Viable Cities' communication work is helping to build a movement among many actors in society to achieve climate-neutral cities by 2030.
The work we do together in Viable Cities contributes to creating climate-neutral, sustainable cities and mitigating climate change and its impacts at local level. This requires the step-by-step involvement of actors who can drive the transition in your city: citizens, local businesses and organizations such as civil society, academia and public organisations. Their engagement is crucial for the success of the transition journey. At the same time, it can be a challenge to explain to new actors what we are actually doing and why.
The purpose of the VIABLE CITIES COMMUNICATION GUIDE is to provide you with tips and advice on how to talk about your and your city's local climate work, as part of Viable Cities' Climate Neutral Cities 2030 initiative and part of the local, national and international mobilization for climate neutral cities. We hope it inspires and facilitates your work.
WELCOME ON BOARD. At the beginning of the partnership, it can be helpful to get an overview of what Viable Cities is and what we do. We have put together a summary on our onboarding page.
KOM2030 is a communication hub with representatives from municipalities and government agencies within the Climate Neutral Cities 2030 initiative. Together we build communication that supports the transition, facilitates learning and dissemination of initiatives that work and provide added value.. If you work with communication within the initiative Climate-neutral cities 2030 then you should definitely join us.
SLACK. All co-participants are warmly welcome to use Slack for quick communication within the group. For invitation and registration, please contact kommunikation@viablecities.se.
When this is the case, we want your communication to show that you are part of Viable Cities. The graphic profile is used when we are the main sender, for example for reports, and when our initiatives present us. When you talk about your climate change efforts in different ways related to Viable Cities, we appreciate that we are mentioned. What this looks like in practice varies depending on the type of communication, more information can be found in our graphic profile and templates.
We would like all of us to help spread what we do - both within the Program Office and other parts of Viable Cities.
All of us in the network want to develop, learn together and help each other. Together we share what is happening in different projects and initiatives, so that we can spread good examples further through the network.
All cities face the same challenge: to become climate-neutral and sustainable cities in a short period of time. So those of us working in urban communication have much in common, even if our titles and organizational locations vary. At the Office, we want to support experience sharing and learning as much as we can. By working together and meeting regularly within the communication network, raising issues of concern to all of us, we can help speed up the climate transition in cities.
The meetings are informal and everyone in the network contributes ideas for themes.
We often co-organize events with one or more of our partners, in which case we hope to plan and implement the planning and communication of the event together. This means contributing practically to the planning, implementation and follow-up of events and related communication.
Viable Cities is aiming high. To get to where we want to go - climate neutral cities by 2030 - we need to work together, not least in terms of communication. Cooperation on communication within Viable Cities can take several forms.
To tell people about Viable Cities and your involvement in Viable Cities, both inside and outside the organization, we have put together communication materials for free use by our partners. In this collection, you will find presentations, logos, texts, etc. in English and Swedish.
Let us know if you need any other material, or if you see that something needs to be updated.
The Viable Cities graphic profile is used when we are the main sender, for example for project reports, and when our projects present us. When you talk about your climate change efforts related to Viable Cities in different ways, we appreciate being mentioned. What this looks like in practice will vary depending on the type of communication.
All downloadable materials can be found further down this page.
Explanatory texts on the form of cooperation should be visible when mentioned, examples are given below.
The Viable Cities logo may be used by stakeholders in the Climate Neutral Cities 2030 initiative and other initiatives that we fund or co-finance. The logo and an explanatory text about the form of cooperation should be visible on relevant websites. The above texts can be used.
Use your graphic profile, but the Viable Cities logo should appear early in the communication, on the cover or first inside page. An explanatory text on the form of cooperation should be visible.
Our funders government agencies should be mentioned with the text above, or with their logos in a SIP logo sticker.
We would like reports from your project - during its course or at its conclusion - to become part of the Viable Cities publication series. There is a template for this in Word format. If you have any questions or concerns about how to use the template, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Let us know when you have an upcoming report and we will arrange the ISBN and report number. We will also ensure that the publication is available in Diva and Swepub.
