SEEP Alumni Story | June 11, 2025

When Krisztina Campbell describes herself, she doesn’t hesitate: “I’d call myself an environmentalist and a degrowth advocate.” Today, she is based in London, leading work on inclusive climate action at C40 Cities, a global network of mayors advancing a green and just transition. But her path to that role began in Vienna, and at SEEP.

Krisztina’s official title at C40 is Inclusive Climate Action Thought Leadership and Knowledge Senior Manager. “It’s long,” she laughs, “but it captures what I do, helping cities put equity and inclusion at the center of their climate policies.” Her work spans everything from energy poverty to fair access to green jobs and transport. “We want cities to see climate action not just as technical mitigation, but as social transformation.”

Before SEEP, Krisztina studied mainstream economics in Hungary, and quickly grew disenchanted. “None of it made sense,” she recalls. “We were taught to treat environmental damage like a bug in the system, not something built into it.”

Searching for a more comprehensive lens, she found SEEP. “I wanted something critical, something that connects economy, society, and the more-than-human world,” she says. Vienna’s livability and accessible tuition sealed the deal.

The program, she says, “fundamentally transformed the way I understand the world.” It introduced her to systems thinking and gave her “the language to describe what I was already feeling, that our crises aren’t side effects of a healthy system, but symptoms of a broken one.”

She still remembers classes that shaped her ethics. “Clive Spash was a big influence, especially his ideas about valuing versus monetizing nature. That distinction stuck with me.”

After SEEP, Krisztina’s early jobs, first at a small environmental NGO in Hungary, then as a trainee at the European Commission in Brussels, exposed her to the practical challenges of working for change. “You get out into the real world and realize it’s hard to make a living doing something that perfectly aligns with your values,” she says. “You have to learn to live with contradictions.”

Even now, those tensions remain. “There are days when I worry that I’m upholding the system instead of transforming it,” she admits. “But then I remind myself, change doesn’t come from purity. It comes from persistence.”

She’s found ways to push for deeper change within C40. “I try to bring in systems thinking wherever I can, to help people see that justice and climate can’t be separated.”

Outside of work, Krisztina channels her energy into the Degrowth London Collective, organizing talks and building alliances with labor unions and justice movements. For her, degrowth isn’t about sacrifice, it’s about fairness.

“To me, degrowth means an equitable, planned reduction of material and energy use in the Global North,” she explains, “so that people in the Global South can meet their needs and live dignified lives, in ways they choose.”

Her focus has evolved over the years. “I started thinking about what degrowth means for Europe. Now I think much more about global justice, and how we can use our privileged situation in the North to support struggles for justice and sustainability in the South.”

One moment that stands out was speaking at the Fearless Cities Summit in Sheffield. “I was on a panel about degrowth and the right to the city,” she says. “I don’t usually enjoy public speaking, but it went so well. What I loved was realizing that even people who’d never heard of degrowth shared its values once we talked about it in their language.”

When she’s not working or organizing, Krisztina finds solace outdoors. “I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t spend time in nature,” she says. “It’s how I clear my mind.” London’s parks are a sanctuary, and lately, she laughs, “I’ve developed an interest in birdwatching, even though I can’t name half the birds.”

Running keeps her grounded too, as do the friendships she’s built through the degrowth movement. “Being with like-minded people who share your values, it nourishes my soul,” she says. “It’s cheesy, but it’s true.”

Vienna, she says, still holds a special place in her heart. “I miss its human scale, the livability, the international community.” SEEP, for her, remains a touchstone: “It shaped my ethics, my worldview, and even my sense of purpose.”

Asked what advice she’d give current students, she’s clear: “Find ways to connect theory and practice early. Get involved in activism, NGOs, or community projects. It helps bridge the gap between ideals and the messy realities of work.”

And why apply to SEEP? Krisztina doesn’t hesitate. “It’s one of the best places to understand how our systems work, why they must change, and what a just transformation could look like,” she says. “But most of all, it’s the people. The SEEP community stays with you long after graduation.”

Author: Stefan Salcher