{"id":7710,"date":"2025-10-27T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/nieuws\/sustainability-and-social-justice-five-years-after-the-covid-crisis\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T10:00:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T09:00:09","slug":"sustainability-and-social-justice-five-years-after-the-covid-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/en\/nieuws\/sustainability-and-social-justice-five-years-after-the-covid-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability and Social Justice Five Years after the COVID Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"7710\" class=\"elementor elementor-7710 elementor-7426\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b127b12 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b127b12\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61e1d94 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"61e1d94\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04efebb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"04efebb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Listen now!<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c387b1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"c387b1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"buzzsprout-player-18062182\"><\/div><script src=\"https:\/\/www.buzzsprout.com\/2537676\/episodes\/18062182-duurzaamheid-en-sociale-rechtvaardigheid-vijf-jaar-na-de-coronacrisis-met-cathy-macharis-en-eva-smets.js?container_id=buzzsprout-player-18062182&player=small\" type=\"text\/javascript\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d1f262 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9d1f262\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33dc33f elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"33dc33f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9897c62 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9897c62\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6240ed0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6240ed0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Listen to the podcast<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0fbbf4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"f0fbbf4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/pod.link\/1842807980\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-arrow-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M190.5 66.9l22.2-22.2c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0L441 239c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L246.6 467.3c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-22.2-22.2c-9.5-9.5-9.3-25 .4-34.3L311.4 296H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24v-32c0-13.3 10.7-24 24-24h287.4L190.9 101.2c-9.8-9.3-10-24.8-.4-34.3z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">in your favourite podcast app<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a275da0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"a275da0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/solidariteitspreekt.buzzsprout.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-arrow-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M190.5 66.9l22.2-22.2c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0L441 239c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L246.6 467.3c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-22.2-22.2c-9.5-9.5-9.3-25 .4-34.3L311.4 296H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24v-32c0-13.3 10.7-24 24-24h287.4L190.9 101.2c-9.8-9.3-10-24.8-.4-34.3z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">on Buzzsprout<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-027892e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"027892e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5dcff70 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5dcff70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Don\u2019t want to miss a single episode of\u00a0<em>Solidarity Speaks<\/em>?<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a72932d elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"a72932d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/assets-eur.mkt.dynamics.com\/571538dc-b6cf-467c-ac0a-cd8b6d17ebbc\/digitalassets\/standaloneforms\/75494d94-3815-f011-998a-7c1e527146da\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-arrow-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M190.5 66.9l22.2-22.2c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0L441 239c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L246.6 467.3c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-22.2-22.2c-9.5-9.5-9.3-25 .4-34.3L311.4 296H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24v-32c0-13.3 10.7-24 24-24h287.4L190.9 101.2c-9.8-9.3-10-24.8-.4-34.3z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Sign up for the UCSIA Newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c309b83 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c309b83\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Or follow the podcast series on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/solidariteitspreekt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/solidariteitspreekt\/#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Instagram<\/a>, and\/or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/showcase\/solidariteitspreekt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c524649 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c524649\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f70fbb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f70fbb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Learn more about\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f59c17a elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"f59c17a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/en\/projects\/the-solidarity-academy\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-arrow-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M190.5 66.9l22.2-22.2c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0L441 239c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L246.6 467.3c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-22.2-22.2c-9.5-9.5-9.3-25 .4-34.3L311.4 296H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24v-32c0-13.3 10.7-24 24-24h287.4L190.9 101.2c-9.8-9.3-10-24.8-.4-34.3z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">the <i>Solidarity Academy<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-870a5c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"870a5c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/en\/projects\/solidarity-speaks\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-arrow-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M190.5 66.9l22.2-22.2c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0L441 239c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L246.6 467.3c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-22.2-22.2c-9.5-9.5-9.3-25 .4-34.3L311.4 296H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24v-32c0-13.3 10.7-24 24-24h287.4L190.9 101.2c-9.8-9.3-10-24.8-.4-34.3z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\"> the podcast<i>Solidarity Speaks<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b9bf670 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3b9bf670\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4480f60e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4480f60e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62bf776d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"62bf776d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;],&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:152,&quot;sticky_parent&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_anchor_link_offset&quot;:0}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a576b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a576b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Turning point or point of return?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-392f5648 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"392f5648\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In 2020 and 2021, UCSIA published two books in which Flemish experts viewed the pandemic as an opportunity for a societal U-turn. Five years later, we ask ourselves: has that turnaround actually happened?