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Mobilization, partnership and social innovation central to Umeå's transition

In the picture: Construction Recycling Festival with Hedlundaskolan.

A central strategy in Umeå's work is to mobilize and strengthen partnerships and collaboration between partners, based on the Umeå Climate Roadmap's focus areas. Over 60 partners are part of Umeå's climate roadmap and collaborate and learn from each other to strengthen local climate work. With the municipality at the forefront, Umeå has developed a handbook on how to lead an effective climate transition, started an economic association to increase knowledge for circular construction and establish Byggåterbruket, and organized a construction recycling festival for students and staff.

Citizen involvement, collaboration and board games - how Mariestad works

Pictured: The Mariestad Transition Team proudly showing off the Mariestad Climate Game.

Mariestad has been working on innovative green solutions for almost ten years, and the Climate Neutral Mariestad 2030 mission brings together everyone working for the climate in Mariestad - business, individuals and other actors - in Mariestad's transition arena. Together, they work for a climate-neutral association life, sustainable passenger transport to and from workplaces, sustainable construction, hydrogen as an energy source and board games as a tool.

Enköping is investing in multi-level transition arenas and targeted efforts

Pictured: Onboarding of the Climate Roadmap in Enköping.

By integrating sustainability issues into its core activities, Enköping Municipality is acting proactively in the climate transition, and the municipality is investing in creating a culture where sustainability permeates both the municipal organization and the city. With tools such as a carbon budget and in-depth climate knowledge, the municipality works, among other things, with the role and potential of small businesses, urban planning where sustainability goals are to be reflected, reduced energy consumption in public premises using the EnOff model and influencing attitudes, behaviors for sustainable travel, and much more.

Borås tests climate council teams and a sustainable SM week

Hackathon on sustainable construction with students in Borås. Photo: Science Park Borås.

Borås aims to be fossil-free by 2030, and with that goal in mind, the municipality is taking overall responsibility as a cog in the transition. Together with companies, organizations and citizens, the whole of Borås is mobilizing in the true spirit of "knalle". They are working with green frameworks for financing, sustainability roadmaps for events, hackathons, citizen involvement, open dialogues and much much more...

Electric aircraft, heated streets and procurement for development in Skellefteå

In the picture: A wintry Skellefteå.

The transition in Skellefteå focuses on sustainable mobility, sustainable construction and sustainable industry. By mobilizing the whole community, they are working to increase biodiversity by creating environments that benefit local species, redesign the city's traffic flows to promote sustainable transport, bring together actors from different sectors to explore how public procurement can serve as a tool to reduce climate emissions, reduce the need for new energy sources by heating streets and buildings with waste heat... and much much more!

Clear focus areas and goal-oriented initiatives - how Kristianstad works

Kristianstad - a city in Skåne with a strong focus on the transition of the food system, energy, mobility, the construction industry and, not least, the rewetting of peatlands in the Kristianstads Vattenrike Biosphere Reserve. Kristianstad is working with local actors to achieve a climate-neutral, sustainable and resilient food system in Kristianstad, has recently adopted a sustainable development strategy that is followed up annually through a progress report, is mobilizing, together with local actors, for increased energy production, reliable electricity distribution and efficient energy use, and is developing its methodology for business-oriented climate investment plans.

Uppsala has a climate budget, climate requirements and a football pitch that could become a swimming pool

In the picture: Uppsala Climate Protocol is Uppsala's transition arena. The picture was taken at the network's 2024 results conference.

In Uppsala, the focus in the coming years will be on improving energy and power efficiency and increasing the share of renewable electricity, setting high climate requirements in land allocation competitions and procurements, and investing in sustainable travel through tramways, traffic diversions, new cycle paths and charging infrastructure. The new football pitch at Fålhagens IP can also become a reservoir in the event of torrential rain, the municipality plants hundreds of new trees every year, and the municipality has produced documentation and reports on various risks that may arise due to climate change, as support for property owners and construction companies. The Uppsala Climate Protocol, which has existed since 2010, brings together companies, public sector organizations, universities and associations that want to make concrete progress towards a climate-adapted Uppsala.

In Växjö, creative young people are involved and knowledge dissemination is a major focus

In the picture: Parts of Växjö's transition team recording a podcast on sustainable consumption. Matina Rosenberg (Växjö municipality), Ingela Stewén (Växjö Linnaeus Science Park), Anders Lundgren (SSAM) and Henrik Johansson (Växjö municipality). Photo Anna Bengtsson.

