WECF was invited by Oxfam Denmark to attend Folkemødet, the People’s Meeting, which took place between 9 and 14 June on the Danish island of Bornholm. The visit was part of the EU-funded Imagining a Climate Just Future programme. The aim of the People’s Meeting on Bornholm is to create a democratic event that connects decision-makers and citizens in an informal setting, strengthens trust between citizens and decision-makers, and brings politicians, business owners, lobbyists, volunteers and ordinary citizens closer to democracy. Every year, more than 2,500 events take place, organised by 1,200 different organisations.

Our Folkmødet team consisted of WECF interns and young staff members, who travelled from the Netherlands to Denmark by train and stayed at a campsite in Allinge on Bornholm. We were invited to panel discussions organised by our consortium partner Oxfam Denmark, including sessions on Europe moving forward on settlement trade, a Sustainability Bingo, War Profiteers: Supply Chains, Power & Gaza, and how the voices of young people are included and heard.

We also visited workshops and other panel debates, such as What Weaving Can Teach Us About Nature, Science and Design, Find Calm with Knitting, Crocheting and Embroidery, and From Blackout to Green Restart, the latter organised by the European Commission. During the session, the mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Senkevych, spoke about green recovery and energy resilience in Mykolaiv, with support from Ecoclub Rivne, a partner of WECF. In the evenings, there were also events and parties, with as a big highlight the DJ battles between Danish politicians.

On the island, we met activists and participants from other countries and discussed climate justice and how we can work towards achieving it. It was a valuable opportunity to exchange viewpoints. At the same time, we also had the chance to play (card) games, eat together at food trucks, have a drink together or join panel discussions together with other international organizations and politicians. 

Overall, Folkemødet offered an inspiring space to connect political discussions with informal exchange and it showed how democratic participation, international solidarity and climate justice can come together in practice.