48 of Sweden's 290 municipalities are joining forces to tackle the climate crisis. It is now clear which cities, together with Viable Cities and six government agencies , will join forces in the next phase for climate-neutral and sustainable cities. This is also part of a growing global mobilization for climate transition in cities, where the EU is taking the lead and Swedish cities are pioneers.
Sweden's largest initiative for climate-neutral cities, Viable Cities, is now gearing up. From now on, half of the country's population lives in a city that is part of the initiative Climate-neutral cities by 2030. The participating cities, municipalities and their partners are leading the way together and learning from each other to accelerate the transition to climate-smart cities with a good quality of life for citizens.
- It is very encouraging that so many municipalities in Sweden want to take the lead in the transition to meet the societal challenges posed by global warming. By working together, we can create a sustainable future with a good life for all and at the same time strengthen Sweden's competitiveness by opening up new business opportunities and innovations - all within the planetary boundaries," said Olga Kordas, Program Manager Viable Cities.
One of the new cities in the initiative is Luleå municipality and its partners.
- The green transition is happening in Luleå and we need to accelerate the pace of transition to reach our climate goals. With the support of the Viable Cities platform, we can accelerate the climate transition work at different levels, locally, regionally and nationally. Collaboration is essential in the climate transition and is a necessity, as no single actor has all the solutions or has the power to do this on their own, says Carina Sammeli (S), Chairman of the Municipal Board of Luleå Municipality.
Twin cities in the news
To scale up, a new form of engagement is now being introduced: twin cities. This means that that 13 pioneercities link arms with one oror two municipalities to collaborate on the transition and make faster progress.
- Joining Viable Cities creates the opportunity for accelerated learning that speeds up the climate transition. As a twin city of Gothenburg, we will contribute with the perspective of a smaller rural municipality and find smart solutions together. We want to share experiences and improve working methods so that more cities and places become climate neutral by 2030," says Adam Johansson (M), municipal executive Chairman in Falköping municipality.
- Emissions do not stop at the municipal boundary. Uppsala has international and national partnerships, as well as local and regional ones. Cooperation with the municipalities around us is important, to share experiences and find solutions to common problems. We look forward to stepping up climate cooperation with Håbo municipality," says Erik Pelling (S), municipal executive Chairman in Uppsala.
A global movement for the climate
A central part of Climate Neutral Cities 2030 is that the actors together contribute to faster scaling up of solutions, working methods and learning, both in Sweden and internationally. The initiative is in interaction with the EU's mission for climate-neutral cities, EU Cities Mission.
- Helsingborg is aiming for climate neutrality by 2030 and is joining forces with the city's business, academia and civil society to accelerate the transition. By collaborating with other cities, both at national and European level, we can share and find more solutions and collaborate on the innovations and investments needed to reach the goal," says Christian Orsing (M), Mayor of Helsingborg Chairman .
Seex government agencies are exploring how they can better support cities' transition from the national level within Viable Cities. One of them is the Swedish Energy Agency.
- The transition work we are doing together within Viable Cities is incredibly important. Through the 23 municipalities that have joined forces so far, the initiative has had an impact not only nationally but also within the EU. The fact that we now welcome another ten pioneer cities and 15 twin cities to the initiative is proof of this mobilization that leads us towards the mission of climate neutrality by 2030, says Caroline Asserup, acting Director General of the Swedish Energy Agency.
Climate-neutral cities 2030 started in 2019 with nine municipalities with local partners. In 2021, the initiative was expanded to 23 municipalities. Since 2020, Climate City Contract 2030 is a key tool in the initiative. In the contract, cities and government agencies sharpen their commitments and implementation step by step to accelerate the climate transition. This year's version of Climate City Contract 2030 will be signed on December 6 on European Viable Cities Day.
All in the Climate Neutral Cities 2030 initiative
(*=To be added in December 2024)
| Pioneer cities | Twin cities* | |
| 1 | Arvika* | |
| 2 | Soil*. | |
| 3 | Borås | Ulricehamn |
| 4 | Borlänge | Avesta |
| 5 | Enköping | |
| 6 | Eskilstuna | |
| 7 | Gävle | Sandviken |
| 8 | Gothenburg | Falköping |
| 9 | Gotland* | |
| 10 | Härryda* | |
| 11 | Helsingborg | Höganäs |
| 12 | Järfälla | |
| 13 | squid | Falkenberg, Mörbylånga |
| 14 | Karlskrona* | |
| 15 | Karlstad | Kristinehamn |
| 16 | Kristianstad | Tomelilla |
| 17 | Linköping | Mjölby |
| 18 | Luleå* | |
| 19 | Lund | Lomma |
| 20 | Malmö | Höör, Landskrona |
| 21 | Mariestad | |
| 22 | Nacka | |
| 23 | Örebro | |
| 24 | Örnsköldsvik* | |
| 25 | Östersund | |
| 26 | Skellefteå | |
| 27 | Stockholm | |
| 28 | Sundsvall* | |
| 29 | Trollhättan* | |
| 30 | Umeå | |
| 31 | Uppsala | Håbo |
| 32 | Värmdö* | |
| 33 | Växjö | Alvesta |
| Cities in wave 2 (included since 2021) | Borlänge, Borås, Eskilstuna, Gävle,
Helsingborg, Kalmar, Karlstad, Kristianstad, Linköping, Mariestad, Nacka, Skellefteå, Örebro, Östersund |
| Cities in wave 1 (included since 2019) | Enköping, Järfälla, Göteborg, Lund, Malmö,
Stockholm, Umeå, Uppsala, Växjö |
Press releases and news from the cities
- Floor: https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/boden/pressreleases/boden-utvald-i-viable-cities-kraftsamling-foer-klimatet-3358064
- Eskilstuna: https://www.eskilstuna.se/nyheter/nyheter/2024-12-04-eskilstuna-satsar-vidare-for-klimatneutrala-stader
- Gotland: https://gotland.se/arkiv/nyheter/utveckla-gotland/2024-12-09-Climate City Contract -gotland-2030-together-for-climate-neutral-cities
- Gävle and Sandviken: https://www.gavle.se/pressmeddelande/gavle-och-sandviken-krokar-arm-i-arbetet-for-klimatneutralitet/
- Kalmar, Falkenberg and Mörbylånga: https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/kalmar_kommun/pressreleases/kalmar-krokar-arm-med-moerbylaanga-och-falkenberg-i-kraftsamling-foer-klimatet-3358062
- Linköping: https://www.linkoping.se/nyheter/pressmeddelanden-fran-via-tt/202412/linkoping-fortsatter-vara-del-av-viable-cities-klimatneutrala-stader-2030/
- Luleå: https://vartlulea.se/arkiv/aktuellt/luleaenav48kommunersomkraftsamlarforklimatet.5.70acc4a71932eb01fe815e05.html
- Trollhättan: https://www.trollhattan.se/startsida/nyheter/aktuella-nyheter/trollhattans-stad-kraftsamlar-for-klimatet/
- Värmdö: https://via.tt.se/pressmeddelande/3715147/varmdo-tar-klivet-mot-klimatneutralitet-med-stod-fran-viable-cities
- Östersund: https://www.ostersund.se/om-webbplatsen/nyhetsarkiv/nyhetsarkiv/2024-12-03-ny-energi-i-klimatarbetet-fler-stader-i-klimatneutrala-stader-2030.html
Press releases and news from the funding authorities
- Swedish Energy Agency: https://www.energimyndigheten.se/nyhetsarkiv/2024/48-kommuner-kraftsamlar-for-klimatet/