The Viable Cities (mobile) logo should appear at the end, together with the SIP logo image or the text above, in the mobile material produced in the context of your project. For audio-only productions, someone should say the sentence above at the end of the broadcast.
Here you will find explanatory texts depending on the form of cooperation.
Climate Neutral Y 2030 mobilizes for the local transition journey within the Viable Cities innovation programme, funded by the Swedish Energy Agency, Vinnova and Formas.
The municipality of Y is mobilizing - together with [a growing number of alt. 22 other cities] - for the local transition journey within the Viable Cities flagship initiative Climate Neutral Cities 2030.
The municipality of Y is mobilizing - together with [a growing number of alt. 22 other cities] - for the mission of climate-neutral cities by 2030 within the strategic innovation programme Viable Cities.
Organization X is mobilizing for the local transition journey of Climate Neutral Y 2030, an action of the Viable Cities strategic innovation programme.
This is part of a mobilization that is taking place locally by many actors here in X-city to accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral and sustainable city (municipality). At the same time, we are joining forces for the climate transition with over 20 cities in Sweden, within the Viable Cities initiative, and with more than a hundred cities in Europe to achieve climate-neutral cities by 2030.
This is an example of the gathering of local actors that is happening right now here in X-city for the climate transition. At the same time, we have joined forces with over 20 cities across Sweden, within Viable Cities, and more than a hundred cities across Europe to achieve our common goal: climate-neutral cities by 2030.
This shows how X-city, together with local actors, is flexing its muscles for the climate transition. At the same time, we are working with over 20 cities in Sweden - within Viable Cities - and more than 100 cities across Europe to become climate neutral and sustainable by 2030.
Initiative X has received support from the Viable Cities strategic innovation program funded by the Swedish Energy Agency, Vinnova and Formas.
External communication should state that Viable Cities is funded under the Strategic Innovation Programs. The following standard text that puts the program in context can be used. For example, on the website, in press releases, etc.
Alt 1
Viable Cities is a strategic innovation program for climate-neutral and sustainable cities that is supported in a joint initiative by Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas.
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Viable Cities is a program focused on innovation for climate neutral and sustainable cities. In the Climate Neutral Cities 2030 initiative - and with the tool Climate City Contract 2030 - the program is working with [a growing number alt. 23] cities and [six] government agencies to accelerate the climate transition. Viable Cities' work is closely aligned with the European mobilization around the "Mission Climate Neutral and Smart Cities 2030". The program is supported in a joint initiative by Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas. Viable Cities is coordinated by KTH.
Alt 3
Viable Cities is a program focused on innovation for climate neutral and sustainable cities. In the Climate Neutral Cities 2030 initiative - and with the tool Climate City Contract 2030 - the program is working with [a growing number alt. 23] cities and [six] government agencies to accelerate the climate transition. Viable Cities' work is closely aligned with the European mobilization around the "Mission Climate Neutral and Smart Cities 2030". The program is supported in a joint initiative by Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas. Viable Cities is coordinated by KTH.
Alt 4
Viable Cities is a strategic innovation program focused on climate-neutral and sustainable cities. In the Climate Neutral Cities 2030 initiative - and with the tool Climate City Contract 2030 - the program is working with [a growing number alt. 23] cities and [six] government agencies to accelerate the climate transition. Viable Cities' mission-driven work is closely aligned with the European mobilization around the "Mission Climate Neutral and Smart Cities 2030".
The programme has over 100 member organizations from business, academia, civil society and the public sector.
Viable Cities is one of 17 strategic innovation programs in a joint initiative by Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas. Viable Cities is coordinated by KTH.
In external communications, it is to be stated that the project is being financed within the strategic innovation program Viable Cities.
Alt 1
Viable Cities is a Swedish strategic innovation program for climate neutral and sustainable cities jointly funded by Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas.
