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.
Business Region Göteborg, the City of Gothenburg and Nordstan Business Center have together developed Sweden's first Mobility Hotel, where six different actors collaborate to increase the share of green and emission-free transport in Gothenburg's inner city.
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 Gothenburg, the effects of mobility agreements are being investigated - agreements between property owners and the municipality whereby owners can be allowed to build fewer parking spaces if they instead offer residents other ways of traveling, such as access to carpools, public transport passes, cargo bikes, etc.
The municipality of Nacka is experiencing urban development, with the construction of new housing and the exploitation of unspoiled land. New construction involves the exploitation of land with high natural values. To ensure that protected species in the swamp forest are not adversely affected, Nacka is taking several protective measures that also create more involvement.
Bicycle pilot area - testing and evaluation of simple measures to increase cycling and achieve the goals of the City of Gothenburg's cycling program. It also provides increased opportunities for children to cycle alone and increased safety for all cyclists.
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.
There are only benefits to becoming an energy-smart company; for the economy, for the working environment and not least through reduced negative climate impact and emissions. In Eskilstuna municipality through the Energy Evolution Center, the energy-smart solutions are tailored to the needs of companies to become more energy-smart - through the Energy Staircase!
Lund is home to the world's largest low-temperature, fossil-free district heating network. The MAX IV laboratory and the ESS research facility heat the city using residual heat. The aim is for other parts of Lund to also receive low-temperature heat in the networks in the future. Then Lund can grow without increasing emissions from district heating!
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.
In Gothenburg, the Framtiden Group has developed a mobility strategy that aims to make it easier for its tenants not to travel by (own) car - both by offering sustainable alternatives and through the availability and pricing of parking.
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.
