Facing the Climate- Five Swedish cartoonists take a sharp look at the climate issue
To illustrate Sweden’s strong commitment to climate and environment issues, the Swedish Institute launched an exhibition in April 2010 entitled Facing the Climate. In it, five Swedish cartoonists provide some amusing and alarming reflections on climate change. Local artists were invited to give their view of the climate. Since then the climate images reached more than 135.000 visitors when shown by Swedish Foreign missions and their local partners.
Reactor Vase by Helena Lindholm
Cartoonists portray the climate threat
Sweden is internationally known as a country that takes environmental issues and sustainability seriously. But taking something seriously doesn’t necessarily mean viewing it in a humorless way.
“When the Swedish cartoonists are presented to them, local partners are inspired to launch a similar initiative for cartoonists in their own country,” says Project Manager Birgitta Tennander. “So they organized a competition. The winning entries were then shown together with the Swedish cartoons. “Sweden has come further than many other countries in dealing with the climate issue – but abroad there is often a considerable potential among young well-educated people who are full of energy and commitment. The project gives us the chance to discuss topical environmental issues in both countries.”
Facing the Climate will be on display in Rio, Athens, Tirana, Tel Aviv, Johannesburg, Novosibirsk and other cities around the world during 2012.
The exhibition is growing with the help of Swedish cartoonists who hold workshops/seminars and take part in environment-related events of various kinds. The Climate Call – “What Are You Doing for the Climate” – inspires the workshop participants to propose sustainable solutions of their own to the problems facing the planet. The workshop results are then designed as a collage that accompanies the exhibition as it travels on.
“We’re proud to be part of a project that inspires cartoonists, students and young people in other countries to give their views on the climate issue,” says Birgitta Tennander, the Project Manager at SI. “In 2012, we’re are putting together a major exhibition that will present cartoonists from all the participating countries.”
“It’s fantastic to see all the commitment that is driving environmental issues forward, even in countries where they’re not high on the agenda,” says Birgitta Tennander.
Tourism by Karin Sunvisson
Facing the Climate collaborations are arranged with the support of the Swedish Institute, the five Swedish cartoonists together with Swedish Foreign Missions, local partners, NGOs, ministries, art schools, universities and others in making a concerted effort to interest people in environmental issues both globally and locally.
More information is avaliable at Sweden Promotion Forum – an intranet of
the Swedish Foreign Mission (password required).
For further information please contact:
Birgitta Tennander, 
, Mobile phone +46 73 684 20 14.