Alt 2
Viable Cities is a Swedish strategic innovation program for climate neutral and sustainable cities. A growing number of alt. 23] Swedish municipalities and six government agencies operate within the programme to accelerate the climate transition through the Climate Neutral Cities 2030 initiative-and with the Climate City Contract 2030 tool. It is jointly funded by the Swedish Energy Agency, Vinnova and Formas.
Alt 3
Viable Cities is a Swedish innovation program for climate neutral and sustainable cities. 23 Swedish municipalities and six government agencies operate within the program to accelerate the climate transition through the Climate Neutral Cities 2030 initiative-and with the Climate City Contract 2030 tool. Viable Cities' work is closely linked to the European mobilization around "Mission Climate Neutral and Smart Cities 2030". The programme gathers over 130 member organisations from industry, academia, public and civil society organisations. It is one of 17 Swedish strategic innovation programmes jointly funded by Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas with a total investment of 100 million EUR. KTH, The Royal Institute of Technology coordinate Viable Cities.
Alt 4
Viable Cities is a 12-year programme running from 2017 to 2030 funded in a joint effort by three government agencies: The Swedish Energy Agency, Vinnova and Formas. Pioneering a mission-based approach to research and innovation, the programme's mission is to achieve climate neutral cities by 2030 with a good life for all within planetary boundaries. The programme gathers 130 member organisations from industry, academia, public sector and civil society organisations. A key effort in Viable Cities is the Climate Neutral Cities 2030 initiative where 23 Swedish cities and their partners are spearheading efforts to become climate neutral by 2030. The Climate City Contracts are revised and signed in December 2020 each year by the city Mayors, Directors General of five government agencies and Viable Cities.
Viable Cities is a Swedish strategic innovation program, hosted by KTH, the Royal Institute of Technology, with one mission: achieving climate neutral cities by 2030 - with a good life for all within the planetary boundaries.
Climate transition must be much faster to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement: to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees. To make the radical changes needed, we must explore new ways of working, at all levels of society.
The nations of the world find it hard to agree on measures to reduce climate impact. But cities often have higher ambitions on climate transition than the national level.
Although cities only cover around three per cent of the global land surface, they cause the majority of greenhouse gas emissions. So the climate battle should be won in cities. Therefore the innovation program Viable Cities is focussing on climate transition in cities.
It is a transdisciplinary effort where sustainable transition studies is a core part of the methods and practises of the program.
23 Swedish municipalities and their partners from academia, civil society and the private sector, and six government agencies, operate within Viable Cities to accelerate the climate transition. The 23 municipalities represent 40 per cent of the Swedish population.
With our Swedish stakeholders, Viable Cities has co-created Climate City Contract 2030 - a Climate City Contract - a key element in our work. We see the contract as a people process, not a bureaucratic instrument. The point is to make mutual commitments from the signing parties, city Mayors and Director Generals from six government agencies, where the ambitions are raised, and the implementation is sharpened year by year. It is a collaborative learning process to build a collective capacity to make the transition happen faster.
The program sees these cities as experimentation and innovation hubs. These hubs are forerunners helping all cities in a position to become climate neutral - in Sweden, in Europe and worldwide. Viable Cities' work is closely linked to the European mobilization around "Mission Climate Neutral and Smart Cities 2030".
Running from 2017 to 2030 the programme also gathers about 130 member organizations from industry, academia, public and civil society.
It is one of 17 Swedish strategic innovation programs jointly funded by Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas with a total investment of 100 million EUR. KTH, The Royal Institute of Technology, coordinate Viable Cities.
Here you will find graphic material and presentations on Viable Cities. If you are missing any, feel free to contact us!
For those working within a 2030 city, materials such as roll-ups are available, please contact kommunikation@viablecities.se if you need anything.
The communication work across Viable Cities will support the activities of the program, thus contributing to the achievement of the program's mission: Climate-neutral cities by 2030 - with a good life for all within the boundaries of the planet.
Communication and knowledge dissemination are strategic activities within the program, both in the program management and in the projects implemented within the program.
