On 9 July, the essay collection Vuurproef voor Democatie will be officially launched in The Hague. The volume brings together 18 essays exploring the climate crisis as a challenge for democracy, the rule of law, and public governance. CollectieveKracht project coordinator Lukas Held and professor Tine De Moor co-authored one of the essays.

Their contribution, titled “Bottom-Up Sustainability: Collective Engagement as a Foundation for Societal Transitions,” examines how citizen collectives can contribute to major societal transitions, including the transition to a more sustainable society. The authors argue that the climate itself is not a ‘common‘ according to Elinor Ostrom’s definition. However, citizen collectives can jointly govern shared resources and services such as energy, mobility, and land. It is through these tangible, community-led initiatives that they can make a significant contribution to sustainability and climate change mitigation.

The festive launch of the essay collection will take place on 9 July, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., in The Hague.