Östersund's ambitious goals are not 'just' about the climate and reducing emissions, but also about health, justice and quality of life.
Östersund has high ambitions in sustainability, and setting high goals is an important part of the work - goals that are not only about the climate and reducing emissions, but also about health, justice and quality of life. This is demonstrated by, among other things, an emission-free construction site, sustainable travel - even in winter, a circular pop-up, a climate box, work hubs, and several other good examples.
Östersund's Climate and Energy Strategy is the roadmap for the municipality's transition. It is divided into seven development areas with many concrete initiatives to accelerate the transition. Some important elements are environmental considerations in urban planning and construction, fossil-free transport and climate-smart modes of transport, investments in renewable energy, and sustainable consumption within the municipality and municipal organization. The strategy and roadmap enable and drive the transition in Östersund and contribute to several of the good examples and ambitious initiatives that exist in the municipality.
One of these is the EU's first zero-emission workplace in Östersund. It is Storfjället's preschool, which is being built with electrified work machines. This initiative has not only reduced particle and carbon dioxide emissions, but also contributed to a better working environment for construction workers and a better environment for local residents with less noise and vibration.
You can also find Vintertramparna in Östersund. Vintertramparna is part of the municipality's efforts to encourage and facilitate people who are willing and able to change some or all of their everyday travel to more sustainable alternatives, such as public transport, cycling or walking to work in winter. Other good examples include an intermediate storage facility for recycled building materials, work hubs for shorter travel distances and increased flexibility for the municipality's employees, and an annual climate seminar that inspires people to make the transition and reduce emissions.
In the city's latest update, they talk about the work, the transition arena, the project portfolio and much more.
Caroline Hildahl, process manager for Climate Neutral Östersund 2030, caroline.hildahl@ostersund.se
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.
Östersund highlights additional actions that they believe may be of particular interest to other municipalities to spy and apply. Contact the process leader to spy and apply.
Climate City Contract 2030 is a collective effort to achieve the climate transition that we need to implement in a short time to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees. It is an agreement between municipalities, government agencies and Viable Cities where all parties undertake to make a concrete contribution to increasing the pace of climate change.
To achieve deep change, we need to move from fragmented projects to an ecosystem of efforts that all pull in the same direction. Cities are doing this together with Viable Cities, funders government agencies and other partners, in different constellations and with different objectives. It is about moving beyond dealing with symptoms and instead focusing on underlying problems in our social structure. Here you will find the initiatives and studies within the city that have been granted funding under Viable Cities.
The feasibility study will carry out and develop citizen dialogues linked to transition and sustainable passenger transport in Östersund municipality. The work on climate change can lead...
Gävle is part of the NetZeroCities 112 Mission Cities, selected since 2022 to pioneer the EU Cities Mission.
