Developing and democratising climate change policy
Published: 26 April 2023
Join us as we welcome Professor Carballo from the University of Havana for sessions on developing and democratising climate change policy.
Date: Tuesday 9th May, 2023 **in person**
Time: 10am - 5pm with multiple sessions across the day
Location: Hetherington Building (room 133), the University of Glasgow
Professor Carballo is a political economist in the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) at the University of Havana. He is actively involved in shaping the process of popular consultation and community participation and education which are key aspects of ‘Tarea Vida’, Cuba’s State Plan to Confront Climate Change. His work evaluates the socio-economic impacts of climate change. He also contributes to the formulation and evaluation of national development strategy. He is visiting UoG as part of collaborative work with Dr Helen Yaffe in Economic and Social History to identify potentially effective policies for confronting the effects of climate change on Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Please join any or all of our in person sessions, or contact Helen Yaffe if you would like to arrange a separate chat with Professor Carballo.
Morning session (10am – 12pm): Climate change adaptation policy in Cuba
Professor Carballo will outline Cuba’s climate change adaptation policy and progress, including how the ensure engagement and participation by vulnerable communities and the population in general. This will be followed by an open discussion on (i) (the adequacy of) Cuba’s monitoring and evaluation framework and (ii) action required, and support needed, to overcome current limitations.
Afternoon session (1.30pm – 3.30pm): International comparisons and democratisation of climate policy
An open discussion sharing insights and knowledge of UK/international climate change adaptation policy, including how vulnerable communities understand climate change and are adapting to the new realities and challenges it is imposing; how they benefit from and are responding to public policy (do they feel taken into account?).
Documentary screening (3.45pm - 4.40pm): Cuba’s Life Task: Combatting Climate Change
Join our optional session at the end of the day for a screening of the documentary, Cuba’s Life Task: Combatting Climate Change, co-produced by Dr Helen Yaffe, with DaniFilms (2021). Produced with ESRC IAA funding, through the College of Social Sciences, University of Glasgow.
This documentary shows how Cuba is using environmental science, natural solutions, and community participation in its long-term plan for climate change adaptation and mitigation. In 2017, the Cuban government approved the State Plan to Confront Climate Change, known as ‘Tarea Vida’. As a Caribbean island, Cuba is disproportionately affected by climate change through extreme weather events, heat waves, drought, torrential rain, hurricanes, and rising sea levels. Up to 10% of Cuban territory could be submerged by the end of the century, forcing one million people to relocate. This threat requires new forms of organisation to protect human lives, the economy, and the environment. The Cubans have a plan.
Professor Jorge Alfredo Carballo Concepción will be at the University of Glasgow as a Visiting Fellow between 20 April and 12 May, investigating lessons that might be learned from Cuba’s science-led approach to climate policy including adaptation and community engagement. This visit is funded by School of Social & Political Sciences.
First published: 26 April 2023
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