As Swedish parliamentarians on Tuesday May 24 debated the potential selling of the state-owned utility company Vattenfall’s German lignite operations, demonstrators kept up the pressure augmented during Ende Gelände two weeks ago. Tuesday might have been the last opportunity for demonstrators to organise before the final decision by the government on the deal, expected in the coming weeks.

On the weekend of May 13-15, some 4 000 people from all over Europe gathered in Germany under the joint name Ende Gelände. For 48 hours they blocked the lignite operations of the Swedish state-owned energy company Vattenfall in Lusatia, to convey a message that an immediate phase-out of the coal mining is essential to combat climate change and local destruction. This week, the actions continued in Sweden and Europe as the proposed sale was debated in Swedish Parliament on Tuesday May 24 at 1 PM. A final decision on allowing the deal by the Swedish government is to be expected in the coming few weeks.

During the debate, hundreds gathered outside the parliament building in Stockholm to make sure their voices were heard against what would be Sweden’s largest climate impact in history. Copies of the Paris Agreement were handed out to remind the politicians of the ambitious promises they have made, and already on Monday morning activists nailed a copy of the Paris Agreement to the wall of Rosenbad, the seat of the Swedish government.

Demonstrators also gathered outside the Swedish embassy in Berlin at the same time as the protest in Stockholm: Tuesday May 24 at 11:30 AM. Visual connections to the demonstrations in Paris during COP21 took shape by people forming red lines to show that there is a crucial limit of tonnes of emitted carbon that we must stay below. A letter was handed over to the Swedish ambassador demanding that Sweden puts a halt to its destructive and irresponsible potential act.

Another solidarity protest was held outside the Swedish Permanent Representation in Brussels on Monday morning.

– We show our support of the Swedish demonstrators and express our own dissatisfaction with this proposed deal, says Insa Vries, spokesperson for Ende Gelände. Selling the mines to infamous Czech energy company EPH will make sure our landscape keeps being violated and polluted, villages will be levelled with the ground, and people remain stuck in unhealthy environments. Vattenfall now has to take responsibility for the region they have exploited for 15 years.

Sweden has received much international criticism for preparing to sell the mines as a measure to become one of the world’s first fossil free nations. By passing on the mines – including emission rights to burn the coal – Sweden is not only selling its responsibility but also showing poor climate leadership and setting a despicable example. As one of the best-positioned nations in the world to keep the coal in the ground, and a since long frontrunner in environmental protection, the world would be highly disappointed if the Swedish government allows the sale to go through.

– The Swedish government has signed the Paris Agreement and a sale of the lignite would be a completely adverse act. Sweden needs to take its responsibility in combating climate change and the decision the government is about to make will reveal its true colours. Either we sell the lignite and ignore the climate, or we show true climate leadership by keeping the mines and responsibly begin a phasing-out in cooperation with the German government, says Annika Hagberg, a Swedish climate activist in the crowd outside the Swedish embassy in Berlin.

PRESS CONTACT:

Berlin: Insa Vries, spokesperson Ende Gelände: +49 152 0456 0800

Stockholm: Fanny Sannerud, 350.org, fanny@350.org, +46 707 321 676

BACKGROUND:

Full letter To Swedens ambassador in Berlin that was handed over today by climate activists.

Statement of the Swedish climate activist Annika About the Vattenfall Sale.