• Climate Change and the Arts by Vjosa Beqaj-Krasniqi and Visar Berisha

Summer School as School 2023
The Public Program
August 16, 2023, 20:40

Climate Change and the Arts
Presentation by Vjosa Beqaj-Krasniqi and Visar Berisha

Venue: Boxing Club, Mark Isaku 8, 10000 Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo

Abstract

This presentation is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the science, impacts, and policies related to climate change. The course addresses the causes and consequences of climate change, its impacts on natural and human systems, and the strategies needed to mitigate and adapt to climate change. This course aims to explore the various ways that public participation can be used to address climate change: different models of public participation and the role of stakeholders in climate change mitigation, with a particular focus on the intersection of climate change with arts and culture.

Understand the scientific basis of climate change; Identify the drivers and impacts of climate change on natural and human systems; Assess policy responses (across sectors) to climate change; Develop strategies and skills for critical thinking and communication related to climate change.

The presentation will begin with an examination of the historical context of climate change and its impacts on climate systems. The course will then address the scientific aspect of climate change by examining various models and projections, including technological solutions to the problem. The content of the EU climate change acquis will be discussed in terms of existing frameworks, agreements, conventions, regulations, etc. This course will also provide insights into the history and development of the Green Agenda, its key principles and objectives, and examine strategies for achieving a green economy and society. The course will then focus on the importance of communication and public participation in climate change by examining various models and strategies of public participation, including the benefits and limitations of public participation. Examples of public participation by arts and cultural institutions will be presented and explored, as well as research on artworks and activist art related to climate change. The final part of the course focuses on the policy perspective of climate change in relation to the role of stakeholders, including the role of arts and cultural institutions in climate policy discussion and development.

The course also includes a group project in which students will work in small groups of 2 to 4 members. The groups' task will be to identify how climate policy can be influenced by arts and culture.

Biographies

Visar Berisha has been working in social and policy research for more than 20 years now. He is specialized in quantitative and qualitative research with more than 15 years of experience at Kantar Kosovo. He is also specialized in policy research in the fields of public health and environmental research, as well as local governance and public finance, with 7 years of experience at the Institute for Advanced Studies. Visar is responsible for research coordination and client service at Kantar Kosovo, and he currently teaches four public policy courses at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Kosovo.

Visar holds a Master of Science degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of London and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Prishtina. He speaks Albanian, English and Serbian.

Vjosa Beqaj-Krasniqi is a results-oriented manager and coordinator of policy reforms with 11 years’ experience. Hardworking and reliable head of department, focused on leading and supporting team. Core competencies include planning and monitoring as well as excellent communication with wide range of target groups/actors. Vjosa is motivated to grow professionally. Her areas of expertise include Strategic planning and prioritizing and Team Building and empowering. Since 2011, Vjosa is Director of Department of Sectorial Policies at the Office of Prime Minister in Prishtina, Kosovo. She also works as a Local Trainer/Consultant for organizations such as "HERAS" - WUS Austria, ReLOaDProject- UNDP, GIZ and KIPA.

Vjosa is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Ljubljana and has a Master of Science on Environment and Management from the Lancaster University, UK.