<\/p>\n<p>The reality is harsh. Geopolitical conflicts, the climate crisis and the rise of populism have overshadowed the hope for structural change.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b5c1f90 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3b5c1f90\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-102cf1f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"102cf1f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Find out more<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67182e95 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"67182e95\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/en\/projects\/u-turn\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-arrow-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M190.5 66.9l22.2-22.2c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0L441 239c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L246.6 467.3c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-22.2-22.2c-9.5-9.5-9.3-25 .4-34.3L311.4 296H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24v-32c0-13.3 10.7-24 24-24h287.4L190.9 101.2c-9.8-9.3-10-24.8-.4-34.3z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">on the <i>U-turn<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3efbd90 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"3efbd90\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/en\/projects\/uturn-26\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-arrow-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M190.5 66.9l22.2-22.2c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0L441 239c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L246.6 467.3c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-22.2-22.2c-9.5-9.5-9.3-25 .4-34.3L311.4 296H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24v-32c0-13.3 10.7-24 24-24h287.4L190.9 101.2c-9.8-9.3-10-24.8-.4-34.3z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">on the <i>U-turn: 5 years later<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a146e9d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1a146e9d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13558b4c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"13558b4c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9749348 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9749348\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The outbreak of COVID-19: a breath of fresh air for people and the planet? <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ae6f211 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3ae6f211\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the early months of the pandemic, the outlook for the climate seemed promising: CO\u2082 emissions temporarily dropped by as much as 17%, largely due to a sharp decline in land transport. Cathy Macharis explains that these behavioural shifts were hopeful: <strong>radical change<\/strong> in a short time proved to be possible.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3aacbdbe elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3aacbdbe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Eva Smets puts this optimism into perspective: while we made temporary progress on the ecological front, the COVID crisis actually accelerated <strong>economic inequality<\/strong> worldwide. The richest 1% now hold 45% of all wealth, an exponential increase since the pandemic began.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2fbb2918 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2fbb2918\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e73577f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1e73577f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Climate policy versus social policy <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-381d5dc4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"381d5dc4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The tension between ecology and social justice is an important theme.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6d8fcd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a6d8fcd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Eva emphasizes that poor climate policy does indeed disproportionately affect certain groups. For example, making homes energy-efficient or purchasing electric vehicles is often not feasible for people on low incomes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b2d43b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2b2d43b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>But with the right political choices, climate policy can also be perfectly socially just. This requires measures that take inequality into account from the outset. Examples include CO\u2082 taxes offset through social funds, or climate dividends that distribute the burden fairly.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a46d35a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a46d35a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Cathy adds: investing in things like public transport or cycling infrastructure benefits everyone. This way, we combine climate policy with social justice and make a fair transition achievable.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e063cfd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e063cfd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d03afd elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"1d03afd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\u201cWe are often pitted against each other as social groups. It is presented as if we have to choose between the end of the world or the end of the week. But that is not the case.\u202f\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">Eva Smets, directeur Oxfam Belgi\u00eb<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-508454be e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"508454be\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61be9cdd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"61be9cdd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Systemic change<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18678bb2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"18678bb2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Policy often faces the trade-off between sustainability and social support.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6bf1ca0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6bf1ca0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Eva points out that the root cause lies in the capitalist system, which generates economic inequality. For a genuine transition, we need a <strong>circular, regenerative economy<\/strong> \u2014 <strong>a \u2018doughnut economy\u2019<\/strong> \u2014 that respects ecological boundaries and places social foundations at its core.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dca24ad elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dca24ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The pandemic could have accelerated the transition, but promising movements and investments were held back by political hesitation and crises such as wars and geopolitical tensions.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d8c7148 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d8c7148\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Cathy also advocates a systemic approach: tackling the root causes of the climate crisis requires not only technology, but also a <strong>structural overhaul of consumption and production patterns<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24e8cece e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"24e8cece\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23f84511 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"23f84511\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3eb373e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3eb373e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Permacrisis: slide or springboard?