Sustainable Cities

Sustainable citiesThe Delegation for Sustainable Cities Experiences and conclusions so far

78129_Engelsk.indd 1 2011-11-21 09.14

2 The Delegation for Sustainable Cities – Experiences and conclusions so far

Contents

Why invest in sustainable cities? .............................. 4The mission ............................................................... 6Our conclusions so far ............................................ 11Conclusions and actions for sustainable solutions .... 14What is “the sustainable city”? ................................ 36What is being done in the rest of the world? ............. 40The Delegation for Sustainable Cities - a national arena for sustainable urban development .................. 42

Layout & design: Svensk Information

Cover photos: City of Stockholm, White Arkitekter, Johan Pontén, Lasse Strandberg for Barn i stan, Eddie Granlund

78129_Engelsk.indd 2 2011-11-24 12.48

3The Delegation for Sustainable Cities – Experiences and conclusions so far

The Delegation for Sustainable Cities Experiences and conclusions so farIn December 2010, the Delegation for Sustainable Cities reported on the work and progress it achieved during the period 2008-2010 to the Swedish Government. More information can be downloaded at hallbarastader.gov.se.

This publication provides a brief summary of the Delegation’s mission, work and conclusions so far. The Chairperson and members of the Delegation also give their personal views on important aspects of sustainable urban development.

© W

hite

Ark

itekt

er

78129_Engelsk.indd 3 2011-11-21 09.14


The Delegation for Sustainable Cities was appointed by the Swedish Government in the autumn of 2008. This took place

in light of the climate threat and of the realisa-tion that rapidly growing cities throughout the world leave significant ecological footprints: they erode the local and regional environment as well as contribute to global emissions of greenhouse gases. But it was also realised that cities can be part of the solution.

The Delegation has been working for two years – the first year in light of the expectations prior to

the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, the second in the shadow of the disappointment at the fact that no global climate agreement seems to be forthcoming in the foreseeable future.

The outcome of the Copenhagen Conference reinforces the growing belief that global agree-ments are insufficient when it comes to driving development in the right direction and that other tools are needed. One conclusion is that this puts even greater demands on cities to take the lead in order to drastically reduce the

Why invest in sustainable cities?

Cities must take the lead and are part of the solution to the climate threat.

Phot

o:C

hris

tian

Alm

strö

m

78129_Engelsk.indd 4 2011-11-21 09.14


climate threat and thereby safeguard the basic pre-conditions of human life. Cities are emerging as increasingly important political and physical arenas for driving development forward when in-ternational negotiations break down. And there are current examples of how cities are joining forces and taking the lead.

At the Copenhagen Conference, many of the mayors of the world’s major cities met for their own, much more successful, climate negotia-tions. In the C40 Group, 40 large cities have come together to spur each other on through competitions and knowledge exchange.

The large-scale wave of urbanisation currently sweeping the world adds to the importance of cit-ies as arenas for meeting major social challenges.

Dramatic urbanisation will lead to 75 percent of the global population living in cities within the next few decades. On the same time scale, the world population will surpass nine bil-lion, the majority of them being young people growing up in what we somewhat casually refer to as “the third world”. Even though economic development and growth are lifting countries such as China, India and Brazil out of poverty, hundreds of millions of people will continue to live in extreme destitution, especially in Africa. Approximately three billion people, most of them young and poor, are likely to migrate into cities over the next twenty or thirty years in the hope of being able to realise their future dreams

of education, work and prosperity.The cities of tomorrow need to adapt to the

realisation that we don’t actually have one or two reserve planets in our vicinity that can accommo-date a population that constantly goes against nat-ural biological systems and impoverishes Earth’s resources. The progressive idea is that cities can be incorporated into a necessary and crucial glo-bal development that requires every generation to realise that its approach to life and lifestyles must be adapted to a single planet. With concentrated efforts on both the national and global level, the cities of the future can be environmentally, eco-nomically and socially sustainable.

