Climate, environmental and sustainability issues are more important than ever, and municipalities have a key role to play in transforming society. But how can this be achieved? How can we link arms between different functions and sectors to find new solutions to society's sustainability challenges? Sustainable Municipality 2024 focuses on the most pressing sustainability issues for Sweden's municipalities on topics such as combating illegal waste, climate adaptation, budget challenges, and AI and technology. Viable Cities participates with representation from both the program office and the cities.
13:30-13:50 | Swedish and European cities take the lead in accelerating the climate transition
Since 2019, Viable Cities has been a driving force in the mobilization to accelerate the transition of cities in Sweden and Europe towards climate neutrality by 2030. Today, we work with 23 pioneer cities in Sweden, municipalities that together have 40% of Sweden's population. In the EU, 112 cities have been selected as pioneers in the same mission, including seven Swedish cities, and national initiatives similar to Viable Cities are emerging in fifteen countries.
The mobilization is now entering a new phase, with more cities getting involved in Sweden this year, while the international mobilization around cities' climate transition is gaining momentum. Cities need to learn faster from each other and be able to act more jointly. Implementation and scaling up are crucial to address the climate crisis and create a sustainable future.
Don't miss Olga Kordas, Viable Cities Programme Manager, telling us more about this during the event, and catch up with any of us attending from the Programme Office or our municipalities to discuss further.
---
During Sustainable Municipality 2024, you will get examples of how municipalities are working to increase the pace of transition. During the event, the results of Aktuell Hållbarhet's municipality ranking "Environmentally Best Municipality" will also be launched, which takes the temperature of how municipalities drive climate and sustainability in the municipal agenda. The main organizer is Dagens Samhälle and Aktuell Hållbarhet, and Viable Cities is a partner. More information and registration of interest can be found here.
Photo: Pax Engström Nyström