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b7bfb17 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1b7bfb17\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Although climate action is perhaps more important than the COVID measures of five years ago, we are failing to generate sufficient momentum and support for it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-86356bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"86356bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This is partly due to the <strong>\u2018permacrisis\u2019<\/strong>: wars, biodiversity loss, climate problems&#8230; We are all running from one crisis to another, and back again. According to Cathy, this makes it difficult to tackle issues thoroughly. In addition, there is a lack of urgency. She illustrates this with the <strong>springboard-slide metaphor<\/strong> of \u2018purpose economist\u2019 <strong>Kees Klomp<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ee214e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ee214e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>During the <strong>COVID crisis<\/strong>, we were standing at the end of a <strong>springboard<\/strong>. The threat of the invisible virus was so tangible and immediate that radical changes became possible in the short term.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68d7902 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"68d7902\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When it comes to the <strong>climate<\/strong>, we are sitting at the top of a <strong>slide<\/strong>. We know we are going to slide down, but we don&#8217;t feel it yet. The problem seems far away, which makes it difficult to make the bold choices needed.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b7d779d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6b7d779d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49c0d5a elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"49c0d5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4207272 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"4207272\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\u201cWe are currently in a <i>permacrisis<\/i>: wars, the biodiversity crisis, climate issues\u2026\r\nThis means that people \u2014 and perhaps politicians too \u2014 are constantly rushing from one crisis to the next, without addressing the root causes. And that really needs to happen within the structure of our society.\"\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">Cathy Macharis, professor VUB<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b346182 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5b346182\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35d0c93e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"35d0c93e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-549017af elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"549017af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The power of communities: islands of hope<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5852c6db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5852c6db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Despite the challenges, there are also many <strong>&#8216;islands of hope&#8217;: small, successful grassroots initiatives<\/strong>. Energy cooperatives, food forests, and local communities show that sustainability is possible and that <strong>citizens can actively contribute to change<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a3460f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0a3460f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Eva emphasizes the power of <strong>collective action<\/strong>: social movements can put pressure on policymakers and accelerate change.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9785171 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"9785171\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e85e67 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"5e85e67\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\u201cYou see <i>islands of hope<\/i> popping up everywhere. If you connect them all, you get an idea of what the future could look like.\"\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">Cathy Macharis, professor VUB<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ecf1884 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4ecf1884\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd2870e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dd2870e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Hope and lessons for the future<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b0e93c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5b0e93c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The challenges remain significant and numerous. Yet, with <strong>hope and action<\/strong>, we can make considerable progress.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0a0e16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b0a0e16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Individual behaviour<\/strong> can spark change, but it is the <strong>collective power<\/strong> that truly makes the difference.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-695e09c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"695e09c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The pandemic showed that <strong>radical transformations<\/strong> are possible when we feel the <strong>urgency<\/strong> and there is <strong>political courage<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c07e88e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c07e88e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Collaboration, communities, and systemic change<\/strong> are the key to a sustainable, just society. Technological solutions alone are not enough.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f88157 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f88157\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Finally, <strong>communication<\/strong> remains <strong>crucial<\/strong> in this story: yes, we are in a crisis and the climate transition is urgent. But there is no point in dwelling on doom and gloom. There is real hope, and together we can still make a difference.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-20ae2818 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"20ae2818\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65c81e82 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"65c81e82\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60451ce elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"60451ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\u201cFor us, the climate crisis is a social problem. Period. We, as humans, have caused it through our way of life, our way of producing and consuming. If we truly want to address it in a sustainable way, it takes far more than simply switching from a petrol car to an electric one. It goes back to the core: how do we organize ourselves as a society? What about our production and consumption system? What about our economy?\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">Eva Smets, directeur Oxfam Belgi\u00eb\/Belgique<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-498bc4b0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"498bc4b0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e04ed34 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e04ed34\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55aa78b7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"55aa78b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Conclusion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ad92ec7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5ad92ec7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The COVID crisis began promisingly from an ecological perspective. However, five years on, we still face enormous challenges, but there is hope. Sustainable transitions are possible, and both policy and citizen initiatives play a crucial role.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00860f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"00860f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em data-start=\"64\" data-end=\"83\">Solidarity Speaks<\/em> continues to explore these topics and calls for collective action: the choices we make today will shape the future of tomorrow.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-863029a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"863029a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f28da5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8f28da5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date on new episodes and events!