But time is short. For each day and year that passes, the problem gets worse. Today, the threat to the climate is a reality and the signs are that the two-degree target will be exceeded. Many cities, especially in coastal areas, will be particu-larly vulnerable. To solve the problems, insight, commitment and development must go hand in hand. A particular responsibility rests with the world’s leading politicians - not least in rich countries that have based part of their welfare on the major extraction of global resources for more than a century. The transition to an economic development that is also ecologically sustainable also necessitates commitment and accountability from each and every individual. All of us must take responsibility for sustainable development.

This is how we can create sustainable cities.

78129_Engelsk.indd 5 2011-11-21 09.14


The Delegation for Sustainable Cities has been given the following tasks:• Manage the financial support provided by

central government for the development of sustainable cities.

• Promote integrated, cross-sector planning.• Promote both cooperation between the busi-

ness sector and municipalities and the partici-pation of the general public in urban develop-ment projects.

• Support the export of green technology and promote international cooperation on sustain-able urban development.

• Contribute to the development and dissemina-tion of knowledge.

• Gather and spread information on interesting Swedish and international examples.

Extended mission To begin with, the Delegation’s mission was to run from the autumn of 2008 until the end of December 2010. The mission has since been extended for a further two years.

The renewed mission means that the Delega-tion will continue to implement various measures that focus on and make a long-term contribution to improving the conditions for

sustainable urban development. During 2011-2012, the Delegation is to concentrate its efforts on:• Following, supporting and comprising

meeting-places for sustainable urban development projects

• Reporting results and best practice• Promoting the development and export of

green technology• Strengthening the social dimension of sustain-

able urban development• Promoting cooperation on research and devel-

opment• Identifying obstacles to sustainable urban

development and proposals for measures and solutions

In 2011–2012, the Delegation is also to manage and decide on financial support to the develop-ment of sustainable cities.

A national arenaThe Delegation for Sustainable Cities shall promote the sustainable development of cit-ies, urban communities and housing areas. We will work together with other key actors to help create well-functioning and attractive urban environments, in which high quality of life goes

The mission

A unifying arena for sustainable urban development is needed.

78129_Engelsk.indd 6 2011-11-21 09.14


hand in hand with an improved environment, economic growth, social cohesion and minimum climate impact.

Our mission reflects two important starting-points for sustainable urban development– a holistic perspective and cooperation.

The city and its development must be seen in a holistic perspective. The vision of sustainability embraces three mutually dependent dimensions: ecological sustainability for a good environment and limited climate impact; social sustainability, which relates to employment, welfare, safety and security and good conditions for children and

adolescents; and economic sustainability, which presupposes a well-functioning and creative business sector, trade and service.

Different actors at all levels of society must cooperate to achieve results. Central agencies and other institutions must work together on the national level. Municipalities, architects, plan-ners, builders, property companies, experts, con-sultants and other actors must cooperate on the local and regional level. This cooperation must furthermore take place as early as possible. The sustainable city is created by taking a holistic ap-proach – not by working in isolation.

Cooperation has been a recurrent theme in the Delegation’s work. In accordance with our mission, we have strived to be an arena for actors working for sustainable urban development; an arena that gathers together various actors to create dialogue that would otherwise not have taken place, in order to exchange important and sometimes crucial experiences, learn from each other and spread knowledge and best practice.

78129_Engelsk.indd 7 2011-11-21 09.14


Financial support to stimulate developmentThe Delegation for Sustainable Cities has been tasked by the Swedish Government to manage and decide on financial support to the develop-ment of sustainable cities. The support is aimed at creating attractive and ecologically, socially and economically sustainable urban environments to in turn help to reduce greenhouse gas emis-sions and set good examples of urban planning measures based on integrated urban planning and applied green technology. The projects will show the potential in the development of sustainable cities, be demonstration models and facilitate the dissemination and export of sustainable urban planning, green technology and expertise.

