Human stories of climate change
Human stories of climate change
Sustainability & Engagement

Thu. February 19, 6:30PM

Human stories of climate change

How are individuals and communities experiencing, adapting to, and responding to climate change?

Graphs and models are increasingly precise, yet climate action still lags behind science. Between evidence and decision-making lie individual stories shaped by attention, emotion, and memory.


Drawing on the book Stories of Human Resilience in a Changing Climate by Silvia Anna Ainio and Susanna Gionfra, this conversation explores how climate change is understood not only through models and metrics, but through stories rooted in lived experience.


From flooded villages and retreating ice to fragile coastlines and inherited memories, the discussion brings forward everyday encounters with environmental change that rarely enter policy debates. Silvia Ainio and Susanna Gionfra will examine when storytelling can deepen understanding and responsibility — and when it risks oversimplification or distortion — reflecting on the ethical power of narrative, art, and illustration in climate communication.


The evening will end with a networking moment and a book signing of Stories of Human Resilience in a Changing Climate (Routledge, 2025).'

speaker

Susanna Gionfra

Susanna Gionfra is an expert in biodiversity and nature-based solutions at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. Her experience spans research, consultancy, and international organisations, with a focus on nature conservation, environmental economics, and climate change.

speaker

Silvia Anna Ainio

Silvia Anna Ainio is a climate and sustainable finance expert at the European Commission, where she works on strategic green financing instruments for DG Environment. She previously served as Lead Climate Finance Expert for the Italian G7 Presidency and has a background in climate finance and economic policy.

moderator

Chantal van Ham

Chantal van Ham is Landscape Partnerships Lead for Europe at Commonland, bringing people together to restore landscapes and regenerate the Earth through the holistic 4 Returns framework. A systems thinker with degrees in International Business Studies and Forest and Nature Conservation, Chantal leverages her international network and experience in EU policy and multi-stakeholder dialogue to scale landscape partnerships that make nature, people, and the economy thrive. Her career spans PricewaterhouseCoopers, IUCN, and Arcadis.
Start
Thu. February 19, 6:30PM
End
Thu. February 19, 9:00PM
Format
TheMerode Talks
Language
English (US)
Guest allowed?
Yes, 1 per member

Address

Event
Place Poelaert, 6
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Parking
Parking Poelaert, Place Poelaert 1000 Brussels

Detailed programme

Welcome
Thu. February 19, 6:30PM
Talk and Q&A
Thu. February 19, 7:00PM
Book signing and networking
Thu. February 19, 8:00PM
End
Thu. February 19, 9:00PM