<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52099ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"52099ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/assets-eur.mkt.dynamics.com\/571538dc-b6cf-467c-ac0a-cd8b6d17ebbc\/digitalassets\/standaloneforms\/75494d94-3815-f011-998a-7c1e527146da\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-arrow-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M190.5 66.9l22.2-22.2c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0L441 239c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L246.6 467.3c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-22.2-22.2c-9.5-9.5-9.3-25 .4-34.3L311.4 296H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24v-32c0-13.3 10.7-24 24-24h287.4L190.9 101.2c-9.8-9.3-10-24.8-.4-34.3z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Sign up for the UCSIA Newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1010d9bb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1010d9bb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1699a3bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1699a3bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What does the future hold?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5814c7d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5814c7d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the spring of 2026, UCSIA will organize the lecture series\u00a0<em>U-Turn: 5 years later<\/em>, in which we take stock:\u00a0<strong>has the pandemic truly changed us?<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c12a6c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0c12a6c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Topics such as loneliness, addiction, citizens\u2019 initiatives, and authoritarian leaders are addressed. We continue to search for hopeful perspectives in a world full of challenges.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d15e48e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d15e48e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d4c1ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2d4c1ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Want to know more about\u00a0<em>U-turn: 5 years later<\/em>?<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68cb2f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"68cb2f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/en\/projects\/uturn-26\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-arrow-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M190.5 66.9l22.2-22.2c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0L441 239c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L246.6 467.3c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-22.2-22.2c-9.5-9.5-9.3-25 .4-34.3L311.4 296H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24v-32c0-13.3 10.7-24 24-24h287.4L190.9 101.2c-9.8-9.3-10-24.8-.4-34.3z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Read more<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3aae4d7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3aae4d7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36e71f9a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"36e71f9a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a832cec e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1a832cec\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;],&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:152,&quot;sticky_parent&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_anchor_link_offset&quot;:0}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-236b8ae3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"236b8ae3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Contributors to this episode <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63531c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"63531c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Colophon<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a6449d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7a6449d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63531c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"63531c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Host: Linda De Win<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a6449d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7a6449d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<p>Guests: Cathy Macharis (VUB House of Sustainable Transitions) and Eva Smets (Oxfam Belgium)<\/p>\n<p>Editors: Kaat Somers and Erik De Bom<\/p>\n<p>Production: Kaat Somers and Marijke Celis<\/p>\n<p>Communication: Marijke Celis<\/p>\n<p>Editing and mixing:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/avinspire.be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">AV Inspire<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Music:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.giuseppeminervini.be\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Giuseppe Minervini<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Voice intro &amp; outro: Gilke Gunst<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d60b8cd e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d60b8cd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-288f7ace e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"288f7ace\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd6d91f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fd6d91f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Solidariteit-Spreekt-001-3-Linda-De-Win-portret-website-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-6891\" alt=\"Profile picture Linda De Win\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Solidariteit-Spreekt-001-3-Linda-De-Win-portret-website-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Solidariteit-Spreekt-001-3-Linda-De-Win-portret-website-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Solidariteit-Spreekt-001-3-Linda-De-Win-portret-website.png 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37e05840 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"37e05840\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Linda De Win<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37de8397 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"37de8397\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Linda De Win<\/strong> is a journalist. She worked for over 30 years at the VRT news service, where she specialized in reporting on domestic politics. She worked for<em> het Journaal<\/em>, <em>Terzake<\/em>, and <em>De zevende dag<\/em>. From 2006 to 2021, she hosted the parliamentary programme <em>Villa Politica<\/em>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-706dfda1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"706dfda1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>By training, she is historian. She completed her bachelor\u2019s degree at UFSIA and her master\u2019s degree (specializing in contemporary history) at Ghent University. She is passionate not only about her field of study, but also about everything happening in society. She currently works as a journalist, podcast host, and moderator.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ebc4713 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2ebc4713\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93c2787 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"93c2787\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Solidariteit-Spreekt-002-2-Cathy-Macharis-portret-website-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-7449\" alt=\"Cathy Macharis (professor duurzaamheid en VUB)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Solidariteit-Spreekt-002-2-Cathy-Macharis-portret-website-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Solidariteit-Spreekt-002-2-Cathy-Macharis-portret-website-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Solidariteit-Spreekt-002-2-Cathy-Macharis-portret-website.png 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb63d05 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"eb63d05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Cathy Macharis<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7863a588 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7863a588\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Cathy Macharis<\/strong> is professor at the <strong>Vrije Universiteit Brussel<\/strong>, affiliated with the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13dc8d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"13dc8d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Driven by her passion for the transition to a more sustainable world, she founded the <strong>House of Sustainable Transitions<\/strong> (HOST), a transdisciplinary platform that brings together researchers, students, businesses, policymakers and citizens to address today&#8217;s major sustainability challenges.