Protect Our Winters Europe

Last week I met up with some of my favourite people, members of POW from all across Europe and some of our very inspiring partners. Our POW European leadership summit took place in Röstånga in Söderåsen, and it was lovely, truly. We shared ideas and collaborated on climate action, diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality. It has been a week since, and I have found myself reflecting deeply on Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass, the book I am currently reading and how it connects with my current experiences. In her work, Kimmerer teaches us to look at nature not only through a lens of science but also through gratitude, reciprocity, and connection. This weaving of knowledge – from Indigenous wisdom to modern environmental science –could literally be a metaphor for how we met during this short weekend. Our talks felt like the structure of a braid, where individual strands—climate action, intersectionalism, and inclusion and our respective experiences —were intertwined to form something stronger and more resilient. We talked about and put emphasis on relationships and connections in nature, and between us. And much of this happened as we walked in the sun, under the sky, with the wind. Concluding the weekend, was the obvious fact: true climate justice can only be achieved when we consider the relationships between environmental degradation and social inequities alike. Our movement, our organisation and our approach to the climate predicament must address how marginalised communities are disproportionately affected, and how their voices are central for addressing these issues, and for sustainability. We knew it already, but perhaps (or not perhaps, actually) after this weekend, we have more tools and knowledge to take with us. There are a million thanks to go out to: Protect Our Winters Europe Protect Our Winters Sweden Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe Ohana Public Affairs Opening Up The Outdoors Oatly  Atomic Nidecker Snowboards Icebug AB  icebreaker Svenska Turistföreningen Robert Nyquist (full photo cred) Anna Gros Nicole Modigh And the rest of the people in POW. You know who you are.

Would you travel 1372 km🚞 by train to see your colleagues? (That’s the distance from Italy to southern Sweden, in case you were wondering)
 If they’re as great as this bunch, then my answer is YES💥(also because I did do exactly that just last weekend - so I guess I’m biased). What I realized at this third edition of the POW in Europe summit - that was held in the south of Sweden, is that we are ready. Ready to make change happen collectively. And not just because we can work together on campaigns and #advocacy work - but we are ready to grow and evolve together. 
And at this European summit we did a lot of that (growing and evolving thing) we asked ourselves: what did we not even know we were doing? What can we do better? Are we really listening to our community? Evolve 🦤 Being able to ask those questions, and build on them together is what makes it worth it. By ‘it’ I also mean 26 hours non-stop travel one-way. #lowemissionmobility Grow 🌲Together with those people who carry out the same work as me, but in different contexts around Europe and who continue to be one of my favourite networks of people 🫶 Together ❄️ doesn’t just mean 10 national chapters and a European team of Protect Our Winters Europe, it also means together with those partners that help us drive our work every day. 

🇪🇺From the in-depth insights from Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe & Ohana Public Affairs on the #impact of activism on #EuropeanClimatePolicy. 📣Opening Up The Outdoors who are a guiding voice on the topic of #diversity, #equity, and #inclusion in the outdoors, and who’s workshop was one for the books. ⛷️And of course together also means with those brand partners such as Atomic Nidecker Snowboards, Icebug AB, and icebreaker who made it clear how important collaboration is to our common mission. Thanks to amazing humans from Protect Our Winters Sweden Nicole Modigh Anna Gros Clara Edwards who pulled all this together. Special thanks also to Oatly for all the chocolate mylk my heart could ask for. Also big thanks for all the work done to out this summit on the map done by the Protect Our Winters Europe team and special thanks to Gillian Rosh 🤓 📸 Robert Nyquist

POW Europe 2024 Leadership Summit, Röstånga Home to London, three days of meetings then straight to Sweden for the weekend and the POW leadership summit. I'm already exhausted. Is this really worth it? I think on the way to the Tube. A weekend of intense strategic work and then back to the UK for the day job, I remember how drained I was last year after 12 days straight work. Arriving in the middle of Friday night, I pick up a stray Joe from Climate Action Network Europe, in Copenhagen. Joe Inwood, defeated by delays in the German train network is nonetheless cheery about the prospect of giving up his weekend. POW is one of the most charismatic new members of the network and he tells me everyone is jealous of this gig. I wake to the clatter of group breakfast preparations and the excited chatter of collaboration. POW Sweden have pulled off a blinder. Their brief; central enough for the majority to get to by train, close enough to nature that we can remind ourselves of why we do this. A soulless city centre hotel is not for POW. Instead we have a beautiful Swedish hostel thanks to the support of Swedish Tourism (partner in POW Sweden), and access to the fall colours and geological wonders of the Söderåsen National Park. So what did we do in this rare chance to get together in person? Reviewed the post election European political landscape to work out where our opportunities to influence are, and the biggest risks to transformational climate policy. Previewed the upcoming Downstream film for Year of the Glacier and watched it by firelight and starlight. Wrestled with the challenges and opportunities around the 2026 winter Olympics in Italy. Hiked through woods to distant lakes. Worked on wellbeing and how we look after each other as small dispersed teams or individuals. Ran to awe inspiring view points. Worked on the strategy for POW in Europe, but most importantly we worked with the incredible Opening Up The Outdoors, Aneela McKenna (Mòr Diversity) to confront our bias and understand how POW in Europe can be part of transformational change to ensure our climate activism is intersectional. Anyway, they say change is as good as a rest. I tell you what's better. Time in nature and commune with like-minded individuals fighting for a cause with authenticity, humility, and passion. Huge thanks to our supporting partners who showed up and brought something unique to the weekend, Oatly, Nidecker Snowboards, Atomic, Icebug AB, icebreaker, www.ohanapublicaffairs.eu, @climateactionnetworkeurope and to Nyquist Photos Robert Nyquist for capturing the moments in a way we never could otherwise.

There’s so much talk about authenticity these days—it almost feels overused. But honestly, I can’t think of a better word to describe my experience last weekend at the Protect Our Winters Europe Leadership Summit in Rostanga, Sweden. Yes, there are countless great events out there, but the POW Europe community continues to blow me away. What makes it special goes beyond the fight against climate change—it’s our shared connection to the outdoors. ❄️❄️❄️ Everyone there knew exactly why they showed up. We’ve all seen the impact of climate change firsthand. We all want to make a difference. But more than that, the outdoors is what binds us together, what turns this cause into a community. 🌿 It feels a bit like home. For me, this is true authenticity: Real people, real purpose, all working towards real change. I left Rostanga feeling inspired, supported, and more committed than ever to protecting what we love. 💚 Thank you to my fellow POW family for such an incredible experience. Thanks to Robert Nyquist for the Great Images Thanks for the great input: Oatly, Ohana Public Affairs, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, Alistair Maltby, Opening Up The Outdoors Special Thanks to Jonas Schneider, Jordan Wright, Gillian Rosh and of course Dan Yates

Last weekend, #OUTO participated in the Protect Our Winters Europe Summit 🔥 OUTO council members, Aneela McKenna (Mòr Diversity) and Yasmin Dufournet led a diversity workshop and reviewed OUTO research findings, focusing on making the outdoors more inclusive and accessible for everyone, as well as addressing barriers and unconscious biases. Founded in 2021 in response to systemic racism, Opening Up The Outdoors is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to fostering inclusion, education, and enjoyment of outdoor spaces by people of the global majority 👊 Our vision is to create an outdoor community and industry that is truly diverse, equitable, anti-racist, and accessible to all 💜 Thank you, Protect Our Winters Europe for having us 🙏 & also be sure to join our newsletter to stay updated on #OUTO news: https://lnkd.in/gCgggjni 📸 Nyquist Photos