A total of EUR 37 million was awarded in 2009–2010. In 2011, the Delegation has a further EUR 2 million to allocate to project applications. Another round of applications will take place in 2012.Nine major investment projects and 28 planning projects have so far received financial support. They will help in different ways to enhance international interest in Swedish urban planning and green technology and provide inspiration to other projects and give them a helping hand all the way from the drawing board to realisation.Leverage is another effect of financial support. We are convinced that the support provided has helped a large number of cities to join forces

and force the pace on sustainable urban devel-opment. Plans that had earlier not progressed be-yond the discussion stage have now been given concrete form and are on the road to realisation. The central government support is significant when it comes to influencing the development of a policy area such as sustainable urban devel-opment – on different levels of society.

”Sweden is in the vanguard of sustainable urban planning

and an international pacesetter. This role is being strengthened by stimu-lating new demonstration models.The projects that have received support will be the new Swedish showcase for the rest of the world: examples that go a step further.Peter Örn, ChairDelegation for Sustainable Cities

Central government support provides leverage at several stages and generates climate benefit.

Phot

o:La

sse

Str

andb

erg

för

Bar

n i s

tan

78129_Engelsk.indd 8 2011-11-21 09.14


Projects granted financial support in 2009Investment projects

City of Malmö: The Fullriggaren district

City of Stockholm: Sustainable Järva

Umeå Municipality: Sustainable Ålidhem

Planning projects

Gällivare Municipality: New sustainable Gällivare

AB Gavlegårdarna, Gävle: City district renewal Östra Sätra

Haninge Municipality: Sustainable urban development Albyberg

Kalmar Municipality: Södra Vimpeltorpet

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Alnarp: Urban farming as a driving-force for sustainable urban development

Lomma Municipality: Environmental monitoring in Lomma Harbour

Lund Municipality: Brunnshög – The sustainable city of knowledge

KB Kreativiteten, Mölndal: Nya Krokslätt

Swedish Association of Architects: Architect and planning services for sustainable urban development

City of Stockholm: Norra Djurgårdsstaden

Upplands Väsby Municipality: Väsby sjöstad

AB Uppsala Kommuns Industrihus: Librobäck land development

City of Västerås: Programme for the transformation of Västerås station and surrounding area

Östersund Municipality: Storsjö strand

Projects granted financial support in 2010Investment projects

Örebrobostäder AB: My green neighbourhood

Lund Municipality: The sustainable city of knowledge

City of Malmö: Sustainable urban transformation Malmö, Focus Rosengård

City of Göteborg: Sustainable development in Kvillebäcken

Kungälv Municipality: Kongahälla – an active city district in Kungälv

KB Kreativiteten, Mölndal: Nya Krokslätt

Planning projects

Jönköping Municipality: Sustainable transport

County administrative board in Skåne County: Planning tool for com-puting carbon dioxide emissions

KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Division of Urban and Regional Stud-ies: Interlacing social and ecological aspects in the cities of the future

IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet AB: Cooperation platform for eco-innova-tions for sustainable city districts

Ramböll Sverige AB: The role of vegetation in a climate-smart city

City of Borås: Strategic long-term plan for improving bicycle parking

Örebro Municipality: The pulse of the sustainable city

Karlstad Municipality/Karlstadbuss: Public transport of the future

Uppsala Municipality: Energy in the sustainable city

Spridd AB, Stockholm: From balcony-access blocks to green social housing of the future

City of Göteborg: Central Älvstaden - vision and strategy

Plantagon International AB: Plantagon vertical farming, Botkyrka

Plantagon International AB: Plantagon vertical farming,

H+ Helsingborg

The Swedish Museum of Architecture: Portal to the sustainable city

78129_Engelsk.indd 9 2011-11-24 12.51


Conclusions on the Delegation’s mission and roleA question that ought to be asked is whether and in what way a delegation tasked by the Government to operate for a relatively short period of time can achieve results. This ques-tion should, however, be answered by others. We have nevertheless ventured to formulate some overall conclusions.

