From activist to Vice Mayor: Just do it
oslo klima ledelse unge ledere
Many young leaders and activists wonder whether they dare to step over to “the dark side”: politics. In Basel I told them why my answer is yes.
In 2014 I was a rather unknown climate activist who never thought I would become a politician. Unexpectedly, I was placed at the top of the Green Party’s list in Oslo. The next year, against all odds, we tripled in size, and I became Vice Mayor for Environment and Transport.
One Norwegian newspaper wrote that there were only two possibilities: either the new city government would disappoint gravely on climate and the environment, or it would change the city more than most people thought possible within four years.
It was possible
Today 98 percent of new cars sold in Oslo are electric, and half of all cars on Oslo’s roads are electric. All our buses and boats run on electricity. We built more than 100 km of new or upgraded bicycle lanes and created more car-free streets every year. And while Norway’s total emissions stood still, Oslo cut its emissions by around 30–40 percent.
All of Oslo’s buses went electric. Photo: MDG
One of our most important tools was the climate budget: we count CO₂ the same way we count money, with someone responsible for every single measure. (If you want to know more about how it works, I have written about it in my post from Barcelona.)
What I wish someone had told me
It will be tougher than you think. I went from being totally unknown to one of the most famous, debated, loved and hated politicians in Norway, almost overnight. The media debate was harsh and full of myths. The pressure to deliver was overwhelming.
Be honest, and people will have your back. We were honest about the hard choices before the election. So when we implemented difficult policies, we knew our voters had our back.
People like it green. For years, experts and politicians believed voters would punish those who implemented climate policies. They were wrong. In 2019 the Greens doubled our support and won 15 percent.
Photo: MDG
It is worth it. As an activist I tried to make politicians act. As a politician I could be in the room where decisions were made, and push the boundaries myself. I got the chance to make more change than I ever imagined.
So to you who are wondering: just do it.
About the keynote
I gave this keynote in Basel in April 2024, to an audience that included many young leaders and activists.
I am happy to share experiences on how to survive as a young leader and how to make change last.
Lan