Ethical Assembly 2025 | Climate & Social Justice Summit | 29-30 November

Inspired by nature’s cycles of renewal, this year’s Ethical Assembly Climate Summit invites you to Compost the year 2025 and seed new positive futures. 💖 🐛

2025 has brought about challenges that call for deep reflection, from backsliding climate agendas and the rise of far-right movements, to the illusions of green capitalism and the rampant negative impacts of AI.

Across two transformative days, we will process these realities together. Through critical reflection, dialogue and embodied practices, we’ll compost systems of injustice and oppression, harmful ideologies and outdated concepts first. Then, we’ll turn our gaze to the future. With the help of radical imagination and collective visioning exercises, we’ll co-create practical blueprints and actionable pathways for a more resilient, just and abundant world.

To restore hope and replenish your energy after a challenging year, we’ve curated an amazing mix of keynotes, panels, fireside chats and roundtable discussions for you to actively participate in — plus hands-on workshops, a climate-themed bookstore, networking sessions, DJ sets and so much more! 🌎

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Day 1 is our Main Conference Day, with 85 speakers, 30 sessions, 2 documentary screenings and countless inspiring moments! 🚀

The morning offers a high-level stock take of what’s been an extraordinarily turbulent year. Our keynote speakers, panelists and facilitators will explore urgent macro themes, from biodiversity loss and backsliding climate policies, to geopolitical turmoil and the fracturing of social movements. Together, we’ll collectively discuss what systems, practices and dynamics need to be composted and what wisdom we carry forward.

In the afternoon, invited experts will guide us on a visioning journey. We’ll imagine futures rooted in ecological balance, healthy democracies and inclusive, equitable societies. We’ll then break into discussion groups or join labs to co-create actionable blueprints for turning these futures into reality.

🌱 Main stage — Canopy 🌱
09:00 - 10:00: Check-in and registration
10:00 - 10:15: Welcome address, community meet & greet
10:20 - 10:35: The ecology of endings: Making space for grief and growth
10:40 - 11:10: Climate, geopolitics, energy and media at a crossroads
11:15 - 12:15: A deepening polycrisis and critical reflections on 2025
12:30 - 13:30: Participatory roundtable discussions (Part I: Composting)
13:30 - 15:00: OCEAN with David Attenborough (Documentary screening)
15:00 - 15:20: Rewilding narratives to compost despair and cultivate hope
15:30 - 16:30: Seeding positive futures: Democracy, intersectional justice and sustainability
16:40 - 17:40: Participatory roundtable discussions (Part II: Positive futures)
17:45 - 18:45: 6 x Lightning Talks showcasing diverse climate, social justice and human righs solutions to spark hope and inspire action
18:50 - 20:30: A Day on Earth: An Indigenous Global Participatory Film (Documentary screening)
20:35 - 20:55: Panel with A Day on Earth producers and filmmakers
21:00: Official stage program closing
21:10 - 04:00: Dinner, drinks and afterparty at Casa Capitão

*Here’s how the Participatory Roundtable Discussions are structured:

• Each table includes 2-4 invited subject-matter experts, with the remaining seats open for you! Our team, alongside the roundtable hosts, will facilitate the conversations to ensure open, inclusive and collaborative dialogue
• Explore topics such as: climate science and climate change, renewable energy, regenerative agriculture and the future of food, biodiversity and conservation, ethical fashion, healthy oceans, urban regeneration, media and storytelling, green finance and impact investing, engaged citizens and more
• Choose the topic you’re most passionate about, grab a seat and join the conversation!

🌱 Workshop area — Oasis 🌱
11:15 - 12:15: Composting outdated paradigms to regenerate our future
12:15 - 13:30: Fertile ground: Composting our grief to grow resilient communities
15:30 - 16:30: Seeding our totally good future
16:40 - 17:40: Warm data lab: Complex systems and relationship mapping
17:45 - 18:45: A collaborative collage and zine-making workshop

🌱 Community activities — Horizon 🌱
12:30 - 13:30: Find your allies: Speed networking session
17:45 - 18:45: Climate book club, book swap & book signing session
Time TBC: Fishbowl conversations
Time TBC: Networking drinks: craft sodas, natural wine & vegan cheese tasting

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Day 2 is our Community Wind Down Day, an exciting choose-your-own-adventure with no fixed schedule or set path. You are free to join as many or as few activities as you like! 👩‍🌾

Discover a range of workshops and experiences:
09:30 - 11:00: Community 5km run for the planet
11:00 - 13:00: Wild foraging workshop at Quinta Kismet
11:00 - 13:00: Botanical printing workshop at Atelier Citrina
14:30 - 16:00: Tending to endings workshop at Quinta Kismet
18:00 - 19:30: Taproom typewriter sessions at Amo Brewery
19:30 - 21:00: Kinship dinners (various locations)
… And more to be announced soon!

*Note: Some sessions on Day 2 take place outdoors and are weather-dependent. Light rain won’t affect the program, but in the event of heavy rain, the activity will be rescheduled for early spring. Thank you for your understanding!

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About us
The Ethical Assembly is an independent global platform advancing climate leadership and collective action for a just and sustainable future for all.

Since 2019, our climate summits and community events have brought together over 3,500 participants, 350 international speakers and 250 partner organisations from all over the world.

Through a dynamic blend of talks, panels, workshops, tech and cultural showcases, we provide a vibrant international platform where diverse voices converge to inspire, innovate and drive change.

We convene visionary policymakers, scientists, researchers, financiers, third sector, entrepreneurs, journalists, grassroots leaders and civil society to address the interconnected crises of climate, social, racial, gender and class justice.

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