Kick-off for events with Bauhaus-guest professor Patricia Espinosa

Espinosa, long-standing Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico and former Ambassador of Mexico to Germany, sees the Bauhaus guest professorship as a step towards increasing awareness of the challenges of climate change and to disseminate the values of the United Nations in this regard to the academic community and beyond. Espinosa, who was recently in the news in connection with the climate conference in Katowice, Poland, is to share her expertise with the University during events on the topic of resources, climate, and sustainability. The events include workshops with students, a podium discussion within the scope of the »Mensch Macht Moderne« series, as well as a lecture.

»As Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Patricia Espinosa embodies the spirit of the Bauhaus. Today we still need to be addressing pressing questions about the future and searching for creative, as well as unconventional, answers. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we currently face, and requires human action to design and shape our environment. I am extremely happy that Patricia Espinosa, as a diplomat with many years of international experience, is working with us at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, and that students as well as staff will have the opportunity to speak with her«, says Prof. Winfried Speitkamp, President of Bauhaus-Universität Weimar

Patricia Espinosa was appointed Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2016. In 2010 she played a significant role in the UNO’s decision to continue the path of multilateral collaboration in the fight against climate change at the »Climate Change Conference« in Cancún, Mexico. She was presented with the German Sustainability Award for this work in 2012. Patricia Espinosa looks back on over 30 years of experience at leading institutions within the area of international relations. She was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico from 2006 to 2012. In 2001 and 2002 as well as from 2012 to she was Ambassador of Mexico to Germany. Prior to this she was the Mexican Ambassador in Austria, Slovakia, and Slovenia. In 1995 Patricia Espinosa played a leading role in the adoption of the »Beijing Platform for Action at the 4th World Conference on Women« which, according to the UNO, represents the »the most progressive plan for the expansion of women’s rights« globally. Espinosa played a decisive role at the successful 24th Climate Conference, held in Katowice from 2 to 14 December 2018.

The first event with Patricia Espinosa takes place on Wednesday, 9 January 2019. At 6 pm, in the Oberlichtsaal in the Main Building - together with Anja Siegesmund, Thuringian Minister for Environment, Energy and Nature Conservation, and Prof. Eckhardt Kraft, Professor of Biotechnology in Resources Management - she will be discussing the topic »Effective climate action through multilateral diplomacy and participation: Creating sustainable political solutions«. The podium discussion is part of the »Mensch Macht Moderne« podium discussion series.

The next day, on 10 January 2019, students will have the opportunity to discuss current issues concerning global reurbanisation as well as challenges for urban planning in the 21st century in view of global ecological changes with the climate diplomat.

Both events are open to the public and all interested parties are warmly invited to attend. A further lecture with Patricia Espinosa will take place in February and, within the scope of the »go4spring« semester exhibit and the week of democracy, she will participate in a workshop for the »SKYWAY.CITY« interdisciplinary planning seminar.

Overview of all events with Patricia Espinosa at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar:

PODIUM DISCUSSION »MENSCH MACHT MODERNE«
Wednesday, 09 January 2019, 6 pm
Topic: »Diplomatie und Partizipation – Wege zu nachhaltigen Lösungen in der Klimapolitik« / »Effective climate action through multilateral diplomacy and participation: Creating sustainable political solutions« – Patricia Espinosa in discussion with Anja Siegesmund, Thuringian Minister for Environment, Energy and Nature Conservation, and Prof. Eckhardt Kraft, Professor of Biotechnology in Resources Management
Venue: Oberlichtsaal in the Main Building, Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 8, 99423 Weimar

WORKSHOP
Thursday, 10 January 2019, 10 am – 1 pm
Topic: »Stadt und Infrastruktur im (Klima-)Wandel« // Bachelorprojekte Urbanistik
Venue: Geschwister-Scholl-Str. 7, Van-de-Velde-Building, Room HP05, 99423 Weimar

LECTURE
Wednesday, 6 February 2019, 6 pm
Topic: »Circular economy as a path towards sustainability« // »Kreislaufwirtschaft. Von der Ressourcenverschwendung über die Ressourcenverwendung zur Nachhaltigkeit«
Venue: Oberlichtsaal in the Main Building, Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 8, 99423 Weimar

WORKSHOP
Thursday, 7 February 2019, 9 am – 12 pm
Topic: »SKYWAY.CITY – Konzepte für eine Erschließung einer Höhenebene für die Weltmetropole London« // Masterprojekt Architektur und Urbanistik, Bauingenieurwesen und Archineering
Venue: Main Building, Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 8, Room 105, 99423 Weimar