25 November 2026 | 18:00 CET | Dresden, Germany & Online
AESOP is pleased to announce the upcoming lecture “Urban Greenlash: Understanding the Phenomenon and Developing Responses”, taking place on 25 November 2026 at 18:00 CET, in Dresden, Germany, and online as part of the AESOP Lecture Series 2026.
Organised by the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER), with the support of AESOP, the event will explore the growing socio-political backlash against urban climate policies and discuss how planners, researchers and policymakers can better understand and respond to these challenges.
About the Lecture
As cities increasingly adopt ambitious climate policies, measures aimed at promoting sustainability and environmental transformation may encounter resistance, contestation and political opposition.
The lecture will address the phenomenon of urban greenlash, encouraging critical reflection on the aspects of urban climate policy that make it vulnerable to socio-political backlash, while exploring possible responses to support ambitious and inclusive urban climate action.
The event aims to foster dialogue on the relationship between climate policy, public acceptance, urban governance and the challenges of implementing sustainable transformations.
Speakers and Discussion
The lecture will be delivered by:
Catarina Heeckt – London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion featuring:
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Florian Wendler – BUND, Dresden
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Wolfgang Deppe – Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
The discussion will be moderated by:
Neelakshi Joshi – Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER)
Event Details
Date: 25 November 2026
Time: 18:00 CET
Venue: ZfBK – Zentrum für Baukultur Sachsen, Kulturpalast Dresden, Schloßstraße 2, 01067 Dresden, Germany
Format: Hybrid – in person and online via YouTube Live
AESOP warmly invites its members, researchers, planning professionals, students and all interested participants to join this timely discussion on the challenges and opportunities of advancing urban climate action.
Further information about the event:
We encourage the AESOP community to share this event within their academic and professional networks.
