How can we reimagine education, work, and leadership for a climate-just future where everyone thrives? On Wednesday 8 October, the University of Twente’s Green Hub and WECF international invite you to the conference Imagining a Climate Just Future at the DesignLab of the University, from 10:30 to 17:00. The event is part of Sustainability Week 2025 and creates a space to explore how we can shape just, inclusive, and sustainable futures together.

The conference focuses on four key goals: raising awareness of ecofeminism in climate policy (such as the European Green Deal); encouraging policymakers to better integrate gender into climate action; strengthening advocacy by bringing the EU Green Deal Scorecard into feminist and climate movements; and boosting ecofeminist movement building through media, campaigns, and public engagement. A central aim is to bring these ambitions to life through collective reflection, dialogue, and action during this one-day gathering.

Guided by Dr. Alex Baker-Friesen (Founder of Ozymandias Intelligence, former Green Hub Twente coordinator, and UT Sustainability Strategy Lead), the programme combines interactive workshops, expert dialogue, and opportunities for co-creation. Participants will explore the crossroads of artificial intelligence, inclusive education, and climate justice, engaging with pressing questions such as: How is generative AI transforming the way we learn, teach, and collaborate? What does true gender equity and diversity mean in building a fairer, greener world? And how can marginalized voices be amplified in shaping climate resilience?

The day opens with words of welcome from Christy Aikhorin (Director of WECF Netherlands and UT alumna) and Prof. Mieke Boon, followed by a panel of experts from academia, technology, and sustainability. Together, they will reflect on how AI is reshaping education and what its ethical and societal implications mean for the future of climate action. Participants are invited to share their own experiences and ideas: how they use AI in their studies, what they expect from their teachers, and how employers may expect them to engage with emerging technologies — all through the lens of equity and inclusion.

Alongside the plenary sessions, participants can take part in a variety of workshops. In the morning, options include the EU Green Deal Scorecard Workshop, a session on Strategies for Climate Resilience, or an interactive discussion on The Hidden Dangers of Pesticides in Twente (in Dutch). In the afternoon, sessions continue with Toxic Free Periods – Menstruation, Empowerment & Sustainability, a Climate Café game on climate policy decision-making, and a workshop on co-creating an inclusive vision of AI in education. There will also be space for informal exchange during lunch and coffee breaks, before the day concludes with collective reflections, takeaways, and drinks.

This event is open to students, young professionals, educators, businesses, and community members who want to engage in dialogue, build alliances, and co-create new narratives for a fairer and more inclusive future.

What: Imagining a Climate Just Future Conference – Workshops, Panel Discussions & Hands-on Exercises
When: Wednesday 8 October, 10:30 – 17:00 (or join for part of the day)
Where: DesignLab, University of Twente – [route information]
Registration link

Full Programme

• 10:30–11:00 – Registration & Coffee
• 11:00–11:20 – Opening Remarks (Christy Aikhorin, Director WECF Netherlands)
• 11:20–12:30 – Morning Breakout Sessions (choose one)
o EU Green Deal Scorecard Workshop (WECF – Clara Presman)
o Leading through the Shift: Strategies for Climate Resilience (Part I | Alex Baker)
o Pesticides: An Invisible Danger in Twente (Dutch session by Pesticide Action Network Netherlands)
• 12:30–13:30 – Lunch & Networking
• 13:30–15:20 – Expert Panel: How will AI transform learning?
• 15:20–15:30 – Coffee Break
• 15:30–17:00 – Afternoon Breakout Sessions (choose one)
o Toxic Free Periods (WECF – Susanne Bouwman)
o Climate Café (Game-based Climate Policy) – Marcel van der Kuil
o Co-creating an Inclusive Vision of AI in Education (Part II | Alex Baker)
• 17:00–18:00 – Closing Plenary & Takeaways, followed by Drinks

Please note: No need to stay all day – you’re welcome to join for just the sessions that inspire you most.

Part of Sustainability Week 2025
This event is part of Sustainability Week 2025, a week full of engaging and inspiring events designed to spark ideas and action for a sustainable future. Discover the full programme here https://www.utwente.nl/en/organisation/news-agenda/events-ceremonies/sustainabilityweek/

“Your voice matters. We look forward to shaping new narratives and solutions together — for a climate-just future.”