ReGeneration Week 2021

The ReGeneration Week 2021 created an arena where over 170 young people (15-30 years old) from the Nordic and Baltic Sea regions met in-person and online to discuss issues surrounding the climate crisis, organised in conjunction with the Government of Åland. Taking place in Mariehamn on the Åland islands, the event provided a platform for intergenerational dialogue around the UN Agenda 2030 and the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). The 2021 theme was ‘ReThinking the System’, with a focus on SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, and the agenda was built around the UNEP toolkit Anatomy of Action (AoA).

Within these five domains, a programme consisting of talks and interactive sessions was compiled with a wide array of speakers including representatives from Greenpeace, Stockholm Environment Institute, Fridays for Future, Bæredygtig Scenekunst NU, UNEP’s One Planet Network alongside many others. The purpose of this was to educate and inform, whilst creating a space where young people could share their own knowledge, inspire each other, and act together.

“The best part about the ReGeneration Week for me was that as well as learning more about sustainability from the talks and the other participants I met, I also got the chance to build a network of like-minded people, where we can support each other through our journeys in environmental advocacy.” said Johanna Ekebom, participant at the ReGeneration Week.

 

Dialogue meetings 
Following the series of talks, intergenerational dialogues were held between policymakers and the attendees. Challenging the traditional conference structure, the ReGeneration Week created intimate discussions between youth and senior change makers from different sectors of society, for instance MEP’s, ministers, professors, and senior civil servants. Individuals such as EU Commissioner for the Environment, Virginijus Sinkevičius, and Finnish Minister of Nordic Cooperation and Equality, Thomas Blomqvist were in attendance, giving the young participants a chance to engage on a personal level with those in positions of power. Many of the participants confirmed that the dialogues brought them new insights and thoughts.

Declaration
On the final day, during the Plenary session, all of the participants in the ReGeneration Week came together and debated the new Declaration that will form the basis for the ReGeneration 2030 movement’s future activities. The Declaration is a two-page document which outlines the state of the world, identifies the causes of the crises, and provides a vision of a sustainable future.
This vision is “that we and future generations will live in a society based on an economy in balance with ecosystems, built on circular principles and sustainable nature-based solutions. In a sustainable society, we are all able to live without existential fears. We wish to live flourishing lives, within the planetary boundaries.”