This one-day conference is a side event of the 3rd International Interdisciplinary Conference PLACES, organised by Rīga Stradiņš University.

Numerous studies have found that narratives, which accompany scientific consensus, technological innovations and climate and energy policies, are important triggers for mobilising (or not) the public support for climate-friendly action and green energy transition. At the same time, climate and energy narratives are constantly challenged and contested. Which narratives are the most persuasive regarding climate change and energy transition? What makes them persuasive? Who are the most powerful narrators? What are the horizontal and vertical dynamics between different narratives? What similarities and differences can be observed in climate and energy narratives across the world?

You are cordially invited to submit an abstract discussing the narratives on climate change and energy transition. Both theoretical and empirical studies are welcomed focusing on a wide geography and a spectrum of topics including but not limited to:

• Formation, projection and reception phases of narratives;
• Factors determining the persuasive power of narratives;
• The role of narrators in the spread of narratives;
• Contestation and emergence of alternative narratives;
• Specific geopolitical, historical, economic, social and cultural contexts and their impact on narratives.

These debates will contribute to the findings of a research project on climate change narratives carried out by the Faculty of European Studies. They will produce a number of suggestions for further awareness and engagement of society in climate and energy-saving activities via the narratives, and will also set the future research agenda about the narratives and their role in addressing the challenges of climate change and energy transition.

Programme

Session I: Narratives: Why They Matter in Climate and Energy Transitions Chair: Prof. Andris Sprūds, Vineta Kleinberga
11:00–11:30	KEYNOTE: To the Question of Resilient Normative Images of the EU at the Age of Uncertainty: Narratives of Climate Change and Environmental Protection Prof. Natalia Chaban, Department of Media and Communication, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
11:30–12:00	KEYNOTE: Words as Tools for Climate Action: Challenging Business as Usual with Emancipatory More-than-Human Language Asst. Prof. Michał Pałasz, Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland
12:00–12:30	Discussion
12:30–13:30	Break
Session II: Narratives as They Are Told: Climate and Energy Transitions from Various Actors' Perspectives Chair: Vineta Kleinberga
13:30–13:40	Between Two Worlds: Sovereignty, Climate and Narrating the Future in Taiwan Prof. Ben O'Loughlin, Dr Pauline Sophie Heinrichs
13:40–13:50	Climate Policy Narratives of the Political Elite of Latvia (Parliament, Cabinet of Ministers, and Municipalities): A Comparative Analysis Lelde Metla-Rozentāle
13:50–14:00	Market Arguments, Contested Energy Transitions and Sweden's Energy Policy Framework Hugo Faber
14:00–14:10	Climate Change, the Media and Consumption Narratives Dr Anastasia Denisova
14:10–14:20	Narratives about Climate Change Produced in Latvian Business Environment Kristīne Blumfelde-Rutka
14:20–14:30	Projection of the European Union Climate and Environmental Narratives in the Debates of the Latvian Parliament (2018–2022) Katrīna Laura Tkačenko
14:30–15:00	Discussion
15:00–15:30	Break
Session III: Enabling and Contesting the Narratives: The Role of Perceptions, Attitudes and Imaginaries Chair: Kristīne Blumfelde-Rutka
15:30–15:40	Winners or Losers? Perceptions of Climate Change and Related Policies in Latvian Society Vineta Kleinberga
15:40–15:50	Institutionalising a Promise: The Case of SMR Regulation in Finland Dr Matti Kojo
15:50–16:00	Generation Z’s Attitudes Towards the Narrative about Sustainable Transport and Electromobility in Poznań, Poland Zuzanna Jezierska
16:00–16:10	Integration of Climate Change Content in Marketing Communication of Retail Companies in Latvia Santa Kliedere
16:10–16:20	Who's Behind the News? The Role of News Agency LETA in the Framing of Climate Change in Latvian Media Dr Ilva Skulte
16:20–16:30	Production of Wind Energy in Latvia: A Comparison of the Government's Strategic Narrative and the Political Narratives of the Kurzeme Planning Region  (2019–2022) Dace Vašuka
16:30–16:40	The Survey of Systemic Food Waste Generation Causes in Latvian Retail, Catering and Households Raimonda Soloha
16:40–17:00	Discussion
17:00–17:30	Break
Session IV: Political, Economic, Legal and Cultural Contexts for Climate and Energy Narratives Chair: Lelde Metla-Rozentāle, Vineta Kleinberga
17:30–17:40	Bringing Climate Action to the European Level: Assessing Why EU Member States Push for an Ambitious EU Climate Agenda Māra Baumane
17:40–17:50	Mapping the Existing Local Ecosystem Waste Management Practices in the EU Anna Broka
17:50–18:00	Corporate Sustainability Reporting – More than a Tool for a Company's Reputation Management Kristiāna Plāte
18:00–18:10	Potential of Legal Tech for Energy Justice Legislation Judith Kärn
18:10–18:20	Waste Management in the Context of the Circular Economy: International and Latvian Experience Laura Martinsone
18:20–18:30	Do You Believe Them? Perceived Trustworthiness of the Narrator in Evaluating the Effectiveness of Climate Change Narratives Vineta Kleinberga
18:30–18:50	Discussion
18:50–19:00	Concluding Remarks: Future Research Agenda Prof. Andris Sprūds, Vineta Kleinberga