Social Risks in Times of Climate Change: Inequalities and Attitudes
A two-day workshop at the University of Hamburg
On 19–20 February, WELRISCC hosted the workshop “Social Risks in Times of Climate Change: Inequalities and Attitudes” at the University of Hamburg. Bringing together international scholars from political science, sociology, and political economy, the workshop focused on how climate change and climate policies intersect with social inequalities, risk perceptions, and welfare state responses. The full programme is attached.
The first day centred on the territorial and subnational dimensions of climate-related social risks. After a welcome and introduction by Katharina Zimmermann (University of Hamburg), contributions examined how spatial context shapes climate risks, perceptions, and political attitudes. Maurizio Schulz (University of Hamburg) and Katharina Zimmermann introduced the regional identifier in the WELRISCC/GreTA survey, followed by conceptual and empirical inputs from Yuri Kazepov (University of Vienna), Dennis Abel and Franziska Quoss (Gesis), Alexia Katsanidou (Gesis), and Hanna Schwander and Pernilla Söderberg (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin). Across these presentations,a key theme was the analytical value – and political sensitivity – of linking survey data to territorial characteristics. Discussions highlighted both the potential of spatially linked data to capture unequal exposure to climate risks and the methodological and ethical challenges involved. A dedicated comments session, led by Lorenzo Mascioli (Sciences Po Paris), further deepened the debate on the territorial dimension.
The afternoon shifted attention to open survey questions, vignette experiments, and links to qualitative data. Contributions by Adeline Otto (KU Leuven), Ludwig Ipach (University of Hamburg), and Katharina Zimmermann outlined the use of open-ended questions, vignette experiments, and focus groups within the WELRISCC/GreTA survey. Inputs from Till Hilmar (University of Vienna) and Julian Heide (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) reflected on what qualitative approaches can reveal about deservingness perceptions and socio-ecological risk, as well as the practical challenges of analysing open-ended responses. Comments by Aurelius Nowitzky (University of Jena) and Antonia Peißker (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) guided the following plenary discussion.
The second day focused on occupational and sectoral “brownness” and “greenness”. Presentations explored how employment structures, job insecurity, and sectoral exposure shape attitudes towards the green transition. Maurizio Schulz and Katharina Zimmermann introduced approaches to measuring green and brown jobs in the WELRISCC/GreTA survey, followed by empirical contributions from Sophia Stutzmann (Sceinces Po Paris), Martino Kuntze (University of Rome) and Nilüfer Atagun (Ankara University). Discussions highlighted the distributional implications of the green transition, particularly for workers in carbon-intensive sectors, and the role of social policy in mediating these risks. A comments session with Arvid Lindh (SOFI Stockholm), and Sarah Hathiari (University of Bath) underscored the need for conceptual and methodological clarity.
Overall, the workshop provided an intensive and productive space for advancing the conceptual and methodological foundations of the WELRISCC project. By bringing together perspectives on territory, inequalities, occupation, and attitudes, the discussions reinforced the importance of integrating spatial, sectoral, and qualitative dimensions into the study of climate-related social risks. The exchange will directly inform the ongoing development and analysis of the WELRISCC/GreTA survey and future collaborative research.