Viable Cities at Almedalen 2026

Viable Cities at Almedalen 2026 brings together a broad range of stakeholders from various sectors of society to continue turning the climate transition from vision into reality.
Together with government agencies, municipalities, civil society, the business community, and academia, we explore how climate-neutral solutions are becoming the new normal in governance, investment, and the way we plan and build our communities. We also delve deeply into issues such as food systems, mobility, and civic engagement.
It’s not enough to talk about the transition—words must become action. Here, you can sample the food of the future, take a look at a fossil-free, driverless bus, learn how student climate councils work, and encounter solutions that show what the transition really looks like.
Through visions of the future, hands-on test environments, and collaborative learning, we’re creating the conditions to accelerate the transition and make the new normal tangible and vibrant. We invite you to join us during Almedalen Week!

Representing Viable Cities at the event will be Anders Wijkman, Olga Kordas, Åsa Minoz, Lars Johansson, Charlotte Gustafsson Brynielsson, Anette Olovborn, Albert Edman, and Daniel Dersén.

Tuesday, June 23

Spy and apply. We’ll meet at Kruttornet at 11:30 a.m. and walk together through the Botanical Garden to Paviljongsplan, where we’ll discuss how we collaborate with various stakeholders—students, innovation actors, and industry. We’ll hear about student climate councils, such as the one implemented in Karlstad, with Emma Sundh and Maria Soxbo from Klimatklubben, and about how Uppsala is collaborating to create test beds for its local climate transition, with Angelica Rask from STUNS, as well as how industry in Helsingborg has found a new-old way to accelerate the climate transition, with Therese Mithander Udovcic from the City of Helsingborg. Spy and apply will be led by Lars Johansson of Viable Cities.

After Spy and apply ends (12:45), we’ll form a walking bus and discuss Green Travel Plans for sustainable everyday travel with Anette Olovborn of Viable Cities as we head to the next item on the program.

1:15–2:00 p.m. Green Travel Plans – A Journey Where Everyone Wins
Most of the trips we take are short and recurring. To work. To school. To the gym. When more people walk, bike, or take public transportation, everyone in society benefits: people feel better, workplaces have healthier employees, society can avoid costly infrastructure investments, and carbon dioxide emissions decrease. Green Travel Plans is a collaborative initiative that, through encouragement and smart measures, makes it easier to travel sustainably in everyday life.
Anette Olovborn from Viable Citieswill discuss how your municipality, organization, or company can join the journey. The talk will take place on a self-driving bus at 100, Hamnterminalen, Bussen.

Wednesday, June 24

10:00–11:15 Many Calls for Proposals—But How Does the System Work?
A discussion on how EU programs, national initiatives, and regional initiatives can work together more effectively to give municipalities and regions a stronger foundation for driving climate transition and sustainable social development. Organized by Örebro Municipality.
Participants:
Lennart Andersson, Chief Architect, Boverket
Helena Bjarnegård, Chairman the Council for Living Cities, Council for Living Cities
Charlotte Brynielsson, Head of Multi-level Coordination, Viable Cities KTH
Sascha Benes, Innovation Strategist, Environment and Urban Planning, Örebro Municipality
Erik Blohm, Administrative Director, Environment and Urban Planning, Örebro Municipality
Alisa Basic, Director of Community Development, Linköping Municipality
Viable Cities will be represented by Charlotte G Brynielsson on the panel. Location: Nygatan 1, courtyard. Link to the event

11:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. A Meal Beyond the Ordinary – Practicing for the Future Together
We explore how we can break free and start creating a new world together, right now, through an experience and a conversation about what needs to happen, what we don’t want to happen, and how we can help each other transition to a sustainable food system and a sustainable economy. Even though we know that everything is at stake and that humanity must now act with determination and urgency, we remain trapped in an economy that favors short-term and reckless behavior, and that punishes those who try to do the right thing. The event will be held on two separate dates. Unfortunately, it is open only to pre-registered participants; invitations will be sent out according to a specific procedure.
Viable Cities is a co-organizer alongside the innovation platform 9outof10meals, Sally, DarkMatterLabs, Miljömatematik, and Gotland Science Park.

2:30–3:15 p.m. What can we learn from Ukraine for our own resilience and societal development?
Ukraine is demonstrating an impressive ability to maintain critical societal functions, rebuild what has been destroyed, and develop new innovations while a war is ongoing. Their experiences relate to both the protection of essential infrastructure and new material flows. Among other things, parks have proven to be of great importance for residents’ mental resilience and adaptability.
What can we learn from their agile approach? What can we achieve in Sweden if we act on these lessons? What solutions for energy, mobility, and material flows could work in a Swedish context? Olga Kordas 🇸🇪🇺🇦, Program Manager at Viable Cities, will be a speaker. The event is organized by Sweco. Location: Specksrum 5, Omställningsarenan at Sweco’s courtyard. Link to the event

Thursday, June 25

Sustainable Development at the Sustainability Arena (Teaterskeppet)

