An Experiment in Reimagining Climate Responses

In Zurich in 2025, the Ministry for the Future becomes a reality—at least on stage. Inspired by Kim Stanley Robinson’s novel of the same name, this initiative by Theater Neumarkt and the Collegium Helveticum is an experiment in reimagining how familiar challenges like climate responses can be discussed in a new context—one that challenges perspectives and provokes the audience to (re-)think.

In Robinson’s novel, the Ministry is established in response to a catastrophic heatwave in India that claims over 20 million lives. Its mission: to enforce the Paris Climate Agreement and prevent further global warming. While such a ministry remains fictional, the urgency of climate solutions is very real.

In close collaboration with the Theater Neumarkt former and current early-career fellows, Georgia Drew, Yael Borofsky, and Charlotte Müller, played a key role in developing the concept of this series and shaping the scenarios.

Episode 1: Geoengineering (sold out)

When February 14, 2025, 19:00
Where ETH Campus Hönggerberg

The first episode focuses on geoengineering—the controversial practice of deliberately manipulating the Earth’s climate system. Scientists including Prof. Thomas Stocker, Prof. Dr. Claudia Mohr, and Dr. Sandro Vattioni will explore whether interventions such as injecting aerosols into the atmosphere could help mitigate climate change, and what risks such measures might entail.

The discussion will unfold within a theatrical, fictional setting, blending science and storytelling. Supported by members of the Theater Neumarkt ensemble, the event aims to spark debate on the ethical and practical implications of geoengineering.

Episode 2: Extinction

When March 28, 2025, 19:00
Where Starts at Central, in front of the Polybahn station next to the fountain.

In this episode, the Ministry navigates underground networks—both social and biological—amid escalating tensions between the carbon lobby and eco-activists. At the heart of the crisis is a crucial but overlooked ally in the fight against climate change: mycorrhizal fungal networks, the second-largest carbon recyclers on Earth.

The discussion raises pressing questions: Do fungi need a political lobby? Should we rethink agriculture? Can forests be engineered or placed on life support? Should fungi receive the same conservation status as animals? In a world where the invisible is often ignored, this hearing calls for a new perspective on protecting Earth's underground biodiversity.

Episode 3: Nomadism

When April 11, 2025, 19:00
Where Starts at Rathausbrücke Zürich

The Ministry for the Future typically tackles global crises, but this time, the disaster hits close to home. In 2032 and 2033, Switzerland and the Alpine region suffered catastrophic 1,000-year floods, forcing hundreds of thousands—including Zurich residents—to evacuate. With extreme weather becoming the new normal, Alpine governments now turn to the Ministry for guidance.

At the hearing experts will discuss the future of flood resilience, policy, and adaptation strategies: Federica Remondi, responsible for Swiss Re's global natural catastrophe risk assessment, David Kostenwein, coordinator of the Humanitarian Planning Hub at the Spatial Development and Urban Policy Research Group at ETH, and Jan Freihardt, a political scientist specializing in the effects of climate change on communities in Bangladesh. More speakers will join the conversation as the debate unfolds.

Episode 4: Foundation

When April 25, 2025, 19:00
Where Collegium Helveticum

In the final episode, the setting returns to the present—standing at the brink of what could be the foundation of a real Ministry for the Future. This moment is not exactly as Robinson’s novel envisioned, but one truth remains clear: the second-best time to act is now.

At the Collegium, we gather insights from the previous episodes, bringing together activists, policymakers, entrepreneurs—and you. Looking backward, forward, and beyond, we ask: What does it truly mean to take Robinson’s vision seriously? Is an international institution the right tool for the challenge? And how do we take the first steps toward making it a reality?