With only six years left until 2030, the world is marked by war and conflict and many sustainability indicators are pointing in the wrong direction. This year’s A Sustainable Tomorrow gathered 30,000 interested individuals via 200 hubs around Scandinavia. One of those hubs was Karlstad University.
The theme this year was “dissonance” – methods and examples to bridge the gap between what we know we must do and what we actually do.
– Most of us are also guilty of some degree of ignorance, said Jerker Moodysson, Vice-Chancellor of Karlstad University. For instance, I drive more than I’m entirely comfortable with, despite knowing it’s harmful to the environment and that we must make significant changes in every possible way to avoid further environmental decline.
– At Karlstad University, we conduct research and education in sustainability, but we are also an important arena for education and public debate in a broader sense, Jerker Moodysson continued. A Sustainable Tomorrow is a fine example, where we, together with other actors, shed light on an important social issue and contribute to greater awareness and hopefully also more action – both big and small. I hope that this year’s edition of A Sustainable Tomorrow contributes to us becoming wiser, braver and more capable of action.
Helén Williams, Docent in Environmental and Energy Systems at the Service Research Center (CTF), wants the research to be put to use quicker.
– At CTF, we offer courses in skills enhancement for professionals and provide knowledge about important aspects for a more sustainable transition. The courses are included in the framework of ISE at CTF and they are connected to our research areas.
Malin Thorsén, founder and CEO of Bright Planet, wants to promote more sustainable business.
– The interest in A Sutainable Tomorrow keeps growing each year. For example, there are almost twice as many of us here today compared to 2023.
– We meet many students who are worried and anxious about these issues, said Marie-Therese Christiansson, Head of Karlstad Business School. In our courses and programmes, we want to offer opportunities to gain insight into consequences where they arise. Being able to meet in global classrooms and greater internationalisation at home can give our students the opportunity to work together with students in other countries to reach an understanding of the big picture. And also find hope, where skills, abilities and different perspectives can be used to find concrete opportunities and solutions.
Among the speakers who participated online was former Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, who methodically explained the American electoral system and the importance of a globally responsible person winning the presidential election in the USA this autumn.
