Community-led initiatives in Sweden

Transition in Sweden

Main page: Transition in Sweden

The Transition Network lists 4 initiatives in Sweden. The national hub Omställningsnätverket, an association educating, encouraging and supporting local change initiatives in Sweden was founded in 2013 and is a member of ECOLISE. Hela Sverige (Rural Sweden) is a national civil society organization for rural development working towards vibrant local communities. There are 24 county networks serving 5000 local community groups and 40 member organizations. Studiefrämjandet (Study Promotion) is one of Sweden's biggest educational associations providing and supporting a wide range of study circles, courses, cultural arrangements and lectures with focus on increased interest towards nature, animals, environment and culture. In relation to that Studiefrämjandet works in tight cooperation with the Swedish Transition Network.

Every year the Transition Network in Sweden organises a national conference where the board members hold their yearly meetings. The last conference was held in Malmö between 5-7 October with a theme "How can diversity be a tool for real transition?".

The Swedish Transition Network is currently in the process of identifying existing local initiatives. At the moment there are 47 transition groups all over Sweden who have created their own facebook groups:

• Alingsås
• Bergslagen
• Bollebygd
• Borås
• Falun
• Gävle
• Göteborg
• Halland
• Halmstad
• Hällungebygden
• Hälsingland
• Jämtland/Härjedalen
• Järbo
• Järna
• Kalmar/Öland
• Karlskrona
• Karlstad
• Knivsta
• Kronoberg
• Kungälv
• Landskrona
• Lindesberg
• Linköping
• Ludvika
• Lund
• Malmö
• Njurunda
• Nora
• Nordvästra Skåne
• Norra Bohuslän/Strömstad
• Norrbotten
• Nyköping
• Sigtuna
• Skurup
• Stockholm
• Säffle
• Södra Gästrikland
• Tjörnarp
• Umeå
• Uppsala
• Värmdö
• Västerort
• Västerås
• Växjö
• Örebro
• Österlen
• Östernärke

The local initiative Omställning Järna is a member of ECOLISE.

In the past years there has been a number of Folk High Schools in Sweden that have introduced courses related to Transition, such as permaculture, eco-building and other similar subjects. In 2017 Eskilstunafolkhögskola started a One Year in Transition (1YT) course inspired by the equivalent course which was initiated in Totnes by Transition Network UK and Schumacher College. Färnebo Folkhögskola north of Uppsala also proposes a one year course Omställningspiloterna (Transition pilots) which includes courses such as self-sufficiency,local economy, agroforestry, permaculture and other.

Holma Folkhögskola near Lund is unique in a way that all its courses are related to Transition.

Permaculture in Sweden

Main page: Permaculture in Sweden

The Swedish Permaculture Association Permakultur Sverige, a member of ECOLISE, lists 33 projects in Sweden with local networks in local departments in Stockholm County, Skåne and Bohuslän. The association aims to "show what permaculture is", "adapt and develop permaculture under Swedish conditions", support new and established projects and connect to the international permaculture Network.

Ridgedale Farm AB, a working farm and educational site for permaculture and more in Värmland, is offering a wide range of trainings and services.

Ecovillages in Sweden

Main page: Ecovillages in Sweden

The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) lists 25 projects in their database. This number is however only reflecting the projects that have registered themselves on the database. The ecovillage database contains ecovillage projects of all sizes and in all stages of development. There seems to be a strong geographical focus on Southern and Central Sweden with a high concentration of projects registered on the ERO map of ecovillage projects.

The ecovillages in Sweden are organized in the National Network Ekobyarnas Riksorganisation (ERO). The mision of ERO is “working to provide ecovillages and other forms of communities in their pursuit of a sustainable lifestyle and development, opportunities to network and finding collaborations both nationally and internationally”. According to the Statues of the association, ERO is managed by a board which is responsible to plan and lead activities and to create an annual report on activities and economic management of the membership fees to be presented at the Annual General Meeting. The Stockholm based board consist of 9 members elected for the 2017 / 18 period.

ERO Sweden is part of the Baltic Ecovillage Network (BEN), an association connecting projects around the Baltic Sea which is operated by a board of 11 board members from its different membership countries.

ERO Sweden is also a full member of GEN-Europe, the European branch of the Global Ecovillage Network.

Community Energy in Sweden

Main page: Community energy in Sweden

Solidarity Economy in Sweden

Main page: Solidarity economy in Sweden

Community Food Production in Sweden

Main page: Community Food Production in Sweden

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Sweden

According to URGENCI, the International Network for Community Supported Agriculture, the first CSA initiative in Sweden was started in 2001. The in 2015 founded national association Andelsjordbruk Sverige (CSA Sweden) lists 15 CSA initiatives with the majority located in rural areas. Tobias De Pessemier from Andelsjordbruk Sverige is hopeful that this will lead to an increase of CSA initiatives in general and especially in urban areas of Sweden.