Launch Event - Shared Green Societies
Across Europe, the demand for a green transition that is inclusive, just and has the backing of the people is increasingly urgent. Communities, authorities, civil society and SSH (Social Sciences and Humanities) researchers are innovating every day, yet too often work in isolation. Building shared understanding is key to linking technological and policy opportunities with fairness concerns, while responding to mounting pressure to act.
Shared Green Societies is a new European forum designed to bridge this gap—connecting evidence, practice, and policy, and bringing together those leading on the ground with those shaping ideas and strategies.
The Forum launched in Brussels on 28 January 2026.
The launch event brought together civil society, researchers, local and regional actors and policymakers from across Europe to co-create the forum’s next steps. The forum will provide support for community-led initiatives and help secure a green transition that is fair, inclusive and firmly supported by citizens.
Watch the recording here.
Learn more about the forum itself here.
Agenda
Location: TownHall Europe, Brussels or online
Date & time: 28 January, 11:00-19:00 CET (online between 11-13.15 and 18-19.00)
A keynote conversation with Astrid Ladefoged, Deputy to the Director and Head of Green Transitions Unit at DG Research and Innovation.
(This session is also available for online viewing)
Keynote
Astrid Ladefoged
European Commission
Host
Chris Foulds
Anglia Ruskin University
Host
Rosie Robison
Anglia Ruskin University
This session takes an interview format in which five potential ‘Champions’ of the Forum join to share their experiences working in local communities on actions supporting the implementation of the European Green Deal, and how methods from different SSH disciplines supported them.
(This session is also available for online viewing)
Host
Kinga Kovacs
Energy Cities
Speaker
Jean-Paul Grange
Val-de-Marne en Transition
Speaker
Pelle Bengtsberg
Reformaten
Speaker
Filipa Corais
Braga Municipality
Speaker
Javier Tobias
ECODES
Speaker
Rhiannon Laubach
Ballyhoura Development
Plus reflections from researchers across different SSH disciplines.
An interactive session on advocacy within Shared Green Societies focuses on developing a collective policy agenda and define shared priorities for next steps on joint lobbying, research, and funding collaboration.
Host
PJ Beers
DRIFT
Host
Pia Wieser
WECF
Speaker
Leida Rijnhout
ECOLISE
This session will introduce the Collaboration Hub initiatives. One representatives per each stand will make 1 minute pitch presentations of their table.
Host
Valeria Fantini
ALDA
Connected Activities
Supporting organisations
To date, the supporting organisations of Shared Green Societies include, but are not limited to, partners of the EU funded SHARED GREEN DEAL project.
Related news
CONTACT
For further details please contact co-leads Professor Chris Foulds ([email protected]) and Professor Rosie Robison ([email protected]).
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101036640. The sole responsibility for the content of this website lies with the SHARED GREEN DEAL HAS project and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.