“Not afraid to challenge politicians and organisations with the vision of a sustainable society”. And with those words the former students of Lund University Olivia Linander and Johanna Lakso pulled of the World Wide Fund of Nature’s prize for this year’s environmental heroes.
The World Wide Fund of Nature’s prize The environmental heroes of the year was distributed by King Carl XVI Gustaf at the Castle of Ulrikedal last week. This year the former students of Lund University Olivia Linander and Johanna Lakso were awarded the prize. “It feels great to get such a recognition. It is definitely an encouragement that shows that what we do is valuable,”says Olovia Linander.
Critics of the climate for sustainability
In March this year Olivia Linander and Johanna Lakso started the youth organisation Push Sweden. Push Sweden is a platform for organisations to co-operate and carry out campaigns concerning environmental issues and issues of sustainability. Today they have about 300 members and 40 member organisations connected to PUSH Sweden. Among the more creative campaigns The Climate Scream is worth mentioning, which acknowledges environmental issues through screaming. “The campaign has had an effect. We have levelled criticism against our Minister of the Environment Lena Ek and she knows what we think and has listened to out criticism”, says Olivia Linander.
A change of generations in environmental politics
They got the idea to start the organisation after the conference Power Shift. Power Shift is an environmental conference where the focus is on carrying out a shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy, at the same time as they want a shift of generations among those who make political decisions concerning the environment. “We are an organisation for young people that is now continuing to grow. Soon there will be climate negotiations in Warsaw that we are planning to spread the information about”, says Olivia Linander.
And what is your next action?
“We are continuing with the Fossil Free Lund University campaign where we put pressure on Lund University to sell their shares in companies who sell coal, oil and gas”, she says.
Text: Carl-Johan Kullving
Translation: Mia Söllwander
