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Green Political Activists Training (Budapest)
Are you interested in learning more about the climate crisis effects in Hungary and the EU and the policies being discussed to tackle it? Then join our young activists’ training led by experts on the field!
About the event
The second session of the Green Political Activism Training will tackle the sustainable countryside. Alongside experts, we will explore the issues of water management, ecosystems, sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty, biodiversity and agricultural policy at both national and EU level.
Project background
This event is part of the Green European Foundation’s Green Political Activist Training Project. We put together a series of learning activities aiming to help participants to understand the concepts of political ecology and apply them to both local and European-level politics. We will examine various policies and policy proposals ranging from local politics to the European Green Deal. Our goal is to prepare participants for both assessing and advocating policies in line with progressive green values. We’ll also provide young green activists with them tools and knowledge, as well as an opportunity to network, get in contact with political actors and experts on multiple levels and come together as a political community. It is essential for us to help like-minded movements and actors connect in order to help the political ecosystem flourish.
Speakers
Anikó Csecserits
Anikó will describe what are the main current and future habitats of the region and what influences have shaped them in the past and now. This session will look at the condition of our native forests, grasslands, wetlands and agricultural habitats, what ecosystem services they can provide, and what sources of information are available? What is the importance of biodiversity for human life?
Péter Kajner
In recent years, Hungary’s drought has accelerated spectacularly: the water yield of our watercourses is decreasing, especially in the eastern part of the country, and long and devastating droughts and heat waves are frequent. Yet, the phenomenon was spread out in almost whole Eurpe. Agriculture is not only a victim but also partly responsible for this. Excessively high rates of intensive arable cultivation, the decline of natural habitats, the drainage of inland water and the increasing exploitation of surface water resources are accelerating the drying of landscapes. Climate change is expected to worsen the situation and we need to find a rapid and effective response to these challenges. The solution may be to retain water in landscapes using near-natural methods. However, this requires space, which in turn requires land-use change and sustainable management practices.
Lili Balogh
Dalma Dedák
The functioning of natural systems has been altered, the renewability of natural resources has been compromised and the quality of life of present and future generations is fundamentally affected. Recognising the economic and social costs of environmental degradation, the European Union has launched an intensive effort to restore natural systems, the steps of which are set out in the policy framework of the Green Agreement. This presentation will show how the EU’s biodiversity and agriculture strategy fits into the EU’s green policy framework and will discuss the implications for domestic environmental and agricultural policy. Can we in Europe create a comprehensive framework of commitments and actions that can be successful in tackling the causes of biodiversity loss? How can we avoid contradictions and successfully reconcile the interests of the players in the equation – nature, farmers, businesses and consumers? Some degree of warming is inevitable; how can nature and society adapt to the inevitable effects of climate change?
Programme
9.30 – 10.00 Arrival, registration
10.00 – 10.10 Opening
10.10 – 11.20 Csecserits Anikó PhD: The natural environment of the Carpathian Basin, the importance of ecosystem services
11.20 – 11.30 Coffee break
11.30 – 12.40 Kajner Péter: What can we do against the water crisis?
12.40 – 13.30 Lunch break
13.30 – 14.40 Lili Balogh: Sustainable agriculture, food sovereignty
14.40 – 14.50 Coffee break
14.50 – 16.00 Dalma Dedák: EU biodiversity and agriculture strategy in the light of sustainability
Practicalities
Date and Time: 13.05.2023 9:30-16:00
Location: Budapest, Király utca 50. 1061 Hungary
Language: The event will be held in Hungarian.
Registration: Please register in advance here.
Other useful info: The event will be held in person. We have limited places, the registration follows a first come-first served logic.
This event is organised by the Green European Foundation with the support of Progressive Hungary Foundation and the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this event.