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63122fe elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"63122fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>She teaches several courses at the intersection of <strong>sustainability and decision-making<\/strong> and developed the <strong>Factor 8 process<\/strong>: an innovative framework that supports individuals, organizations, and societies on their path towards sustainability. What makes this process unique is its combination of personal transformation and societal change, together forming the foundation for a resilient and just future.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-effd71b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"effd71b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Professor Macharis wrote an essay on <em>Ecowelvaart<\/em> for our U-turn book, and in 2024 she also published her own book: <strong>Land van Hoop (Land of Hope)<\/strong>. In it, various experts highlight where current systems are reaching their limits, and, more importantly, where potential solutions lie<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a94eae e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9a94eae\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9441349 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9441349\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Read more about&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f003db0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"f003db0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.house-of-sustainable-transitions.be\/%20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\"><path d=\"m5.652 12.293 1.414 1.414L13.773 7 7.066.293 5.652 1.707 9.945 6H.359v2h9.586l-4.293 4.293Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">the House of Sustainable Transitions<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e1b751 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"6e1b751\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pelckmansuitgevers.be\/land-van-hoop.html%20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\"><path d=\"m5.652 12.293 1.414 1.414L13.773 7 7.066.293 5.652 1.707 9.945 6H.359v2h9.586l-4.293 4.293Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">the book <i>Land van Hoop<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f04a4f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"f04a4f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/boekenplank\/2021-u-turn\/%20\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\"><path d=\"m5.652 12.293 1.414 1.414L13.773 7 7.066.293 5.652 1.707 9.945 6H.359v2h9.586l-4.293 4.293Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">the U-turn book<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f47674d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5f47674d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cce55f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cce55f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Solidariteit-Spreekt-002-3-Eva-Smets-portret-website-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-7447\" alt=\"Eva Smets (Oxfam Belgi\u00eb)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Solidariteit-Spreekt-002-3-Eva-Smets-portret-website-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Solidariteit-Spreekt-002-3-Eva-Smets-portret-website-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Solidariteit-Spreekt-002-3-Eva-Smets-portret-website.png 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36639d2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"36639d2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Eva Smets<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32be3270 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"32be3270\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>After graduating, <strong>Eva Smets<\/strong> spent seven years working as an <strong>aid worker in Central and East Africa<\/strong> for international NGOs such as Oxfam GB and Care International, specializing in <strong>humanitarian advocacy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a2a426 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a2a426\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>She then served for nearly ten years as Executive Director of <em>Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict<\/em> in New York, a network of NGOs that lobbies the UN Security Council for the <strong>safety and rights of children in war zones<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9bd11f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9bd11f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In April 2018, she returned to Belgium and became Executive Director of Oxfam-Solidariteit in Brussels. In this role, she led the merger of the Flemish Oxfam Wereldwinkels\/Oxfam Fair Trade with Oxfam Solidarit\u00e9\/Oxfam-Solidariteit, and in February 2020, she became <strong>General Director<\/strong> of the newly integrated <strong>Oxfam Belgium\/Belgique<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4fd1cd1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4fd1cd1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In 2024, Eva Smets published a book: <strong>Kantelen! Belgische recepten voor de donuteconomie<\/strong>. In it, she advocates for a new, just approach to our economy, climate, and social care.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8ed764 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a8ed764\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e007feb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e007feb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Read more about&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-afe8a95 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"afe8a95\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/oxfambelgie.be\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\"><path d=\"m5.652 12.293 1.414 1.414L13.773 7 7.066.293 5.652 1.707 9.945 6H.359v2h9.586l-4.293 4.293Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Oxfam<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0923b46 elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"0923b46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lannoo.be\/nl\/kantelen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\"><path d=\"m5.652 12.293 1.414 1.414L13.773 7 7.066.293 5.652 1.707 9.945 6H.359v2h9.586l-4.293 4.293Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">the book <i>Kantelen, Belgische recepten voor de donuteconomie<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The second episode of the podcast series <i>Solidarity Speaks<\/i> is finally online! Join Linda De Win, Cathy Macharis (VUB), and Eva Smets (Oxfam Belgium) as they explore what the COVID crisis has meant for sustainability, social inequality, and the just transition. <\/p>\n<p>Five years ago, the outbreak of the pandemic offered a unique opportunity to steer our society towards greater justice and sustainability. Did we manage to change course? What have we learned\u2014and what steps still lie ahead?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7428,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[],"topic":[32],"class_list":["post-7710","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-podcast","topic-europe-and-solidarity"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Sustainability and Social Justice Five Years after the COVID Crisis - UCSIA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What did the COVID crisis teach us about sustainability and social policy? 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