On 20 March the EESC hosted a virtual side event in conjunction with Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS) on Designing Systemic Change, bringing several experts, activists and influencers together to share their knowledge and expertise on climate action through the lens of systemic change.

The event was chaired by the EESC's vice-president with responsibility for Communication, Cillian Lohan, who introduced the topic: "Climate change is intensifying and it is hard to see a way out as individuals; this challenge requires a fundamental change of culture, behaviour and values".

The event was divided into four panels, all focusing on the need for systemic change to address climate change.

Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, opened the first panel with a video message highlighting the need for an all-embracing approach: "Climate change, biodiversity loss, resources diminution and pollution are connected, and we need to tackle them together. The European Commission's response is the Green Deal, but citizens have a role to play, as we need fresh ideas that have to be systemic".

Josephine Becker, climate activist, mentioned the concept of climate justice: "Europe is in part responsible for this climate crisis, so we have a duty to act."

On the second panel, Corina Angheloiu, Senior Design Strategist at the Forum for the Future, gave her view on the right approach to launch systemic change: "The key entry point to start systemic change is values; current economic systems focus on efficiency, but if we put justice at the heart of the system, we could see the consequences".

Nisreen Elsaim, chair of the United Nations Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, had this message: "The current economic and political systems are not serving our purposes and are harming our environment. Results-based management is not working".

Lewis Akenji, Managing Director of the Hot or Cool Institute, explained in the third panel discussion how current systems influence people's lifestyles and choice of transport, work, food, etc.: "We are creating growing inequalities and consuming too much; current economic and political systems are not making us happy".

Saoi O'Connor, climate activist, talked about the role of decision-makers: "Leaders and politicians can talk about numbers and policies, but they don't seem to take people's reality into consideration".

The last panel showcased specific examples of systemic change initiatives. Christian Kroll, CEO and founder of the web search engine Ecosia, explained that all the company's profits are used to plant different species of trees with added value for local communities around the world.

The slow fashion campaigner and influencer Juliet Bonhomme stressed the power of consumers through the choices they make: "Our money is our power".

The event was followed on Facebook by more than 100 people from across Europe, who also had the opportunity to discover systemic change through art with Sophie Ong and Tibor Miklos, two artists who presented works inspired by the debates immediately after the event. (dgf)