Packed house when Johan Rockström and Mattias Klum gave a lecture at Sara Kulturhus during Society Expo

When Johan Rockström and Mattias Klum took the stage at Sara Kulturhus on Friday, there was a great deal of interest. Nearly 650 people gathered to attend a lecture where research, statistics, and powerful stories about nature were woven together into a message about the state of the planet – and the opportunity we still have to influence its future.

The lecture began with the idea of Earth as a small and vulnerable life-supporting system. Johan Rockström described how human impact on the planet has increased dramatically since the mid-20th century, with rising emissions, growing resource use, and ever-increasing pressure on the Earth’s ecosystems.

"We don’t just use nature. We abuse it. We destabilize it."

Using statistics and scientific models, Johan Rockström demonstrated how climate change, biodiversity loss, and weakened ecosystems are closely intertwined. A key message was that the planet’s stability depends on functioning life-supporting systems – such as forests, oceans, wetlands, and species-rich landscapes. Strengthening their resilience requires both reduced emissions and changes in consumption and lifestyle patterns.

Mattias Klum enriched the narrative with his photographs and experiences from some of the world’s most biodiverse environments. Through photographs of oceans, rainforests, and Arctic landscapes, he depicted both the beauty and the vulnerability of the ecosystems on which humans depend.

The lecture alternated between seriousness and hope. Rockström emphasized that several of the planet’s boundaries are already under severe pressure, but also that there is still room for action. The message was clear: the situation is serious, but not predetermined.

During the lecture, both Rockström and Klum returned to the importance of viewing climate and sustainability issues as matters of stability, security, and future well-being. The transition is not just about reducing risks, but also about creating more resilient societies, healthier living environments, and long-term sustainable economies.

"Mother Earth is under pressure, but she still stands firm, and there is still an opportunity to reverse the trend."

Johan Rockström and Mattias Klum also highlighted solutions. Transformed energy systems, sustainable food production, and the protection of living ecosystems were described as crucial elements of a possible path forward. Rockström emphasized that science shows the solutions exist – but that the pace of the transition needs to accelerate and policymakers need to take greater responsibility.

For the audience at Sara Kulturhus, the lecture served as a powerful reminder of the connection between the global and the local. The planet’s major systems influence the conditions for communities everywhere – including in northern Sweden. Following the lecture, Society Expo’s project manager Helena Renström moderated a discussion with the speakers, municipal director Kristina Sundin Jonsson, and Västerbotten County Governor Helene Hellmark Knutsson. The audience also had the opportunity to ask questions.

With a packed hall, powerful images, and clear research messages, the evening became part of the broader conversation about the society of the future: how we can understand the challenges of our time while finding the strength to act.