GEF Talks at Green Academy (Komiža)

What does it mean to build counter-power in a time of monsters? As Europe faces growing insecurity, climate collapse, democratic backsliding and profound shifts in the global order, the Green European Foundation joins the 10th edition of the Green Academy with a series of GEF Talks exploring the political ideas and strategies needed to shape a Green response.

About the event

From 21–26 August 2026, the Green European Foundation joins the Institute for Political Ecology and partners for the 10th edition of the Green Academy, taking place on the island of Vis, Croatia, under the title “Life in the Time of Monsters: Building Counter-Power”.

Established in 2010, the Green Academy is an educational and discussion platform centred on political ecology, bringing together debates on degrowth and post-growth, the commons, ecological transition, municipalism and public services. Over the years, it has become an international meeting point where green and progressive scholars, practitioners, researchers, politicians and activists exchange knowledge, experiences and political strategies.

With this tenth edition, the Green Academy seeks to collectively explore green and left responses to a political moment characterised by growing insecurity, ongoing wars and conflicts, climate collapse and profound shifts in the global order. The Academy will provide a space to examine different strands of green-left political thought and action, and to explore how to build the forms of counter-power needed to inspire, empower and strengthen progressive politics across Europe.

Throughout the Academy, the Green European Foundation will contribute a series of GEF Talks and workshops that connect current Foundation projects with the Academy’s overarching themes. From demographic futures and Greens in government to Europe’s contested green transition, the rise of the far right and the relationship between technology and democracy, these sessions will bring together researchers, policymakers and Green actors from across Europe to exchange experiences, challenge assumptions and collectively reflect on the political strategies needed for the years ahead.

Programme

You can find the GEF Talks sessions below. The full Green Academy programme will be available on the Institute for Political Ecology’s website soon.

Friday 21 August 2026

21:00–23:00 | Opening Debate – Do Monsters Smell Flowers? (EN)

• Inga Rademacher – Professor, School of Policy and Global Affairs, City St. George’s University of London
• Asad Rehman – Chief Executive, Friends of the Earth Europe
• Meryem Almaci (TBC) – Member, GEF Board and Member, Groen
• Sabrina Fernandes – Brazilian writer, economist and climate activist

The official opening debate of the Green Academy explores how progressive movements can respond to today’s multiple crises while imagining new forms of political action and hope.

Saturday 22 August 2026

11:30–13:30 | GEF Talks – Green European Journal: Demographic Futures (EN)

• Speakers TBC

Drawing on the latest edition of the Green European Journal, this roundtable examines demographic change, ageing societies, care, migration and intergenerational justice from a political ecology perspective.

Sunday 23 August 2026

11:30–13:30 | GEF Talks – Greens in Government Workshop (EN)

• Florent Marcellesi – Senior EU Consultant, former Member of the European Parliament and former co-chair of the Spanish Greens

An interactive workshop exploring the opportunities and challenges of Greens in government. The session will bring together experienced Green politicians and participants to discuss case studies and lessons learned.

Monday 24 August 2026

11:30–13:30 | GEF Talks – Deal or No Deal: The Contested Futures of Europe’s Green Transition (EN)

• Agata Meysner – Board member, Green European Foundation and Co-Founder, Generation Climate Europe
• Sofia Martínez – Instituto para la Diversificación y Ahorro de la Energía
• Pablo Sanchez – European Public Services Union

Europe’s Green Deal has entered a new political phase. This panel explores the contested futures of Europe’s green transition; speakers will sketch out the contradictory trends defining the current movement and look ahead to key struggles for European green politics.

Afternoon (time TBC) | GEF Talks Workshop – The Far Right as an Economic Monster (EN)

• Inga Rademacher – Professor, School of Policy and Global Affairs, City St. George’s University of London

This workshop examines the economic narratives underpinning the contemporary far right and explores progressive alternatives capable of challenging them.

Tuesday 25 August 2026

11:30–13:30 | GEF Talks – Technology and Democracy (EN)

Speakers: TBC

Practicalities

Date: 21-26 August 2026

Location: Komiža, Vis island, Croatia

Language: English and Croatian

This is an invitation-only event with limited capacity. For more information please contact carlotta.geremia@gef.eu or lana@ipe.hr.

This event is organized by the Green European Foundation with the support of Institute for Political Ecology and with financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.