Växjö municipality aims to be both fossil fuel free and climate neutral by 2030. Therefore, a special focus in the transition is on a sustainable transport system, but Växjö also works with energy-smart housing, engaging local companies, and recycling of building materials. And not least, they work with young people at upper secondary school level, who choose a challenge in the climate transition, develop proposals for initiatives that contribute to solving the challenge, and then exhibit their work at Linnaeus University.

Ten cities ready for M100 in Romania

National nodes for the urban climate transition are growing in number and strength in Europe. Today, the ten cities that will be part of the Viable Cities M100 sibling programme in Romania were announced. Olga Kordas, a member of the jury, was impressed by the applications.  

Mobilizing aggregated purchasing power for climate-neutral and smart cities - towards a new framework

A wide range of stakeholders can shape the future of climate-neutral cities by investing where it matters. This fall, Viable Cities has together with the Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative initiated and participated in a series of roundtables and events on aggregated purchasing power for climate-neutral and smart cities. This article presents early findings and suggests the next steps for how cities can leverage private and public stakeholders to drive demand for sustainable solutions.

Energetic knowledge exchange between Swedish and Belgian cities

The whole group gathered in Leuven in the middle of a transformation area for both energy and greener streets.

To accelerate learning among the cities that have chosen to immerse themselves in the development of climate investment plans, Viable Cities organized a study tour to Belgium. By visiting cities with different characteristics and challenges, the group gained insights, ideas and important contacts for the future. The trip brought together a mix of process managers, financial strategists, economic strategists, urban planners, environmental strategists, and researchers.

EU Mission Label to three Swedish cities

Viable Cities International cooperation

Today, 20 more cities were awarded the EU Mission Label - a confirmation from the EU's 100 climate-neutral cities by 2030 (Cities Mission) that the city's plans for the local transition journey are ambitious and on the right track - including three Swedish ones: Gävle, Gothenburg and Umeå.

Autumn meeting for system demonstrators for climate neutral cities

Autumn meeting for two Swedish system demonstrators

Two Swedish system demonstrators for climate-neutral cities recently held their fall meeting. The initiatives, in Lund and Stockholm, are leading the way and exploring how to work to implement the radical systemic changes required for the climate transition. The initiative is part of the Viable Cities Climate Neutral Cities 2030 mobilization, which currently includes 23 Swedish cities.

Linköping sets up climate council, hosts dragon's nest and launches smart map

Pictured: Quality of life in the Vallastaden district, Linköping.

Linköping tells us, among other things, about the climate investment plan for transport they developed together with Linköping University, how they developed a model for category management and worked on an environmental commuting analysis, that they allocated funds for test bed checks and launched a smart map where you can rent, share, exchange, borrow, repair and buy reused. Read also about the five priority areas Linköping is focusing on and the initiatives, networks and project groups that are bubbling with commitment!

DUT Call 2024 is now open

The DUT Partnership steps up the game to tackle urban challenges through research and innovation and capacity building.

DUT Call 2024 is now open, the third call of the Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) Partnership. The aim of the call is to support transnational research and/or innovation projects that address urban challenges to help cities in their transition to a more sustainable society. In the context of the call, all stakeholders can sign up to the matchmaking platform, and information meetings are held both at Swedish and European level.

Malmö works horizontally and internationally

Malmö says it will become climate neutral by 2030 and is one of the European Commission's selected pioneer cities to lead the transition. At the heart of Malmö's approach is a new horizontal approach - Climate Transition Malmö - focusing on joint roadmaps in seven priority areas, where strong action can have a big impact for Malmö and the planet. Local work for a global mission!

Focus on milestones and targets in Örebro's transition work

In Örebro, the municipal council recently adopted the Örebro municipal climate strategy after revision during the year. The targets in each of the six focus areas in the strategy are aimed at the municipal group, but the efforts relate to both the municipal group and the geographical area. The municipality has also set specific goals that they are working on together with other actors and the focus going forward is to implement the climate strategy's new working methods and implement prioritized activities.

