VONA Talks

In this episode, Sofiia talks to Christina Wunder, who works at the intersection of tech, policy and sustainability. In Brussels, Christina is also known as a founder and a community organiser at Idealist Quarterly, quarterly events for people who are pushing for social, economic and climate justice.Christina grew up as an immigrant child in a small town in Germany, where her childhood was very different, as oppose to her current expat life in Brussels, Belgium. Early on Christina became aware of the privileges, being discriminated herself on many occasions. Much later in her life, as the flood in her home region happened, being in a very dark space herself, realising all the injustices in the world related to colonialism, patriarchy, white supremacy and capitalism... Christina felt like she needs to do something about it. She started with afterwork drinks with a few friends that work on the issues. More and more people were joining the conversations, which grew into Idealist Quarterly community and events that gather at least a hundred of engaged and interested citizens to talk about sustainability, policy and tech.Listen to the whole episode to learn more about Christina's journey, career, and events, as well as speakers and attendees that join. Moreover, if you are in Brussels, be sure to join Christina for the next Idealist Quarterly event.If you want to connect to Christina, check out her LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. Relevant links and recommendations:Idealist Quarterly NewsletterIdealist Quarterly eventsFor more on VONA:Sign up for our monthly Newsletter at www.VONA.internationalInstagram @vona.internationalTwitter @VONA_intLinkedIn VONA InternationalPodcast hosted by Sofiia ShevchukVisuals and podcast production by Tamas Viski

In this episode, Sofiia talks to Suzana Carp independent EU climate and energy specialist, working currently on supporting Cleantech for Europe as its deputy Executive Director but also is a Head of list (FR) of Volt Belgium for the 2024 European elections. Suzana grew up in the Black Sea region country, Romania, and since her school years in 1990s became passionate about environment and climate topics, as she reflects on some of her school years activist memories. Suzana travelled the world before landing in Brussels, but it was exactly her school years that affected her choice to work on climate and environment portfolio throughout her career in various countries and organisations. With Brexit, Suzana also became deeply involved in democratic, social and citizenship questions. Following many award winning and successful engagements with several international NGOs as well as EU institutions, today Suzana decided to run for the EU elections. Why she decided to run, which party she represents, what are her aspirations for when she is elected, and which struggles she faces in her campaign… - learn all of this in the episode.If you want to connect to Suzana, check out her LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. Relevant links and recommendations:Check out Suzana’s webpage - https://suzanacarp4eu.be/ The Climate Action Blind Spot in EU Democracy - by Suzana Carp For more on VONA:Sign up for our monthly Newsletter at www.VONA.internationalInstagram @vona.internationalTwitter @VONA_intLinkedIn VONA InternationalPodcast hosted by Sofiia ShevchukVisuals and podcast production by Tamas Viski

In this episode, Sofiia talks to Elise Buckle, Co-Founder and Co-Director of SHE Changes Climate, CEO of Climate & Sustainability; Leadership Mentor and a Co-Chair of the Climate Impact Group. Growing up in a French countryside, in nature, Elise started her career in the humanitarian sector in Tajikistan, Chile, and several other organisations active in disaster reduction, where she became aware of the connection between climate change and poverty reduction. Then with COP11 Elise started working on climate change, as an advisor for members of the European Parliament. It is precisely then, when climate change has been a red thread throughout Elise’s professional career and personal commitment to the cause throughout working with diverse organisations. Early on Elise also realised how important women’s role is in climate negotiations - in order to bring different perspectives, to bring empathy, and include every voice. Today Elise leads SHE Changes Climate, an organisation that advocates for more women in climate negotiations at all levels. Elise shares more about her COP experience across years, about starting with SHE Changes Climate, the idea of a mentoring programme for younger generations and more - listen to episode to here more and get inspired.If you want to connect to Elise, check out her LinkedIn account; as well as the Linkedin account for SHE Changes Climate. Relevant links and recommendations:UNITE FOR CLIMATE SOLUTIONS SUMMIT by SHE Changes ClimateClimate Justice - book by Mary RobinsonBe One Mentoring - mentoring programme by SHE Changes ClimateFor more on VONA:Sign up for our monthly Newsletter at www.VONA.internationalInstagram @vona.internationalTwitter @VONA_intLinkedIn VONA InternationalPodcast hosted by Sofiia ShevchukVisuals and podcast production by Tamas Viski

In this episode, Sofiia talks to Maureen Walschot, a climate security expert and consultant. Through her dedicated work, Maureen delves into unravelling the intricate connections between climate change, peace, and security. Her focus spans across various domains such as water diplomacy and cooperation, as well as the intersection of gender, climate, and security. Despite the persistent presence of environmental and feminist studies throughout Maureen's life, they existed in parallel. It wasn't until her university studies and subsequent PhD journey that she started exploring the convergence of gender, environment — specifically transboundary water management — and security. Maureen shares her rich experience, recounting her involvement in empowering local stakeholders in conflict resolution during armed conflicts in Central America. Additionally, she discusses her efforts in safeguarding marginalised communities residing in areas controlled by armed groups and de facto authorities (AGDA) in Afghanistan — regions marked by environmental vulnerability and conflict.Maureen is also officially part of the VONA team, so towards the end of the episode we also shared some news, updates and VONA plans for 2024. If you want to connect to Maureen, check out her LinkedIn account. Relevant links and recommendations:Saline water, peace, and security. Analyzing the impact of desalination on transboundary groundwater interactions in the Middle East, by Maureen Walschot published in L. P. Batista da Silva et al., New Perspectives on Transboundary Water Governance Interdisciplinary Approaches and Global Case Studies, Routledge, 2023. For more on VONA:Sign up for our monthly Newsletter at www.VONA.internationalInstagram @vona.internationalTwitter @VONA_intLinkedIn VONA InternationalPodcast hosted by Sofiia ShevchukVisuals and podcast production by Tamas Viski

