Label Civic engagement and involvement

Image from Nordic Deliberation. Copyright Digidem Lab.

Can Swedish municipalities learn from our Nordic neighbors in the latest wave of deliberative democracy?

We face complex societal challenges with declining trust and participation in democracy. To strengthen deliberative democracy in the Nordic region, a network - Nordic Deliberation - has been created. The aim of the network is to build resilient democracies and close the gap between citizens and the representative political system by accelerating the wave of deliberative democracy in the Nordic region. So what is deliberative democracy and why do we need it?
Read moreCan Swedish municipalities learn from our Nordic neighbors in the latest wave of deliberative democracy?

How do we create meaningful dialogue in a polarized era?

When the government official opened the question and answer session, the atmosphere became aggressive and hostile. He had just moderated a panel discussion between representatives of political parties on the topic of norm shifts and racism. People in the audience hurled accusations of bias and surreptitious activism at the moderator. He stepped in and replied: I have not taken sides, I am just delivering facts!
Read moreHow do we create meaningful dialogue in a polarized era?
Pierre Mesure, expert on civic engagement

Civic engagement

This spring, Viable Cities and Digidem Lab are entering a deeper collaboration on citizen engagement. Pierre Mesure has for 5 years supported municipalities to involve citizens in decision-making, with a focus on the underrepresented in our institutions.
Read moreCivic engagement

Evolving dialogue on climate change in Götepod

In all 23 cities that are part of Viable Cities' Climate Neutral Cities 2030 program, intensive work is underway with citizen engagement where they experiment with different forms. For more than a year now, Gothenburg has hosted Götepod, where city architect Björn Siesjö talks to guests about Gothenburg's urban development from different perspectives. In episode 18, he was visited by Karin Bjerner, Development Manager at the Environmental Administration, City of Gothenburg and Viable Cities Learning Strategist Lena Holmberg.
Read moreEvolving dialogue on climate change in Götepod

Climate Breakfast 22: Events as the engine of the climate transition

Events are a growing billion-dollar industry and a key component of the economy and profile of many cities. At the same time, they are an increasingly important tool for community development. The joy and excitement of an event is something special. There is a strength and power to influence and change. This is why events have a great potential to contribute to, push and accelerate the climate transition.
Read moreClimate Breakfast 22: Events as the engine of the climate transition

Mini meeting in Borlänge paid big dividends 

Gävle, Borlänge and Eskilstuna are three of the "newer" municipalities in the Climate Neutral Cities 2030 initiative. This week, the project managers from the three met at Palladium in Borlänge for joint learning.
- "There is great value in developing existing and finding new forms of cooperation between the cities when the climate work is accelerated," says Evelina Loberg, project manager in Gävle municipality.

Read moreMini meeting in Borlänge paid big dividends 

Transition Lab Forum 8: Climate mobilization at all levels

During Transition Lab Forum 8, we shared experiences from Skellefteå as part of the transition in northern Sweden, and we explored some key issues in the transition process and Climate City Contract 2030 - multi-level governance, sustainable construction, business strategies for sustainability and citizen engagement. The power of the transition in the north is a golden opportunity to use to accelerate the climate transition throughout Sweden and the world.

Read moreTransition Lab Forum 8: Climate mobilization at all levels

Climate Breakfast 15: Digital tools to support the climate transition

In the work with Climate City Contract 2030, Viable Cities has identified four areas as strategically important for the climate transition in cities. Last spring, Ramboll was commissioned to work with us to develop a strategy for one of these areas, it is about how digitalization and digital tools can support the transition to climate neutral and sustainable cities.
Read moreClimate Breakfast 15: Digital tools to support the climate transition

Climate Breakfast 14: Citizens as co-creators of the climate transition

Last spring, Anthesis was commissioned by Viable Cities to develop a strategy for engaging citizens and civil society as co-creators of the city's future. Through workshops and interviews, Anthesis, together with its partners Actinate and Sustainable 3.0, has collected information that is analyzed and now results in recommendations on a possible way forward.
Read moreClimate Breakfast 14: Citizens as co-creators of the climate transition

Potluck in the architecture of the gaps

During the work on Climate City Contract 2030, several strategic development areas have been identified, areas that need to be strengthened to accelerate the climate transition. One of them is citizen engagement. Last spring, Anthesis was commissioned to develop a strategy for how citizens and civil society can be engaged as co-creators in the city's future. On our blog, Agneta Persson, Anthesis, reflects on their findings.
This is also the theme of the Climate Breakfast on October 6.

Read morePotluck in the architecture of the gaps

Ramboll and Anthesis awarded Viable Cities contract

Our search for partners to develop two strategic projects was very successful - we received over 30 high quality bids. It is now clear who will be commissioned to develop two parallel strategies for the transition to climate-neutral cities. Ramboll will lead the work on the strategy for digitalization and digital tools and Anthesis will drive the strategy for citizen engagement.

Read moreRamboll and Anthesis awarded Viable Cities contract

Climate Breakfast 9: Citizen engagement in Hammarby sjöstad, Sweden

To speed up the climate transition, everyone in society needs to be involved. The Hammarby Sjöstad 2.0 project in Stockholm is a citizens' initiative to reduce the climate footprint of the district. In the project, 55 housing associations with 12,500 residents, companies, researchers and the City of Stockholm are working together to become climate neutral by 2030. Climate Breakfast 9 was hosted by Jörgen Lööf, ElectriCITY Innovation, and Charlie Gullström, Sweco/RISE.

Read moreClimate Breakfast 9: Citizen engagement in Hammarby sjöstad, Sweden

New on the blog: Covid-19 and the role of experts - Insights for a sustainable transition

Clearly, the coronavirus crisis can teach us something about transition work. But what? That we should do what the experts say? This is what researchers Sofie Joosse and Martin Westin from the Viable Cities project Sustainable urban lifestyles through nudging and citizen participation discuss on our blog.

Read moreNew on the blog: Covid-19 and the role of experts - Insights for a sustainable transition

Smart Cities 2017

Smart Sustainable Cities is participating in the Smart Cities 2017 conference, November 22-23 at Kistamässan. Smart Cities consists of a two-day conference of the same name, organized in collaboration between EasyFaris and Geoforum Sweden, and a vibrant exhibition focusing on the smart city....

Read moreSmart Cities 2017

Smart Cities 2017

Smart Sustainable Cities is participating in the Smart Cities 2017 conference, November 22-23 at Kistamässan. Smart Cities consists of a two-day conference of the same name, organized in collaboration between EasyFaris and Geoforum Sweden, and a vibrant exhibition focusing on the smart city....

Read moreSmart Cities 2017