The Department of Social Policy in partnership with the Global School of Sustainability (GSoS) and Sustainable Social Policy and Welfare States Research Hub at the London School of Economics and Political Science is hosting a workshop on "Climate Change, Inequality, and Policy Contestation" from Monday 10th - Tuesday 11th November 2025.
As a warming planet redraws political and economic landscapes, new distributional impacts — both within and between societies — are becoming crucial for understanding prospects for meaningful climate action. This workshop invites papers that speak to how the distributional impacts of climate change and a changing environment shape society. We seek theoretically informed and empirically grounded research that does so, welcoming contributions from economics, political science, public and social policy, sociology, and cognate fields.
The workshop will open on Monday 10th November with a public keynote lecture from Helen Milner (Princeton) on her new book with Alexander F. Gazmararian (Michigan) entitled "Fault Lines: The New Political Economy of a Warming World". This will be followed by a full day of paper presentations on Tuesday 11th November with a closing dinner.
Call for papers
To this end, we are holding an open-call for research papers to be presented at the workshop. To do so, please submit a 750 word abstract here: https://forms.gle/x3Css36pU8kbKXnw8
The deadline for full consideration is 24th August 2025.
The abstract should clearly outline the research question, theoretical framework, empirical approach, as well as the contributions the research makes to the field. The inclusion of one table or figure is permitted if it enhances the abstract. We will only consider unpublished research; please do not submit papers that have a positive decision at an academic journal, are accepted, or forthcoming elsewhere.
Presenting authors are expected to share their completed papers with other conference participants two weeks before the conference.
Accepted presenters will be provided with breakfast, lunch, and refreshments throughout the workshop day, as well as participation in a drinks reception and dinner for both days free of charge. There is no registration fee for the workshop. There is some potential to defray accommodation costs for early career researchers, please indicate if you would like to be considered for this on the sign-up form.
We are looking forward to reading your applications and hopefully joining us in London!
Details will be added here in due course