The movement Climate Action has grown explosively since the start in May 2008, which shows that people are passionate about climate change. Photo: www.klimataktion.se

It’s a Saturday afternoon in the Stockholm suburbs and Eva Brandtell has invited six friends over to her place for a party. In the last year, Eva has become increasingly aware of the threat to the environment, having seen the climate change debate hitting the headlines in newspapers and on TV.

Eager to find out more, she’s throwing a climate party, with coffee, cake and a portion of planet saving on the side. Tomas Walch — IT consultant, campaigner and brains behind the idea — introduces himself: “Hi, my name is Tomas,” he says. “I’m a fossil fuel addict.”

Spreading the word

The causes and effects of global warming are on the agenda with the underlying message that it’s time to act now.

“The climate party is a very powerful way of getting the message through,” Walch says. “It’s personal, through somebody you trust; a friend who has invited you to her/his home.

“People are open-minded and prepared to listen. It’s not only about encouraging people to adopt a new lifestyle but influencing them to spread the word.”

Only 10 minutes into his presentation and the guests are already responding: “So what can I do to help?” one climate partygoer asks.

Power to the people

Walch’s diary is filling up with party requests, especially since he joined forces with the recently formed Swedish movement Climate Action (Klimataktion).

Lina Hjort, a Stockholm mother of two and Climate Action board member, promotes the climate party idea. “Climate Action is about activating people and these parties are a good example of the way the organization works,” she says.

“Having kids is perhaps one reason why I got involved. It’s about what kind of planet we give to our next generation.”

Climate party goers listen attentively to Tomas Walch preaching about a greener lifestyle. Photo: Lars Epstein / Scanpix

Formed in May 2008 by a group of like-minded people, Climate Action is a non-religious, non-partisan organization, founded by the people, for the people.

“It’s important that everyone feels they have a place in this movement, regardless of background, profession or age,” Hjort says. “It’s doesn’t matter how many books you have read or how knowledgeable you are. What matters is that you have passion and want to do something about climate change.”

The grass roots group has grown rapidly into a national network, with 16 local branches spread around the country. On a local level, Climate Action is working toward influencing policy change in transportation and infrastructure. Operational groups have been set up in areas such as energy, city planning and traffic and information sharing. Collectively, the aim is to lobby policymakers on a national level to achieve further carbon emission cuts and the introduction of a climate budget.

“It’s early days, but our first achievement is probably that we have grown so quickly and we have a truly diverse membership,” Hjort says. “It proves there was a need for this kind of movement.”

Grass roots are greener

Climate Action achieved early recognition through a petition in a national newspaper, when 56 scientists, journalists and commentators pledged to support their cause.

Katarina Eckerberg, professor in political science at Umeå University and deputy director at the Stockholm Environment Institute, signed up. “I sympathize with what the movement is doing and, as a citizen, I also want to make my voice heard,” she says.

Many parents want to be able to offer their kids a climate friendlier future. Photo: Andreas Säker

“If you really want change, the local level is the place to start. It’s necessary for politicians to listen and take action, and I believe this kind of bottom-up organizations can really make a difference.

“Newspapers are full of information about consequences, but not the solutions. This is a way for people to find solutions and act on them.”

Waste of energy

Yet, parts of the scientific community have a different opinion on the matter. According to Lars Franzén, professor in physical geography at the University of Gothenburg, the media is doing society a disservice.

“The media are simply adding to the hysteria, blaming everything on climate change,” he says. “And here in Sweden, people have a conscience about environmental problems and feel the need to act.”

Franzén believes the hype is part of a misleading, global political agenda and lack of energy is the burning issue. “Fossil fuels as an energy resource are not endless,” Franzén says. “Politicians need us to stop consuming them, and the trigger they are using is climate change.”

However controversial an issue, climate change continues to be widely debated, reported on and acted upon in Sweden. Climate change has even become the reason for a rather unconventional celebration, the climate party.

Christine Demsteader

Christine Demsteader is a British freelance writer who has been living in Stockholm since 2002. During that time, she has become well accustomed to traditional Swedish festivities, namely the midsummer celebrations and the more obscure crayfish party. This, however, was her first climate party.

The author alone is responsible for the opinions expressed in this article.

Classification: A269EN