Food makes youth climate superheroes

03.12.19 | News
Adam Arnesson ekobonden
Photographer
norden.org

Adam Arnesson also known as "Ekobonden" with climate superpower during Nordic Climate Action Weeks in Stockholm

Young farmer cuts greenhouse gas emissions by half, vegan blogger redesigns the idea of comfort food and policymakers discuss innovative tools for climate action. During COP25 the Nordic Food Policy Lab brings new voices, ideas and concrete actions to the table that can help accelerate the transition to sustainable diets.

Reports from the Nordic countries indicate a rapid change in food consumption among young people. In Sweden, for example, more than half of the young people between the ages of 18 and 29 are now eating less meat citing climate change as their main motivation. Shifting trends in what we eat and how we take everyday climate action are not only happening in the Nordics but also globally – just look around you as school children go on strike around the world every Friday!

Food as everyday activism

The global food system contributes up to a third of total global greenhouse gas emissions and is connected to every single one of the SDGs. We must listen to new voices when discussing how the food choices we make can help address this alarming climate crisis.

“The three things needed to reach a more sustainable food system are to produce better with fewer inputs, reduce our shocking levels of food waste, and decrease our consumption of the most resource demanding foods such as meat and dairy. We should make change as individuals, but most importantly, we need structural and political change,” says Elin Röös, Researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and one the speakers for the “Taste the transition” lunch talk series

We should make change as individuals, but most importantly, we need structural and political change.

Elin Röös, Researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

New political tools and youth inclusion

During the Nordic Climate Action Weeks in Stockholm running in parallel to the UN Climate negotiations, the Nordic Food Policy Lab highlights young solutionists and new voices with the ambition to accelerate action by testing bold food combinations, discussing new tools for food policy, and hosting a series of food talks on sustainability.

Join us at Norrsken House for a delicious disruption in food. There are limited seats for the events, so make sure to sign up.

 

Policy lab: Food is the new climate action - but how?

  • 5 December at 18.30-19.30

Food is the new climate action – but how? A policy lab investigating how new food policy tools can translate climate ambitions into climate action. Sign up here!

 

Youth movement for sustainable consumption patterns

  • 6 December at 18.30-19.30

We promote change by having a meaningful dialogue about less conspicuous consumption among dedicated youth participants by starting the dialogue with a live update from representatives in Madrid. 

*Nordic Food Policy Lab is participating, not hosting.

 

Let’s play! The 1.5 Food Festival

  • 7 December at 14.00-16:00

Join this innovative eating experience to co-create the climate-smart 1.5-degree menu of the future. Bring your friends and help design the best tasting food combinations in the 31T experience. This event merges technology and gastronomy to help inspire everyday climate activism through food. Sign up here!

 

Taste the transition – lunch talks

  • 2-13 December at 12.30-13:30

10 lunch-talks featuring visionaries who are bringing new perspectives on how to accelerate a more sustainable and healthy dietary transformation. Schedule and sign up!

If you miss a talk, catch some speakers in the Nordic Food Tech podcast series.

The virtual backdoor into COP25

The Nordic Council of Ministers is pioneering a new format for COP25 with two twin hubs: One pavilion for participants at the official COP in Madrid itself and an event space in Stockholm for the general public. This will strengthen the climate dialogue and you will not only get the chance to discuss climate action with youth, experts, ministers, NGOs and the climate-concerned public, you’ll also experience the virtual backdoor into COP25 in Madrid.