The Sustainability Arena is a gathering place for those of us who want to steer the future in the right direction. Here, stakeholders from politics, business, research, and civil society come together civil society share knowledge and discuss how we can take steps toward a sustainable society.
With one term remaining until the goal of climate-neutral construction is reached, the industry, municipalities, and initiatives are coming together for a full day to discuss what it will take to succeed. The focus is on scaling up what works—from reuse and innovation to governance, procurement, financing, and social sustainability. Below is a selection from Thursday’s program.
Many of today’s events are being streamed by the main organizer, Sustainable Innovation, here.
Co-organizers for the day include Viable Cities, Hemsö Fastigheter, HBV, Adda, LFM30 Malmö, Smart Built Environment, Swegon, and Sh bygg, sten och anläggning. Learn more about the event at Sustainable Innovation

8:30–9:30 a.m. Industry Call to Action – Immediate Strict Limits to Meet the Paris Agreement. Are you also convinced that the real estate, construction, and civil engineering sectors must act now to meet the Paris Agreement’s goals? The National Board of Housing, Building, and Planning’s only proposal in line with the EU’s goals is Level 1—but introducing limits as late as 2027 or 2030 is already too late. The Great Dining Hall

8:30–9:15 a.m. The Power of Procurement for Sustainable Timber – From Ambition to Demand. How can buyers and the market drive the use of sustainable and economically viable timber from forests with greater biodiversity and long-term ecosystem values? How can demand, procurement, and different approaches contribute to the development of more sustainable forestry practices? The Theater Auditorium

9:30–10:30 a.m. What policy decisions are needed and promised to achieve sustainable construction within the next legislative term? This election year marks the start of the legislative term leading up to 2030—a critical period for achieving our climate goals. The real estate, construction, and civil engineering sectors believe we can still limit global warming and meet the Paris Agreement, but this requires clear political support in legislation, policy, and financing. The Grand Dining Hall

9:45–10:30 Sustainability through quality-assured measurement, traceability, and digital product passports in the forest industry. We want to build more with wood—but how do we know it’s actually sustainable? When data follows the wood from forest to reuse, digital product passports can provide proof, not just claims: origin, process, climate, quality, and reusability. The Small Dining Room

11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Financing and economics: ambitious goals and a tight timeline call for new financing solutions. Despite high climate ambitions, there is a lack of effective financial tools to rapidly scale up the energy and climate transition. Many companies have limited investment opportunities, which slows down progress. At the same time, the implementation of new EU requirements is moving slowly, and there is a great need for innovative financial solutions. The Grand Dining Hall

12:30–1:15 p.m. How can we create a national climate infrastructure for Swedish cities and climate initiatives? Swedish cities are set to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. At the same time, many municipalities lack the tools to collect, analyze, and use climate data in urban development. How can a shared national climate infrastructure help municipalities, businesses, and climate initiatives make informed decisions? The Small Dining Room

12:30–1:30 p.m . Public and private procurement drives sustainability in challenging times. Public procurement is a powerful lever for sustainable transition but involves conflicting goals. How do we balance economic considerations with long-term sustainability, resilience, and security of supply? And how do we drive innovation without compromising competitive neutrality? The Great Dining Hall

2:00–3:00 p.m. Who is responsible for Sweden’s circular transition when the regulations do not mandate it? Sweden’s regulations enable circularity, but do not require it. Developers must identify reusable building products and plan for material recycling, but reuse is not required. At the same time, the construction sector accounts for 40 percent of Sweden’s waste and has a significant climate impact. The Great Dining Hall

3:30–4:30 p.m. How do we create a socially sustainable construction industry? The construction sector not only shapes our cities—it also shapes our society. Yet we know that challenges such as unscrupulous operators, workplace crime, and barriers to the labor market are holding back the industry’s full potential. Main Dining Hall

4:00–5:00 p.m. From Slow-Moving to Transformative – How Is Digitalization Changing the Construction Industry? Over the years, numerous reports and analyses have identified the construction industry as one of the most conservative and least digitized sectors. At the same time, however, something even more important is highlighted: its enormous potential. With the right technological shift, greater value can be unlocked here than in almost any other industry. The Small Dining Room

3:15–4:00 PM How do we future-proof large-scale multi-family housing developments? Sweden’s multi-family housing developments face urgent renovation needs, demands for climate transition, and growing social disparities, all while cultural values must be preserved. Despite high ambitions, social sustainability remains difficult to understand, assess economically, and translate into concrete decisions. The Theater Auditorium

Sweden is making the transition – what recommendations would sustainability experts make if they were in the government?

1:00–1:55 p.m. Ahead of the 2026 election, Aktuell Hållbarhet has formed the “Sunshine Government.” Seven “ministers” have been tasked with developing the measures Sweden needs to transition to a sustainable future. Hear them present their proposals on what is needed to make Sweden more sustainable. Topics will include green jobs that combat social exclusion, tax reform, the role of cities and nature, infrastructure, and energy sovereignty. Location: Strandvägen 4.2, Dagens Industri Arena, Talks Stage. Link to the event:

Markus Wrake – “Minister of Energy”
Stefan Krook – “Minister of Finance”
Evin Cetin – “Minister of Social Sustainability”
Nina Ekelund – “Minister of Industry”
Olga Kordas 🇸🇪🇺🇦 – “Minister of Urban Development”
Mattias Goldmann – “Minister of Infrastructure and Mobility”
Linda Burenius – “Minister of Nature and the Environment”

Ylva Bergman of Aktuell Hållbarhet will also be participating.