RETOOL project embarks on a journey of research and dialogue to open conversations on climate democracy and provide fresh perspectives on existing practices and innovations across key domains to deepen the understanding of the relationship between democratic governance and the climate imperative. It aims to identify new frameworks to address the climate crisis's complexity, urgency, and long-term impacts and contribute to the strengthening and revitalisation of democratic governance in Europe more broadly!

RETOOL aims to conceptualise, theorise, and analyse both the impact of climate transitions on democratic governance and how our structures of democratic governance shape climate transitions. Doing so will enable RETOOL to contribute to enhancing the ability of democratic governance to address complex problems and enhance the capacity of democratic governance to mobilise and engage citizens in climate transitions. By delivering these insights, we aim to improve policymaking at all levels of government and encourage international cooperation.

Nine partners from across Europe, led by Dublin City University (DCU), are uniting their expertise on climate governance and democracy in the RETOOL project. Each partner drives key research tasks, contributing diverse insights!

Last June the consortium of the RETOOL Project gathered at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, for its first plenary meeting on site!

We discussed the project's progress and future milestones.

Key discussions focused on enhancing stakeholder engagement and ensuring the sustainability and impact of our outcomes.

Over two days, we refined our research objectives on:

1. Climate transition in deliberative democracy
2. Democratic innovations in climate transition
3. The role of citizens' assemblies and climate movements

The first event that the RETOOL co-organized, was the Hybrid European Democracy Festival in May 2024. A significant opportunity for public engagement, organized by the consortium partner, DD Foundation. The event facilitated discussions among citizens from over 15 EU Member States on key European issues, utilizing physical hubs across various cities to foster a cohesive European public discourse environment.

"Hybrid European Democracy Festival would be the pan-European public sphere that connects everyday problems to global challenges. By exchanging experiences and ideas with other citizens who share the same concerns, we may be able to achieve this" Joanna Kurvits, Project manager

The festival enabled RETOOL to initiate conversations on climate democracy, discuss project goals, and gather feedback from participants regarding planned activities.

The festival's main stage was in Tartu, Estonia, celebrating the city’s designation as the European Capital of Culture for the year.

The first stakeholder co-design event of the project took place on 11 June 2024 in the Brussels School of Governance at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and online. The event had around 30 participants, including members of our consortium, our Advisory Board and other pertinent stakeholders in the topics that RETOOL is exploring such as the European Climate Foundation.

Nina Koistinen from The Center for Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Law - CCEEL, University of Eastern Finland had the chance to participate in two significant events:

The FWO SRN Summer Workshop at Hasselt University (26 & 27 August) and the 11th European Environmental Law Forum (EELF) Conference at the University of Groningen (28 & 30 August).

🎯 These events provided her with an excellent platform to share insights on the preliminary methodology and data collection process for her study on the role of courts, as part of the research on non-majoritarian institutions in climate democracy.

🎯 Nina Koistinen was able to present the RETOOL project to a broader audience and engaged in meaningful discussions with fellow scholars.

Alice Brawley and Brendan Moore recently attended two conferences, showcasing their dedication to advancing research and fostering collaboration!

🎯 They participated in the 2024 General Conference at University College Dublin, where scholars from around the world engaged in insightful discussions and debates on political science and the European Studies Conference in Trento, Italy, exchanging ideas with experts and immersing themselves in dynamic panels and networking opportunities.

🎯 These events provided our project colleagues with an excellent platform to share insights on RETOOL objectives allowing them to present their work to a broader audience and engage in meaningful discussions with fellow scholars. Both events offered incredible opportunities for academic growth, collaboration, and cultural engagement.

RETOOL partner Goran Dominioni, has just published a thought-provoking article with Dan Esty in the Environmental Law Reporter.

The article, titled "Designing Effective Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanisms: Aligning the Global Trade and Climate Change Regimes", dives into the critical intersection of climate change policy and global trade. It offers insights into how we can structure effective mechanisms to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining fair trade practices.

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