It is valuable to have an actor that is perceived as independent and that, based on such a role, can create arenas and meeting-places for other actors. This can inspire cross-sector dialogue and cooperation. Best practice can be identified and disseminated. A more in-depth discussion on the

concept of sustainability can be initiated.The Delegation’s role as a national arena for

sustainable urban development has fulfilled a function that has previously been lacking. A unifying national actor for sustainable urban de-velopment will also be needed after the Delega-tion has completed its mission.

The short period allocated for the Delegation’s mission has had both its advantages and its draw-backs. The time pressure has forced us to stay focused and work as a team, utilising the various areas of expertise and experience represented among the Delegation’s members. We have not had time to get bogged down in discussions

Phot

o:To

rbjö

rn A

nder

sson

/Sca

npix

about how our mission was to be interpreted. Simultaneously, however, this time pressure has been a drawback for those applying for financial support, who have not always had enough time to work through their applications. This has been particularly difficult for smaller municipalities.

78129_Engelsk.indd 10 2011-11-21 09.14


Conclusions on the financial support and regarding the ‘arena’ task

The central government support has provided important leverage at several stages

The financial support has made it possible to strengthen initiatives at different stages of the ur-ban development process, from idea and planning to implementation and dissemination of best prac-tice, which in turn inspires more urban develop-ment projects both in Sweden and internationally. The support provides leverage at several stages.

The showcases and projects that have re-ceived financial support will generate climate benefit. The projects are on show and inspire further initiatives and better solutions. The cli-mate benefit is being duplicated.

The ‘arena’ task and financial support management task have been mutually reinforcing

The two tasks incorporated in our mission – to be a national arena for sustainable urban develop-ment and to manage the financial support – have positively reinforced each other. Through the financial support, the Delegation has been able to motivate municipalities and other actors to raise

their levels of ambition in key areas. The applica-tions received provide a snapshot of the current state of knowledge and ambitions in Sweden and have generated ideas for outreach activities within the framework of the national arena.

Cities must take the lead and form part of the solution to the climate threat

We can no longer wait for agreements on the international and global level to be made and to provide a framework and goals for climate work. Cities must set the pace in the efforts to drastically reduce the climate threat and hence safeguard the basic pre-conditions for human life. Cities are important political and physical arenas for speeding up the pace of develop-ment.

It is a political task to formulate visions and resolutely set the pace of sustainable urban deve-lopment

Isolationism is a natural human trait, being pro-tective of our own interests first and foremost. Politicians on all levels therefore have an impor-tant task to formulate unifying visions. Politi-

cians can take the lead to more resolutely create the sustainable city.

Integrated planning at an early stage is crucial for sustainable urban development

There is a considerable need to highlight how leadership and forms of organisation affect the pre-conditions for cross-sector cooperation. Sec-tor agencies need to cooperate more on sustain-able urban development. A holistic approach must be developed.

Some Swedish municipalities are pioneers and have put efficient forms of integrated planning in place that provide scope for economic, ecological and social aspects alike

Many Swedish municipalities have made considerable progress regarding ecological sustainability. However, few municipalities have found suitable ways of integrating planning and implementation initiatives, in which economic, ecological and social aspects interact and hence lead to sustainable urban development.

Our conclusions so far

> >

>

>

>>

78129_Engelsk.indd 11 2011-11-21 09.14


Real innovation lies in finding synergies between different technical solutions

Different technical solutions can solve different needs. Solving such needs in a coordinated way often achieves large-scale synergies. Real innovation lies in how we interlink solutions for e.g. water sup-ply and wastewater treatment, landscape planning, waste management, architecture and buildings, urban functions, energy, traffic and transport.

Good cooperation between muni-cipalities and the business sector in urban development projects leads to better results in the end

Good results are achieved if cooperation begins at an early stage. The trust that is then built up between the parties helps to provide quick and smooth solutions to problems that may arise at a later stage.

The social dimension should be afforded more scope in in the work with sustainable urban development

Aspects of the social dimension, such as health, economic and social security, diversity and inte-gration, participation and influence, and cultural heritage, are all examples of areas that need to be much better integrated into urban planning.

