Freedom, equality, and participation: Democracy shapes how we live, our access to education, and the opportunities we have for political and social participation. At the same time, it seems to have been pushed onto the defensive in many places. Political fringe groups that fundamentally question the democratic model are gaining strength. Democracies around the world are under increasing pressure—including German democracy. The question now arises with renewed urgency: What can we do to preserve our democracy?

On June 17, 2026, the German Ethics Council brought together experts from academia, politics, and the field to reflect on this question. The Chair of Urban Climate Resilience helped organize the event and conducted an interactive workshop on serious games and municipal climate adaptation.

Under the title “Klimakrise im Spiel – Serious Games zwischen instrumenteller Vernunft und kommunikativer Praxis” participants had the opportunity to try out a cooperative strategy and simulation game together and, through it, gain insight into complex decision-making processes related to climate adaptation at the local level. This was followed by a plenary discussion on the role serious games can play in promoting democracy and the conditions necessary for their success. The workshop was led by Prof. Markus Keck and Rouven Kaiser.

Further information about the annual conference