International Conference “Democratizing Energy, Energizing Democracy"

International Conference – “Democratizing Energy, Energizing Democracy: Toward a Deliberative and Participatory Energy Democracy”
September 18–19, 2025
Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Philosophy – Room VI (6), Via Carlo Fea 2

This international conference will provide an opportunity to explore the intersection between environmental protection, deliberative and participatory democracy, and social inclusion, through an interdisciplinary lens that brings together political philosophy, environmental sociology, and territorial studies. Keynote speakers will include John Dryzek, Stephen Elstub, and Bregje Van Veelen.

The conference will analyze the principles of energy democracy and how they are translated into practice through energy communities, focusing on their potential, limitations, challenges, and social impact.

The first day will be held in English, and the second day in Italian.

Simultaneous translation will be available via headset receivers for both speakers and attendees.

Admission is free.

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The conference is organized within the framework of the PRIN PNRR project Democratizing Energy, Energizing Democracy ( P2022Y5AJA, Cup B53D23032820001), which brings together scholars from the Universities of Rome, Venice, and Turin.

To receive updates and logistical information, please contact: [email protected]

Day One: Energy Democracy and Deliberation

The first day will be dedicated to the relationship between energy democracy and deliberation, with contributions from prominent international guests:

• John Dryzek (University of Canberra, Australia), leading scholar in deliberative and environmental democracy, will deliver a talk titled “Ecological Democracy Now”, exploring the prospects of ecological democracy in light of the development of global climate assemblies and the current democratic crisis.
• Stephen Elstub (University of Newcastle, UK), key figure in the debate on environment and deliberative democracy, will discuss the role of climate citizens’ assemblies in promoting democratic climate governance, evaluating their effectiveness and proposing normative solutions to increase their impact.
• Bregje Van Veelen (Lund University Center for Sustainability Studies, Sweden) will address the gaps and convergences between the ideals of energy democracy and their practical implementation.
• Pierrick Chalaye (Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, France) will focus on current social class inequalities in energy production and consumption.

Day Two: Energy Communities and Social Inclusion

The first part of the second day will focus on energy communities:

• Lorenzo di Vidovich (University of Milan), in “Energy Communities in Tackling Energy Poverty: Unresolved Issues and Eco-Social Potential“, will reflect on the translation of the ideal of energy democracy into concrete experiences.
• Ivano Scotti (University of Naples Federico II), in “Thoughts, Actions, and Omissions: Energy Communities Promoted by Italian Parish Networks. Early Evidence from an Empirical Study” will examine the initiatives of Italian ecclesial communities (Curie) in promoting renewable energy communities (CER), highlighting both the successes and the challenges in the church-led energy transition process.
• Stéphanie Déchezelles (Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, France), in “(Contesting) Large-Scale Wind Power and Democracy: Representations, Practices, and Actors in Energy Counter-Mobilizations” will analyze local resistance to large-scale wind farms – those with turbines over 50 meters tall – by examining opposition practices and the actors involved in counter-mobilizations.
• Aurore Dudka (University of Trento), in “Women and Energy Democracy: Challenges and Opportunities in Energy Communities” will address the issue of gender inclusion and the barriers faced by women in participating in energy communities.

In the second part of the day, the three research units of the PRIN PNRR “Democratizing Energy, Energizing Democracy” project will present the results of their work:

• Giulia Rispoli, on behalf of the Venice unit (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice), will offer in “Energy Stories and the Biosphere’s Metabolism in Global Ecology” a historical-conceptual reconstruction of scientific thinking around the planetary energy metabolism and its socio-political and economic implications.
• Massimo Cuono and Vittorio Martone, representing the Turin unit (University of Turin), will reflect in “The Climate Imperative and the Politics of Time: Governing Transitions” on the urgency of the climate crisis and how political systems are responding to it.
• Eleonora Piromalli, representing the Rome unit (Sapienza University of Rome), in “Energy Communities and Relations of Recognition: A Philosophical-Political Approach” will speak about energy communities as spaces of social and political recognition, exploring their inclusive or exclusive potential.