Here we highlight local efforts that trigger action that contributes to the mission: climate-neutral cities by 2030 - with a good life for all within the limits of the planet. We pass it on to accelerate the local transition journey in all cities and communities.
For the past two years, small and medium-sized enterprises in Linköping municipality have been able to apply for test bed checks. The aim is to speed up the climate transition by giving companies space to test innovative ideas in reality together with municipal companies. And the positive results have not been long in coming.
Imagine a construction site that is almost silent, with no smell of exhaust fumes. A utopia? Well, no. Right now, a new preschool, Ottfjället, is being built in the municipality of Östersund, and they are doing it without fossil fuel emissions.
In Umeå, the business community and the municipality have long worked together to reduce climate emissions and achieve climate goals. It started with a cooperation on food and agriculture issues, and since 2021, 56 companies from all possible sectors are involved in the Umeå Climate Roadmap.
Through simple technical solutions and behavioral changes, the energy peaks in the commercial kitchens in Uppsala are drastically reduced. The result is both lower overall energy demand and reduced energy costs.
Within Viable Cities, a growing number of cities are mobilizing to address the climate crisis. They do so together with a wide range of stakeholders - businesses, researchers, civil servants, experts, citizens and politicians.
The efforts required to keep the global temperature increase below 1.5 degrees will also bring significant added value for everyone. For example, they give us a better quality of life through cleaner air, greener cities and better health.
To create these sustainable and pleasant communities for all, we need to work at many levels, from the neighborhood, through the local community, to the whole country, Europe and the planet. And, we need to work in a common direction, creating a portfolio of efforts and activities that pull in the same direction. Different initiatives need to be interlinked and contribute to our long-term ability to change faster together.
Everything we do is aimed at the mission, Climate Neutral Cities 2030, with a good life for all, within the limits of the planet.