In this special episode, Sofiia talks to Teresa Eder & Mareike Moraal, who both work at the Heinrich Boell Stiftung, Washington DC office. This episode features two women working for the same organisation to show complexities of navigating intersections between climate, gender and security as well as foreign policy at the organisational level. Following this, Teresa is a Program Director, Foreign & Security Policy and Mareike is Program Director, Energy & Environment. Mareike and Teresa share their personal stories and experiences being both Europeans, living and working in the US, navigating transatlantic relations and landing on their value-based job option. The conversation also revolves around upcoming challenges in 2024 related to Ukraine and other conflicts, the election year where more than 50% of the global population will go for elections in 2024 and many other topics that are important to climate, gender and security nexus in transatlantic relations. As a bonus, both speakers share how they mainstream gender and feminism across their programming and projects, making it a more inclusive place to work and get involved with. If you want to connect to Mareike, check out her LinkedIn and Twitter accounts, as well as Teresa - her LinkedIn and Twitter. Relevant links and recommendations from Teresa and Mareike:COP28 Dossier by Heinrich Boell Stiftung"Hear Her Roar" - Talking Feminist Foreign Policy - a podcast with FFP HBS fellows Climate Finance Fundamentals 10: Gender and Climate Finance by Heinrich Boell StiftungFor more on VONA:Sign up for our monthly Newsletter at www.VONA.internationalInstagram @vona.internationalTwitter @VONA_intLinkedIn VONA InternationalPodcast hosted by Sofiia ShevchukVisuals and podcast production by Tamas Viski

In this episode, Sofiia talks to Katy Wiese, who is a Policy Manager for Economic Transition and Gender Equality at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB). Katy started her professional path at the advertisement agency where the leadership applied gender lens to the workplace which politicised her in this matter. Later she went to work on renewable and sustainability projects in Ghana and Ethiopia, where she experienced climate injustice first hand. It was exactly this experience that made her work on intersection between climate, environment and gender as well as structural inequalities or rather “ecofeminist” policies within her current organisation - EEB. This episode also delves into understanding what ecofeminism is, and how this concept can be applied in today’s European policy realities. If you want to connect to Katy, check out her LinkedIn and Twitter accounts, as well as the accounts of the European Environmental Bureau - LinkedIn, Twitter. Relevant links and recommendations from Katy: Why the European Green Deal needs ecofeminism - EEB ReportA Feminist European Green Deal – towards an ecological and gender just transition Ecofeminism - book by Vandana Shiva and Ariel Salleh (Contributor)Queer Ecofeminism: From Binary Environmental Endeavours to Postgender Pursuits - book by Asmae OurkiyaFor more on VONA:Sign up for our monthly Newsletter at www.VONA.international  Instagram @vona.internationalTwitter @VONA_intLinkedIn VONA InternationalPodcast hosted by Sofiia ShevchukVisuals and podcast production by Tamas Viski

In this episode, Sofiia talks to Cass Hebron, who is an editor of The Green Fix and a climate communications consultant with diverse environmental advocacy NGOs mainly based in Brussels or those campaigning at the EU level. Cass shares her fascinating and very real story of becoming a climate activist as a student and continuing it today in her professional life. One of the lockdown projects Cass has been working on with a team for the past three years is The Green Fix, a newsletter that is aimed to bridge the gap between individual and systemic change. Cass shares her vision and tips on how one can contribute to climate action. Is it even possible to be a perfect climate activist and what you can really do to be part of changes not only through recycling or eating less meat but actually acting at a political level - listen to more in this episode. If you want to connect to Cass, check out her LinkedIn and Twitter accounts, as well as the accounts of The Green Fix - LinkedIn, Twitter. Relevant links: Subscribe to The Green FixFor more on VONA:Sign up for our monthly Newsletter at www.VONA.international  Instagram @vona.internationalTwitter @VONA_intLinkedIn VONA InternationalPodcast hosted by Sofiia ShevchukVisuals and podcast production by Tamas Viski

In this episode, Sofiia talks to Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues in the Office of the Secretary General. She is an expert on peace mediation and Women, Peace and Security with over a decade of experience in promoting the role of women in conflict and post-conflict countries in South East Europe and in the Middle East and North Africa region. Tune in to this episode to learn more about the impact of climate change on women as well as the links between women’s empowerment and effective climate action from the OSCE perspective. Find out what can be done in Lara Scarpitta’s expert opinion, in order to address one of the greatest challenges we face. If you want to connect to Lara, check out her LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. Relevant links: Lara Scarpitta Profile OSCE High-Level Conference on Climate Change2022 Annual Progress Report: On the implementation of the OSCE 2004 Action Plan on the Promotion of Gender EqualityOSCE Paper on Gender and CorruptionFor more on VONA:Sign up for our monthly Newsletter at www.VONA.international  Instagram @vona.internationalTwitter @VONA_intLinkedIn VONA InternationalPodcast hosted by Sofiia ShevchukVisuals and podcast production by Tamas Viski