The second live meeting of the European Grandparents took place from August 28th to 31st, this time in Oslo. Approximately 50 participants came from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, England, Sweden, and Norway.
General impression video
Our Norwegian members, Besteforeldrenes Klimaaksjon, hosted and arranged the event with an excellent balance of interesting and inspiring external lectures and internal sessions about the EGC aimed at strengthening and focusing the EGC and its relationships with the participating organizations.
External lectures
The external lectures covered COP30, Circularity, climate and healthcare, a lawsuit against the Norwegian government over the halting of new oil drilling, the impact of climate change on healthcare, and climate policy and its implementation in the municipality of Oslo.
One of the most inspiring lectures was by Prof. Em. Jørgen Randers and author of, among others A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years on tackling the global climate problem. Among Jørgen Randers’ many interesting and research-based points, these two stood out and made a very strong impression:
– Democracies fail to effectively make and implement long-term decisions about climate. China is much better equipped to do so.
– The paramount priority in order to prevent the worst effects of climate change must be “Phase out coal, oil and gas as fast as possible.”
The EGC and its participants agree that the fight to phase out coal, oil and gas as fast as possible must be top priority among our actions in 2025-2026.
Outlook to 2025-2026
In order to take the EGC to the next level, existing working groups were strengthened with active participants: EU-politics, Public communication on climate, and External communication about our organization.
New working groups were established and staffed: Further growth of the organization(s), Fundraising, and, Climate psychology, focusing on the question of why 70% of the population recognizes the climate problem, yet so few actually act on it.
We also participated in a demonstration through the streets of Oslo
Press release:
European Grandparents for Climate Meet in Oslo
Oslo, Norway – European Grandparents for Climate gathered in Oslo at the invitation of their member organization Bestforeldrenes of Norway to strengthen their network, exchange information and back the Norwegian grandparent organization in its climate campaign ahead of the national elections.
Delegates from across Europe met to share strategies and strengthen their cohesion and unity. They stressed the moral duty of older generations to support the younger generations in their fight for climate justice.”
The gathering aimed to boost the visibility of Norwegian Grandparents for Climate as they fight for a climate-friendly vote in the upcoming elections.
“Grandparents have a clear message: we want bold action now to phase out coal, oil and gas,” says Godela von Kirchbach “Our actions now influences thousands of years in the future and many, many generations to come.“ European Grandparents for Climate is a coalition of senior citizens’ groups across the continent, united in demanding ambitious climate policies and intergenerational justice.”