Queering Urbanism: Thinking climate change through queer ideas of time

Climate change is most often thought of through the lens of urgency: last estimates suggest we only have two years to take decisive action and prevent the worse impacts of climate change. Every fraction of the increase in temperature reduces ecosystems and humanity’s capacity to adapt to climate change. Urgency is also tied to new technocratic ways of thinking about climate change, that generate new forms of climate-related inequality in the city, as described by scholars of climate urbanism- from the abandonment of urban areas for ruination to the securitization of privileged safe spaces. At the same time, emerging thinking on the Anthropocene invites reflections of deep or geological time to reframe humanity's role in the climate crisis. Agency becomes obliterated between the need for short-term action and the psychological realization of humanity's insignificance.

In this lecture, Professor Vanesa Castán Broto will explore alternative thinking in time for the climate changed city, using the questioning of time that emerges from queer theory. Queer theorists have questioned the dominance of narratives of monumental time that situate every action within masculinist, heroic conceptions of history as well as narratives of future generations that configure notions of responsibility around the nuclear family. Rethinking time enables both reconsider the timescales of action, agency, and the justifications to assign moral responsibility for such action in the quest to develop future cities.

Accessibility

The event location has step-free access and accessible toilets, including gender-neutral options. 

Personal assistants and assistance dogs are welcome.

More detailed information is available here: https://www.accessable.co.uk/venues/gordon-street-22

If you have any questions or concerns, please email Lo Marshall: lo.marshall@ucl.ac.uk.

This event is organised by B. Queer, The Bartlett’s Queer Network, which brings together lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) students, staff, and allies from across the faculty’s 12 schools, institutes, and departments.