of commoning becomes even more urgent. However, there are still very few examples of policies that effectively promote commons. In this session, examples of innovative approaches to create new commons, revive existing ones, or support existing commons are highlighted to inspire innovators and policymakers.
15:30 – 16:00	Coffee break
16:00 – 17:30	Session 3: Action Advancing behavioural change through partnerships and collaboration Edoardo Zanchini, City of Rome Laura Kaestele, ECOLISE Esteban Pelayo, Alicante Science Park Gabriele Quinti, Knowledge & Innovation Moderation: Nikos Zaharis Tackling the complex societal challenges associated with the European Green Deal requires partnerships and collaborations that connect public authorities, civil society, the private sector, academia, and grassroots organisations. These collaborations are essential for fostering systemic change, driving community engagement, and ensuring that the transition is inclusive and equitable. The ACCTING project has demonstrated the benefits and transformative power of such partnerships in advancing behavioural change towards an inclusive and fair Green Deal. It has also shown that successful partnerships should be systematic and strategic, and based on a shared vision of equity, transparency, and community engagement – with clear communication, flexibility, and a focus on sustainability. As we look towards advancing long-term behavioural change in the European Green Deal, this last session will reflect on the tangible achievements made through partnerships during the project’s implementation, showcasing how collaboration can effectively tackle systemic inequalities, empower vulnerable communities, and promote sustainable practices. The session will also look forward, providing insights from experts from diverse stakeholder groups into how partnerships can be further developed, strengthened, and integrated into all future initiatives. It will explore how multi-sectoral collaborations can become the norm, ensuring that inclusive, sustainable policies are developed in every project and initiative. These partnerships represent a shift in mindset, putting equity, inclusion, and local perspectives at the heart of every policy and initiative.
17:30 – 18:00	Key conclusions Sofia Strid, ACCTING scientific coordinator, University of Gothenburg
18:00 – 19:00	Networking