A common voice for European cities and platforms

Swedish and Spanish cities with a joint Development Statement: Development Declaration for the Cities Mission: Upscaling the EU Cities Mission - European cities and platforms joining hands

The fourteen Swedish and Spanish cities among 112 European Cities Mission cities have created a joint declaration for the EU Cities Mission - Development Declaration for the Cities Mission: Upscaling the EU Cities Mission - European cities and platforms joining hands. The aim is to strengthen and develop the work of the Mission, accelerate the pace of the transition and support cities in their important work towards climate neutrality by 2030.

Opinion: “The government should follow Uppsala Municipality’s example”

In the midst of a burning climate crisis, the Swedish government is presenting a climate action plan that falls far short of what is needed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees - the target agreed by world leaders in Paris in 2015. The Swedish government should do more to support the climate transition in the country's municipalities and support leading Swedish cities and municipalities.

Rallying for climate-neutral mobility in Stockholm and Lund

Two school children, photo: Johnér

The City of Stockholm and the Municipality of Lund are mobilizing actors in an innovative initiative to accelerate the transition to climate-neutral cities. The cities are placing particular focus on transport and mobility. They are each receiving SEK 20 million from the Swedish Energy Agency and Vinnova under the Viable Cities innovation program.

Spain and Sweden joining hands to scale the EU Cities Mission

The delivery of the Swedish input to a joint Development Statement at the 1st Swedish Cities Mission Forum. Photography: Malin Grönborg

The EU Cities Mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030 include seven Swedish cities; Gothenburg, Gävle, Helsingborg, Lund, Malmö, Stockholm and Umeå. The seven Swedish Mission Cities have formed a joint Development Statement, which solidifies the Swedish cities' support of the visions of the Spanish Mission Cities, as well as stresses the need for a common strategy on "scaling as the new normal" when working towards climate neutral and sustainable cities. The statement was presented at the 1st Swedish Cities Mission Forum in Umeå, Sweden, on May 29th 2024.

Telling stories about quality of life is key to attract 100,000 people

Photograph: Viveka from INvest in Norrbotten.

Last week, Viable Cities chief storyteller, Per Grankvist, attended the Demo North Conference where 250 decision-makers gathered to talk about how to attract 100,000 people to Norrland, and he gave a keynote address. In his address, Per emphasized the need to put quality of life at the centre of every story in order to succeed in attracting 100 000 people. Read the full keynote here.

Climate Breakfast 38: "Follow-up research" - a new breed of transition research

Climate breakfast 38

In Sweden, several researchers have worked closely together with cities and national innovation actors to support them in steering sustainability transitions by contributing to learning from practice, increased reflexivity and helping to identify evidence about system change. This role got the name of 'följeforskare' (literal translation from Swedish is 'following' or 'companion' researcher). Together we will explore what makes "följeforskning" special in terms of benefits and challenges, why it is especially relevant in accelerating the transition to climate neutral cities, and what role it can play for both cities and national support platforms.

Four meter high climate stacks take place in Karlstad

Four meter high stacks on Stora torget in Karlstad, illustrating the climate impact of Karlstad residents. Photo: Karlstad municipality.

Stacks are appearing all around Karlstad - on benches, on stairs and not least on Stora torget, where they are four meters high! The bars represent Karlstad residents' climate emissions in the areas of consumption, transportation, food and energy. The bars will reappear every year until 2030 with new updated information on climate emissions. 

Norwegian mobilization for the climate neutral cities mission

Lars Johansson on stage during Nordic Edge Expo in Stavanger. Pictured (from left): Eline Vigre (Advisor, Mission Cities Stavanger Kommune), Pieter Faber (Head of EU Office cities Northern Netherlands), Rolf Johnsen (Head of Climate & Energy, Aarhus Municipality, Denmark), and Lars Johansson (Coordinator for Climate Neutral Cities 2030, Viable Cities). Photo: Nordic Edge

The mobilization around the Mission on Climate Neutral Cities is a movement across Europe. This week, Viable Cities has participated in talks and workshops in connection with the Nordic Edge Expo in Stavanger and contributed with perspectives on Multilevel Governance and co-benifits in the transition, exemplified by ROI calculations on the climate transition.

Climate breakfast 37: Climate investments and climate investment plans

Climate breakfast #36

Climate transition investments can create both business opportunities and a more sustainable city. Research shows that climate investments can generate significant benefits, both direct economic gains and added value such as jobs, cleaner air and better health. During this Climate Breakfast, we dive into what it means to make climate investments and how climate investment plans take shape.