Knowledge about and the use of tools and methods for coopera-tion, participation and influence need to increase

Better knowledge about tools and methods can facilitate sector cooperation, an integrated approach and participation. There is a corresponding need for ways of developing, evaluating and communicating alternative planning proposals. Tools and methods must be constantly improved and evaluated.

The entire knowledge development chain within urban development must be strengthened

Knowledge development and improvement initiatives are needed that build bridges between academic research and practical activities. Initia-tives must be interdisciplinary.

Sweden can continue to have a pioneering role as an exporter of knowledge and technology in a global context

Swedish examples of sustainable urban develop-ment can be packaged and marketed much better than is currently the case. The Swedish Symbio-City brand can be further consolidated. Success for Swedish exports in the environmental field breeds success for global sustainable development efforts as well.

> >

>

>

>

>

2011-02-03 21www.stockholm.se/oversiktsplan

2011-02-03

78129_Engelsk.indd 12 2011-11-21 09.14

Development begins with the posing of a number of questions and analysis of the answers. Who am I today, where am I

going and why? Naturally, this is also true when developing a city.

If the answer to these questions is that we want to create a sustainable city - a city where all decisions are based on careful consideration of all the areas and perspectives in a city - a city with an attractive environment to live in, with stable economic growth, with inhabitants who have the opportunity to earn a living and shape their lives and contribute to positive ur-ban development. If so, then it’s just a question of getting started.

The city, together with all these actors, shall then be persuaded to share the vision or goals. And they must all play their part in the development of the city. A sustainable city re-quires compromises to be reached. Short-term perspectives sometimes have to take a back seat. Everyone must be persuaded to occasion-ally take a step back and orientate themselves

towards the common goal and see the benefit that they themselves derive from participating in development and becoming part of a sustain-able context.

Creating the vision, disseminating and gaining support for it, mustering resources and making decisions can be a major challenge in the short term. Setbacks and stumbling blocks will be en-countered along the way. And the vision must be restated again and again and developed in cooperation with all the forces that contribute to the city’s development.

This requires strong leadership: clear, brave, stubborn and tenacious leadership. A value-based leadership based on genuine conviction. Leaders are needed who are driven by the will to actually achieve the vision of the sustainable city.

The kind of leaders who: • Are brave enough to recruit and cultivate

organisations consisting of strong and creative employees.

• Always share knowledge and constantly as-

similate new knowledge through cooperation and contacts.

• Understand that no one person or organisa-tion has the solution.

• Realise the importance of applying a broad perspective and working across knowledge areas and sectoral borders.

• Constantly look to pave the way forward and facilitate.

• Test new solutions and realises that every-thing can’t be right from the beginning and see potential for improvement.

• Realise the importance of and give praise for the achievement of interim targets.

• Constantly leave no stone unturned and read-just to changes in the world at large.

• Understand that it is with people and for people that we are creating the city.

Strong leadership – a pre-condition for successful sustainable urban development Katarina Pelin, Director of Environment at the City of Malmö and a member of the Delegation

”Leaders are needed who are driven by the will to

actually achieve the vision: The sustainable city.


78129_Engelsk.indd 13 2011-11-21 09.14


During the course of its work, the Del-egation has encountered a high level of awareness among Swedish municipali-

ties as regards the climate threat - an awareness of the need to create climate-smart cities. Many municipalities are working successfully to save energy, produce local and renewable energy and integrate technical solutions to create synergies.

Several successful examples demonstrate that taking command and formulating the vision of the sustainable city of the future is a political task. Public administrations and individual offi-cials are encouraged to try out new ideas and test the boundaries for what is possible. This creates an infectious enthusiasm and leads to employees taking pride in demonstrating plans and projects

Conclusions and actions for sustainable solutions

It is a political task to formu-late visions and determinedly set the pace of sustainable urban development.

