A WEEK OF CELEBRATIONS!

Bridging divides and resolving conflicting goals is essential for enabling the green transition. This year’s laureates of the WIN WIN Award and WIN WIN Youth Award are experts in this area, having demonstrated how parties, initially opposed to each other on various sustainability issues, have come together to find a common path forward for the benefit of a sustainable, shared future.

It has been a fantastic week in Gothenburg, where Giulia Laganá and Diana Junquera from the ITUC Just Transition Centre, along with Gytis Blaževičius and Jesper Stattin from Natur og Ungdom, shared their experiences of facilitating a just transition. They presented their work to representatives from civil society, business, academia, and politics, and were received with an overwhelming level of engagement.

MONDAY

We welcomed this year’s laureates by attending the opening ceremony of the Sustainability Festival Västra Götaland at Kulturhuset Bergsjön. The laureates presented their work alongside Christiano Bottone from KuneLab (Finalist for the WIN WIN Award 2024) and Kenny Dos Santos (Finalist for the WIN WIN Youth Award 2023), now chair of Navet i Bergsjön.

In a panel discussion with Ulf Jarnefjord from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the conversation emphasised that achieving a climate-positive and just transition requires more than merely encouraging participation. It’s about ensuring people feel genuinely included in the process, making sure no one is left behind, and helping them feel connected to the broader vision for a sustainable future.

TUESDAY

On the second day, we visited two proud partners of the WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award: Essity HQ in the morning, followed by a lunch meeting at Andra AP-fonden (AP2).

The laureates reminded us that the transition will not be the same for everyone—no business, country, or municipality is alike. This makes it essential to tailor solutions to specific circumstances and ensure that workers' rights are safeguarded throughout the entire process.

WEDNESDAY

The day began with an inspiring presentation to the Executive Municipal Board of the City of Gothenburg, where insights on achieving a fair and inclusive transition sparked political engagement.

The laureates then participated in a "Researchers' Lunch" with representatives from various faculties at the University of Gothenburg. They then delivered in-depth presentations at the WIN WIN Laureate Lecture, in collaboration with the university and moderated by Andréas Litsegård, expert advisor to the WIN WIN Award. This engaging session sparked thoughtful discussions with the audience on key measures to mitigate future uncertainties in the green transition.

With climate change already a pressing reality, the need for decisive government action was underscored. It was emphasised that stakeholders across society—civil society, businesses, and communities—must align their goals and actively participate in shaping a transition plan that delivers long-term benefits for all.

The day concluded with an engaging roundtable discussion with PhD students from the Just Transition Graduate School.

THURSDAY

On Thursday, we hosted the "Bridging for a Just Transition" lunch seminar together with Business Region Göteborg, bringing together leading voices from unions, environmental organisations, businesses, and the public sector. Moderated by WIN WIN Youth Award expert advisor Johan Holmén, the panel discussions featured contributions from Giulia Laganà and Gytis Blaževičius as well as Charlotta Helge (Head of Social Policy, TCO), Rudolf Antoni (Regional Director, Svenskt Näringsliv / Confederation of Swedish Enterprise), Karin Lexén (General Secretary, Naturskyddsföreningen / Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and Anastazia Kronberg (Collaborations and Innovation Manager, BRG).

After a joint lunch, a select group participated in roundtable discussions alongside the laureates, facilitated by the jury members of the award.

A few takeaways from the discussions: 

• Transitions often have losers, even with measures to minimise impact. Individuals may face worries, fear, job insecurity, lower income, and diminished status, while societies may see certain professions disappear and local communities deplete. Recognising and managing these losses is crucial and can be likened to hospice work.

  
  

• Involving all stakeholders, especially trade unions, at the planning stage is essential to minimise damage; their absence can lead to greater protests.

   

• An inclusive transition incurs costs, such as retraining workers and providing fair terms for those unable to retrain. Companies typically prioritise profit and may resist additional expenses.

   

• Therefore, establishing laws and support systems—like state-funded adult education and income insurance—that automatically activate is vital.

   

• A strong state is necessary to implement and fund these support systems, relying on public trust in politicians and authorities to act in the public interest. Today's low and decreasing trust presents a significant challenge.

FRIDAY – AWARD NIGHT

The week reached its climax at the annual WIN WIN Award Night! It was a splendid evening, masterfully hosted by the talented Johanna Koljonen and brought to life by the exceptional youth band Burstein Orchestra, whose performance filled the night with energy and joy! This event is not just an award ceremony; it's a gathering of like-minded individuals united by a shared vision of a better future.

The laureates received their Prize Cubes, crafted by designer Emeli Höcks, who interpreted the theme of Inclusive Transition by merging two distinct materials: one organic, symbolising the environmental movement, and the other comprising a thousand grains of sand, representing the trade unions. This thoughtful design creates a unified whole that embodies the essence of collaboration and inclusivity.

We would also like to recognise the incredible partners who make this award possible through their dedication and contributions: City of Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Chalmers University of Technology, University of Gothenburg, AP2 (the Second Swedish National Pension Fund), SEB, Carl Bennet AB, Elanders, Coop Väst, Essity, Getinge and SKF. 

Your support enables us to continue showcasing role models for a more sustainable future, while spreading hope and knowledge to facilitate the transition.