Warmth during a cold Stockholm Spring School 

Representatives from around 25 of the 112 mission cities in Europe were present at the NetZeroCities Spring School.

The room was full of warmth and energy during the Stockholm Spring School on April 24-26. This was appreciated by the participants, as the city did not show its most welcoming weather to the representatives from cities all over Europe. People from around 25 of the 112 mission cities in Europe were present at the NetZeroCities Spring School, organized by Politecnico di Milano (Polimi) and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), in Stockholm. Previous editions of the Seasonal School have taken place in Spain, Italy and Hungary.

The Social Compass: a visualization of Kalmar municipality's socio-economic landscape

Kalmar Castle. Image from Kalmar municipality: https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/kalmar_kommun/images/dsc04892-2848361

A prosperous municipality with growing pains. This is the socio-economic situation in Kalmar. This conclusion can be drawn from an analysis of the recently developed Social Compass for Kalmar. The focus is on the inhabitants - and their characteristics and conditions linked to where they live in the municipality. How many people go to work? How much do they earn? What percentage are born outside the EU and where do pensioners and families with children live?

Moon Landings to Cities Mission

Keynote speech by Jonas Birgersson, "ViaEuropa and City of Lund: Abundance of Energy through Communities"

Viable Cities is, together with Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative and partners, exploring collaboration between Sweden, the European Union, and the United States, towards climate-neutral and smart cities globally.

NetZeroCities second call for Twin Cities is open

As of 8 April, cities across the EU and countries associated with Horizon Europe are invited to apply to join the EU Cities Mission's exchange and accelerate climate change program. The call is open to cities that are not currently part of the EU Cities Mission or the Twinning and Pilot Cities programs. Selected cities will have the opportunity to partner with pilot cities from Cohort 2, to facilitate sharing and knowledge exchange during the transition to climate neutrality.

How do we accelerate the contribution of higher education institutions to the climate transition?

Image from Lund University of the University House with magnolias.

Many higher education institutions are already actively contributing to climate transition of cities, but an acceleration is needed! This applies not least to working with students as agents of change as part of both education and research. Here the cities can contribute with relevant questions, recommendations and test environments. How is your institution doing? Use the checklist!

Energy communities - this is where it happens

municipal energy communities

A ketchup effect that goes on a bit in secret. This is how one could describe what is currently happening in local energy landscapes around Sweden and the rest of Europe. Energy communities are here to stay and their potential is great. The question is what the role of municipalities will be in the future.

Olga Kordas awarded prize for inspiring Spain

Olga Kordas recieves the first ever CitiES2030 award in Madrid

An inspiration, partner and best ally. Last week, CitiES2030, a Spanish sibling to Viable Cities, awarded Olga Kordas a formal prize for the work of Viable Cities as a pioneer and inspiration for building the national platform for Spanish cities to become climate neutral. The ceremony was held in the City Hall of Madrid during an event bringing together the Spanish mission cities, representatives of the Spanish government, industry, academia, civil society and public sector.

Climate Breakfast 34: Events as engines for the transition to climate-neutral cities

Climate breakfast #34

Several of the cities in the Climate Neutral Cities 2030 initiative are actively working with events and organizers, exploring how they can work together towards climate neutrality. During this Climate Breakfast, we will explore how events can be engines for the transition to climate neutrality through organizers, visitors and other stakeholders, and how they can be part of the development of climate neutral cities and communities.

Climate Breakfast 33: How do we accelerate the contribution of higher education institutions to the climate transition?

Climate breakfast #33

Almost all cities involved in the Viable Cities program Climate Neutral Cities 2030 have a higher education institution. They provide highly relevant research and education at different levels. But in what other ways do they contribute to the climate transition and what could they do more of? During this climate breakfast, we explore how higher education institutions can accelerate their contribution to the climate transition, including through collaboration in new ways.

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Viable Cities is a strategic innovation program with the mission of achieving climate-neutral cities by 2030, ensuring a good quality of life for all within the planet’s limits. The program is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency, Vinnova and Formas and coordinated by KTH.

Viable Cities is funded through a joint initiative by the Swedish Energy Agency, Vinnova, and Formas

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