The Hague Roundtable on Climate Chaos and Law Enforcement: Interactive dialogue on strategies for cooperation with civil populations in climate-related challenges

This event will facilitate views and exchanges on the topics from actors including representatives from the Netherlands Police, environmental/civil society groups, academic researchers, and government/non-government organizations – with interactive discussions and breakout brainstorming sessions by participants. Results will be compiled in a Roundtable report to be published with potential integration into ongoing Multilevel Regulation Research Group research projects, THUAS studies, and in international forums with the aim of influencing policies and outreach of all actors.

Breakout group topics:

• – Police and environmental protestors: How can we co-exist for more positive and productive outcomes? How can law enforcement better work with civil society organizations? Where canresults of interactions be elevated to influence policy and practice of field personnel?
• – Management of civil well-being and infrastructure in disasters: What are the emerging risks? What are key strategic preparations and ways to better mitigate risks?
• – Identifying climate impacts on new crimes and related violence, extremism and terrorism: crimes with worsening potential – with prevention and collaboration opportunities
• – Application of legal mechanisms on different scales to promote the rule of law, with the associated benefits to people in communities

Time: Arrival open at 09:00; Meeting from 09:30 – 13:00

• 09:00 – Arrival of participants with coffee-tea reception
• 09:30 – Meeting kick-off
• 09:40 – Presentation and discussion:
  Planning for and responding to climate risks related to weather events an disasters – with protection of people and local infrastructure
  – What are the emerging risks? What are key preparations to mitigate risks?  
• 10:20 – Presentation and discussion: Managing climate-related public disorder in cooperation with civilian populations including environmental demonstrations and civil disobedience. Are there “win-win” scenarios for civil society actors and police? How can ideas for new approaches influence policy and practice?
• 11:00 – Coffee break
• 11:15 – Presentation and discussion: Prevention and collaboration addressing criminal activity that may be directly or indirectly exacerbated by climate impacts – violence, terrorism, environmental-resources crimes
• 11:55 – Breakout group discussions on the three key topics, to formulate key observations and recommendations
  1) responding and mitigating disaster risks 2) managing public disorder 3) prevention of “climate” crimes
• 12:35 – Plenary presentation and discussion of breakout group findings
• 13:00 – Networking luncheon provided by The Hague University of Applied Sciences

Expert Discussion Leaders include

• Tom Middendorp, Special Strategic Advisor, Hague Centre for Strategic Studies / Chair IMCCS
• Matthew Burnett-Stuart, Associate Expert, UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)
• Alexandra Jones, Advisor, Counterterrorism, Extremism and Radicalization (CTER), Natl. Police NL I Hague Unit
• Timo Kansil, Director Operations, NL Police, The Hague – Sustainability Unit
• Mert Kumru, European Front Coordinator, World’s Youth for Climate Justice 
• Emilie Van der Henst, Advisor, Crimes that Affect the Environment, UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC)