NEWS How do we build societies that can cope with change, crises and uncertainty? And what role do education, relationships and local engagement play in the transition to a sustainable future? These were some of the questions discussed when around 70 participants from the public sector, business, academia and civil society gathered in Umeå for the Nordic hybrid conference A Sustainable Tomorrow.
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ImageElsa BjurmanThis year's A Sustainable Tomorrow was livestreamed from Helsingborg to local hubs across the Nordic region, where around 30,000 participants took part in discussions on how we can become more resilient as individuals, organisations and societies.
At P5 in Väven, Umeå, participants combined the national digital programme with local presentations, discussions and networking activities. Through lectures, conversations and the exchange of experiences, participants explored what is needed to create societies that can not only manage change and crises, but also grow and develop through them.
– We need to understand which resources and conditions already exist and what strengths we can build on. It's just as much about building on what is already there as it is about creating something new, says Veronica Strandh, Associate Professor of Political Science at Umeå University.
A recurring theme throughout the day was the importance of relationships. Researchers and experts highlighted that resilience is not only about technology, infrastructure or preparedness plans.
– Strong relationships build trust and make it possible for us to learn from one another, collaborate and support each other. This increases our ability to recover, adapt and transform, says Lisen Schultz from the Stockholm Resilience Centre.
Relationships between people, but also between people and nature, were described as a crucial foundation for sustainable and resilient societies.
The local perspective also featured prominently in the discussions that followed. Participants highlighted the importance of neighbours, meeting places and local networks as valuable resources that can play a significant role both in everyday life and when communities face challenges.
Perhaps the most personal contribution of the day came from speaker Charbel Gabro, who shared his own experiences of setbacks, self-worth and personal transformation.
Through stories of vulnerability, courage and growth, he encouraged participants to reflect on what holds us back and on the impact our own choices and actions can have.
– What you do, and what you don't do, matters, says Charbel.
He also emphasised the importance of self-love and recognising one's own value as a prerequisite for making a difference in the lives of others.
During the afternoon, attention turned to change processes and the reactions that can arise when established ways of working, norms and structures are challenged.
Linda Gustavsson, Gender Equality Strategist at Umeå Municipality, described resistance as a natural part of transformation processes.
– Resistance shows that something is being challenged. It also means that we are touching on issues that are uncomfortable, and that is often where we find the things that need to be questioned and changed," says Linda.
The day concluded with a nature walk along the Ume River led by Mark Henderson and Martin Tufvesson from Natural Intelligence.
The walk connected to the Inner Development Goals (IDG) framework and to the human capacities needed to create sustainable change, such as caring for others, building trust, collaborating and understanding different perspectives.
– I was actually surprised by how quickly we became personal with one another and how natural it felt. The exercises required both trust and courage, but they also showed how much can happen in a conversation when you dare to open up a little more than usual, says Johanna Gardeström, Environmental coordinator at Umeå University.