Transition Lab Forum 20 Live & Eskilstuna Climate Revolution!

In an era marked by climate crises, geopolitical tensions, and misinformation, it is crucial that municipalities, business civil society . By accelerating the transition to climate-neutral cities, we strengthen competitiveness, quality of life, and societal resilience. Climate change is already affecting the business sector in various ways, such as disruptions in supply chains and changing production conditions. This underscores the need for circular business models and collaboration on sustainable land use and development. Accelerating the transition is therefore not just a climate action, but a strategic investment in our business our cities. By reducing dependence on fossil fuels, strengthening resilience to extreme weather, and developing climate-smart infrastructure, we are also building economically and socially sustainable communities.

We invite you to the Transition Lab Forum 20 in Eskilstuna, which this time is being held in conjunction with Eskilstuna Climate Evolution*. Together, we will explore how collaboration with the business community can serve as a catalyst for the climate transition while also strengthening competitiveness and society’s resilience in the face of current and future crises.

We warmly invite you to tune in to this live broadcast from the Transition Lab Forum in Eskilstuna!

Viable Cities and Eskilstuna Municipality

Today’s moderators: Per Grankvist, Viable Cities; Elin Svanström, Eskilstuna Municipality/Klimatevolution; and Mattias Goldmann, the 2030 Secretariat

Agenda for Transition Lab Forum 20 – Live from Eskilstuna

10:00 a.m. Welcome

• Jannicke Serneberg, Director, Munktell Museum
• Olga Kordas, Program Manager Viable Cities
• Marie Svensson, Chairman of the Municipal Council

10:15 a.m. Introduction to today’s theme: Circular steps and local energy transition in collaboration with the business community

• Peter Engdahl, Head of the Research, Innovation, and Business Development Unit, Swedish Energy Agency
• Sophia Weingarten, Swedish business
• Anders Wijkman, Chairman Cities

10:35 How is the host city of Eskilstuna approaching the transition?

• Jens Carlberg, Head of the Business Development Division, Eskilstuna Municipality
• Anna Bird, CEO of the Mälardalen Industrial Technology Center
• Åsa Sergelius, Community Manager, Munktells, Volvo Construction Equipment
• Mikael Joki, CEO, Eskilstuna Elektronikpartner

11:00 a.m. Discussion on the energy system of the future

• Göran Persson, Chairman
• Jonas Birgersson, CEO, Via Europa

11:15 a.m. Concrete examples from cities

• Anna-Karin Nyström, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
• Nina Ekelund, the Haga Initiative
• Tim Brooks, Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth

11:30 a.m. Lessons from Pioneers

• Audun Garberg, City of Oslo
• Salomon Abresparr, City of Gothenburg
• Bodil Dürebrandt, City of Gävle

11:45 a.m. Joint Effort for an Emissions-Free Construction and Civil Engineering Sector

• Svante Axelsson, Fossil-Free Sweden
• Olga Kordas, Viable Cities

11:50 a.m. Reflections on the day

• Kristina Birath, Director of Real Estate and the Environment, Eskilstuna Municipality
• Olga Kordas, Viable Cities

11:55 Transition Lab Forum 21 in Skellefteå

• Gustaf Ulander welcomes you in June

12:00–1:00 p.m. BREAK

Agenda: Climate Evolution – Live from Eskilstuna

1:00 PM Welcome

• Elin Svanström, Climate Evolution Project Manager, Eskilstuna Municipality
• Mattias Goldmann, CEO, 2030 Secretariat

13:05 Sustainable Transportation and Travel

• Catharina Qvist, Sustainability Manager, Scania Sweden
• Sofie Berglund, Director of Business Development, Einride
• Daniel Johansson, CEO, Varubud åkeri AB

13:35 Using and producing energy efficiently 

• Klara Helstad, Deputy Director of the Research, Innovation, and Business Development Division, Swedish Energy Agency
• Anders Levay, Energy Strategist, Eskilstuna Municipality
• Svante Horn, CEO, Scandinavian Data Centers
• Hanna Sandquist, Process Engineer, Production Planning, Eskilstuna Strängnäs Energy and Environment

2:00 PM Building, Renovating, and Constructing with a Low Climate Impact – 1

• Fredrik Tjernström, Electromobility Solution Sales Manager, Volvo Construction Equipment
• Magnus Lindgren, Senior Expert, Swedish Transport Administration
• Maria Danielsson, Head of Climate and Sustainability, Skanska
• Jonas Lundin, CEO, Tuna Entreprenad

2:15 p.m. Building, renovating, and constructing with a low climate impact – 2

• Maria Sandell, Head of Sustainability for Northern Europe, Heidelberg Materials
• Christine Olofsson, Innovation and Sustainability Specialist, Byggföretagen
• Elise Grosse, Head of Sustainability, Sweco
• Per Holst, CEO, Återbygget

2:35 p.m. Consume and produce sustainably

• Malin Orebäck, Program Director, Re:Source
• Simon Glimtoft, Center Manager at ReTuna Recycling Mall
• Peter Wall, CEO, Mälarplast

2:50 p.m. Summary and closing remarks

• Elin Svanström, Climate Evolution Project Manager, Eskilstuna Municipality
• Mattias Goldmann, CEO, 2030 Secretariat
• Åsa Minoz, Deputy Program Director, Viable Cities

What is the Transition Lab Forum?

The Transition Lab Forum is part of the Climate-Neutral Cities 2030 initiative, which mobilizes a broad ecosystem of stakeholders—with the business community playing a central role—toward the mission of achieving climate-neutral cities by 2030. During the Transition Lab Forum, a variety of stakeholders meet in person over several days to accelerate progress toward this mission, focusing on a current theme. Transition Lab Forum LIVE is a live broadcast highlighting the entire forum, streamed via YouTube. Business representatives, experts, and other key stakeholders speak on stage during the live broadcast.

What is Climate Evolution?

• Use and generate energy efficiently
• Sustainable transportation and travel
• Building, renovating, and landscaping with a low environmental impact
• Consume and produce sustainably

Viable Cities’ mission is Climate-Neutral Cities 2030, ensuring a good life for all within the planet’s limits.As part of the Climate-Neutral Cities 2030 initiative, 48 Swedish cities are working together with several national government agencies Viable Cities to lead the way in the climate transition. The Transition Lab Forum is a recurring central platform for collaborative learning within the initiative. Over three days, we will deepen and accelerate our collective knowledge and understanding of a theme that is crucial for accelerating the transition to Climate-Neutral Cities 2030. 

Climate Evolution* is Eskilstuna’s annual event that brings together the business community with organizations, associations, universities, and public sector actors to find inspiration, network, and get involved in creating a climate-positive Eskilstuna.