On 11 December 2019, on the occasion of Nobel Day, and on the same day that European Commission Chairman Ursula von der Leyen presented the European Green Deal, Viable Cities and the European Commission organized the European Viable Cities Day for the second year in a row. The focus was on climate engagement, leadership and impact.
Participants included Laurent Fabius, Chairman of the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris; Jan Eliasson, former UN Deputy Secretary-General; and Eva Svedling, State Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Climate Change and Deputy Prime Minister Isabella Lövin.
"I don't believe we will solve the problems this year. But 2020 must be the year when we bend the curve. It must be."
The aim of the conference was to learn about the role of cities in achieving key societal missions in the context of global, European and national climate and sustainability actions and how Horizon Europe can support this role. We explored how Swedish cities and citizens can take the lead in this new challenging development and how Viable Cities can support research and innovation for this purpose.
Viable Cities Chairman Allan Larsson presented the preliminary results of the European Commission's Mission Board for Climate Neutral and Smart Cities, where he is vice Chairman. The day also included Q&A sessions, panel discussions, a press lunch and a subsequent mingle.
The European Commission's proposal for Horizon Europe from 2021 includes an important innovation called "Missions". The aim is to enable the research and innovation agenda to connect with citizens and involve them in creating a better future for Europe. "Missions" are defined as "ambitious, bold goals to address issues that affect our daily lives". Key aspects are strengthening the innovation impact of projects and including civil society organizations and citizens. Cities are central to climate action, and in many cases their climate targets are much more ambitious than national targets.
Inspired by Horizon Europe and the 2018 IPCC report, Viable Cities follows a mission-oriented approach. Our mission for the program is: Climate-neutral cities in 2030 - with a good life for all within the boundaries of the planet.
"I don't want to separate developed and developing countries anymore. We all need to develop. The 17 SDG:s are guiding us."
During the day, Viable Cities Champions were also awarded. This annual award celebrates the change leaders who help make our program a success. This year's winners were:
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Gunnar Björkman, City of Stockholm
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Ida Boström, Gothenburg region
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Jonas Kamleh, City of Malmö
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Anna Ledin, City of Gothenburg
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Johan Gammelgård, Umeå
"For pioneering efforts to co-create Viable Cities programs and bring on board competences, networks and a genuine commitment to achieve real impact. "
Links
Selection of photos from the day