Viable Cities communicators in the Programme Office provide support on communication issues, but it is expected that all projects have their own communication resource.
The Viable Cities projects have their own communication challenges. A major responsibility for the success of the projects and the usefulness of the results in creating the conditions for real change in cities lies with each project team. Successfully communicating activities and results to the outside world and contributing to change requires communication planning. With this guide, we want to facilitate this.
A communication plan for the project is essential to facilitate the work. It is important to keep in mind that all communication activities within Viable Cities should support the activities of the program, thus contributing to the achievement of the program's mission. We have prepared a guide for this work.
During the project, you will have to explain the project and its link to Viable Cities many times to people with different levels of knowledge. To make communication easier for everyone, it is good to create a short text that everyone in the project team can use. Ideally, the text can be written in several versions with different lengths for different contexts. Feel free to test the text on people who have no idea what you are doing.
It is important that the text makes it clear that the project is part of Viable Cities. See here how the link to Viable Cities and the funding authorities can be indicated. Some useful questions to ask yourself are:
A communication plan can take many forms, below are headings and questions to help you create the plan. The plan can cover the whole project and its duration, or be designed for shorter communication activities.
A plan starts with a situation analysis. With a brief background description, you ensure that you and your colleagues have a common understanding of the conditions.
Having a clear purpose is a good start for good communication. Objectives are important for measuring and evaluating activities. You may find that you have too many objectives. Then you need to prioritize. One tip is to think that a goal should be SMART - specific, measurable, accepted, realistic, time-bound.
When communicating, you need to focus on a selected target group to be able to adapt your communication. You can have different target groups in the same communication plan. Read more about target groups at the end of the document.
Telling everyone everything is not a good idea as you risk the message being vague and not reaching anyone. The message must be specific to each target group to be effective. Link the message to Viable Cities, Climate Neutral Cities 2030 and/or Climate City Contract 2030.
Who is the sender of the message? This may seem like an unnecessary question, but may still need to be addressed. A project may have one 'home', but multiple partners and funders. Who should be involved in this context? It may also be useful to consider who should speak on behalf of the project or this particular communication activity.
Where are the target groups you want to communicate with? Choose the channel based on what you want to achieve with your communication.
Before starting the project, you should draw up a plan to allocate budget and resources.
Once the communication plan is completed, an activity plan is drawn up in the form of a simple table. The activity plan is continuously updated during the course of the project. The plan provides an overview of what is to be done at different stages of the project, which target groups are involved, who is responsible and the status of each activity - planned, ongoing or completed.
The sample table can be found in the remaining communication materials. Of course, the table can be customized with fewer or more columns (e.g. messages and comment fields).
How can the communication plan be evaluated and how can the impact of the activities be measured? In order to do this, it is necessary to think about how this can be done at an early stage of the plan: What do we want to know? How can we access that information?
In all communication it is important to define your target groups, who do we want to reach with our communication. Thinking about what the project can lead to in a larger perspective will show the way to the most important target groups.
Targeting everyone is not a very good idea, you need to limit yourself. Different groups need different interventions, and not all target groups are equally important. In addition, you have to manage the activities.
To facilitate prioritization, you can first list everyone you want to communicate with and then divide them into primary and secondary audiences.
You can, of course, explore this further depending on what you want to achieve.
To formulate the message, we can think about why the target groups should care about the project or activity. Only when we have captured the interest of the target group can we tell them more about the project and delve deeper.
The message should make the target audience want to know more, so it should be concise. Think about what your target audience currently knows so that your message and communication is at the right level.
Describe the message you want to give to each target group - the same message may not be suitable for all target groups. Do some target groups need more information than others?
We focus mainly on LinkedInbut also have accounts on X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. We also have two blogs on LinkedIn, one for progress reports from the 2030 cities and a more general one on the urban climate transition, and a YouTube-channel with videos from the Transition Lab Forum, Climate Breakfasts, European Viable Cities Day and more. Make sure your organization (and preferably yourself) follows us there.
Tag us in your posts to help us share and spread the word.
