An initiative for a true and honest democracy

People voted against peat extraction in Sweden.

The vote is over. A clear victory for the ‘No’ campaign against continued peat extraction in Sweden. The people have spoken. Now let’s take the next step together.

Election results

Valresultat Olydig Folkomröstning
Choice:	Percentage av votes
YES	YES to peat mining (3%)
NO	NO to peat mining (97%)

YES: YES to peat mining - 3 %
NO: NO to peat mining - 97 %

Restore Wetlands has campaigned for a referendum to highlight the democratic deficit in today’s political and economic system, which gives ordinary people few and very limited opportunities to have a say. At the same time, fossil fuel companies, the wealthy elite and lobbyists wield enormous influence over the decisions that are made. This is not what a true democracy looks like. A true democracy invites the people to make the vital decisions that affect us all. The decision on whether or not the fossil fuel industry should continue in Sweden is one of them.

It can feel impossible to believe that we could break free from a system that has us in an iron grip. That is precisely why the project’s ultimate goal has been to build trust in people’s ability to change things for the better. The Disobedient Referendum has been a way of giving power and trust back to the people. Trust in one another and in ourselves, and a belief that we can bring about change. It is only the belief that something better is possible that can move us towards taking active steps to create the society we want to see.

Thank you to everyone who voted, and thank you to the organisations and associations that have supported the initiative!

With this referendum, we have taken a step towards our vision of creating a better society where decisions are made through citizens’ councils in a deliberative democracy. Will you join us in the next step?

Named in:

"In a new initiative to highlight the climate impact of peat extraction, Restore Wetlands Now is to hold a referendum on whether or not the activity should be permitted – organised entirely by the group itself."

“– Keeping the peat in the wet soil is absolutely crucial for the climate.

So says Åsa Kasimir, associate professor and researcher at the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Gothenburg.”

“Restore Wetlands is organising an ‘unauthorised referendum’ on its own initiative to see whether the Swedish people want to ban peat extraction, and to raise questions about how democracy works.”

Why a defiant referendum?

The referendum is a step towards a more robust democracy, where people have the influence and freedom to act to create the sustainable society we want. We are building democracy together.

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Through this referendum, we want to show that we don’t need to wait for politicians. We, ordinary people, can bring about what we want and need ourselves. Today, this includes a more inclusive democracy that is better equipped to tackle the climate challenges we face. We want to address the democratic deficit in our society, where ordinary people are excluded from decision-making processes.

There is no future in a world crumbling under climate collapse. Life must come before short-term profits. That is why we are carrying out the Disobedient Referendum project. Politicians, just like the fossil fuel industry, will not relinquish power for our sake. We need to reclaim popular power and do what politicians are neither able nor willing to do. Through courageous,

peaceful actions, we can build a society where the people make decisions based on science, democracy, love – and care for all living things. The aim of the Disobedient Referendum project is to show that this is possible, to spark debate on the need for deeper democracy, and to take real and practical steps towards the society we need.

The 'No' side
The 'No' side
The ‘No’ side is calling for a ban on peat extraction and an immediate halt to all peat extraction in Sweden. Existing peat extraction sites are to be restored to living bogs. The campaign is represented by ‘Återställ Våtmarker (Restore Wetlands)’.
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The 'Yes' side
The 'Yes' side
The ‘Yes’ side argues in favour of continuing peat extraction in Sweden with no changes to the regulations governing the industry. All information on the ‘Yes’ side comes from the website of the industry organisation Svensk Torv and the website of Neova AB.
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We support the initiative

The referendum is an initiative by Restore Wetlands. Our vision is of a democracy where the people have a say through deliberative democracy, where people come together and engage in dialogue, for example through deliberative citizens’ councils. The following organisations, associations and movements support the Disobedient Referendum initiative:

We want a genuine and honest democracy

For democracy, for participation, and because the world is on fire. There is no time to wait. The climate crisis is escalating and politics is failing. Now we are launching a unique democracy project, because only ordinary people can take the bold and absolutely essential decisions.

We are a democracy
Let the people decide
We don’t need to wait

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We, the people, are democracy.

We, the people, need to engage directly in democracy through citizens’ assemblies and participatory democracy. The referendum is a step towards our vision: a deeper democracy where people have the power and freedom to create the sustainable and equal society we want, need and deserve. We are building democracy together.

Let the people decide

Let the people decide, because politicians show time and time again that they couldn’t care less about our lives. They are setting fire to our only home. Climate collapse is spiralling out of control. Every minute, a person dies because of global warming. How many will die every minute tomorrow, in a week, next month?

We don’t need to wait

A disobedient referendum is a step towards a democracy free from lies, corruption and the abuse of power for personal gain. We do not need to wait for politicians to destroy our planet. We can hold elections in a true democratic spirit. We can hold the very first disobedient decision-making referendum because we can. Because we must. Because we have no other choice. We want a true and honest democracy.

In the introduction to the climate report: The 2025 State of the Climate Report: A Planet on the Brink, published on 29 October 2025, the researchers write the following:

“We are hurtling towards climate chaos. The planet’s vital signs are flashing red. The consequences of human-driven climate change are no longer future threats but are here and now. This escalating emergency stems from a failure of foresight, political inaction, unsustainable economic systems and misinformation. Almost every corner of the biosphere is reeling from intensified heat, storms, floods, droughts or fires. The window to prevent the worst effects is rapidly closing (...)

Rising levels of greenhouse gases remain the driving force behind this escalation. These latest developments highlight the extreme inadequacy of global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mark the beginning of a bleak new chapter for life on Earth.”

We are doing everything we can and everything in our power to create a society built on love, where we live in harmony with nature and one another.

With love Restore Wetlands

The 'No' side

The 'Yes' side

We, the people, are democracy.

Let the people decide

We don’t need to wait