Ålidhem in Umeå. In the glazed-in winter garden, heated using waste energy from the district hea-ting grid, the residents have a new meeting-place. Heated all year round, the garden has created new opportunities for recreation.

Illus

trat

ione

r: J

ohan

Fje

llstr

öm o

ch D

avid

Kem

mle

r

78129_Engelsk.indd 14 2011-11-24 12.53


for visitors from other parts of Sweden and from other countries. They want to be in Sweden’s showcase to the world.

There is also a growing insight in many mu-nicipalities regarding the importance of public participation and common accountability; a realisation that more is needed than just inviting people to the odd meeting or two. Participa-tion is achieved using concrete and systematic methods for dialogue with citizens and residents. Participation helps to change lifestyles, some-thing which in turn will contribute to eliminat-ing the climate threat.

But there is still a great deal to do. Politicians can more resolutely take the lead to create the sustainable city. The holistic approach can be de-veloped. Environmental objectives can be made more stringent in relation to currently applicable norms. Cooperation between administrations and central agencies can be enhanced. Coopera-tion between public and private actors in urban development projects can be improved and be initiated much earlier than is currently the case. Innovative solutions can be tested more boldly than they are today. And the issue of creating the prerequisites for public participation can be taken more seriously than it is today.

Below we briefly describe what we have seen and done in some of the important areas included in our mission and in the

work on sustainable urban development:• Integratedcross-sectorplanning•Integratedtechnicalsolutions•Reducedclimateimpact•Cooperationbetweenmunicipalitiesandthe

businesssector•Participationandinfluence•Knowledgedevelopment•Exportofgreentechnology

TheFullriggarendistrictinMalmöwilldisplayawidediversityofsustainablesolutionsasregardsarchitecture,engine-eringandmaterial.

© F

ullri

ggar

ens

bygg

herr

egru

pp/C

adw

alk

ManySwedishmunicipalitiesarepioneersandhaveputefficientformsofintegratedplanninginplace.

78129_Engelsk.indd 15 2011-11-24 15.12

Isolationism is behind many of the problems currently suffered by cities. Energy inefficien-cy, air and water pollution, waste mountains,

congestion as well as social segregation and a lack of growth are rooted in the fact that each problem is dealt with separately. Integrated planning mod-els and cross-sector cooperation provide better prerequisites for achieving sustainable solutions to urban problems.

Seen from an international perspective, adopting an integrated approach is traditionally a Swedish strong point. In international terms, Swedish mu-nicipal engineering with large-scale infrastructures for waste, stormwater and district heating in combi-nation with small-scale urban planning provides the basis for healthy and attractive urban environments and resource-efficient material and waste flows. But we must go a step further to achieve climate-neutral, climate-smart and attractive cities.

Planning models must be established in which the various functions or sub-systems of a city are

planned within the same framework. System solutions increase the prerequisites for achieving synergy effects and for avoiding sub-optimisations, where benefits in a sub-system are achieved at the expense of drawbacks in the system as a whole.

One example is sustainable cycle models in which waste, wastewater and energy flows are coordinated to achieve greater resource-efficiency. Waste is used to produce heat and electricity, or biogas that is upgraded to bus fuel.

The construction of energy systems in which energy-efficient buildings interact, e.g. via smart electricity grids, with a combination of different sources to produce a renewable supply of electric-ity and heat is another example.

Integrated land use and transport planning

along public transport routes are a third example that prevents urban sprawl. Instead, the founda-tion is established for a mixture of housing, work-places, public services and green areas with good access to green transport. Public transport hubs, where people can easily change from one form of transport to another, can be attractive places for housing, work and services. Car pools, bicycle hire and on-demand trading are examples of measures that stimulate a change in lifestyle that further contributes to a better living environment. The planning of public spaces and meeting-places must be well coordinated, including the planning of traffic systems, fine-meshed networks of pavements and cycle-paths, green corridors and stormwater disposal. Mixed functions in attrac-tive urban environments also benefit knowledge-intensive businesses and provide the prerequisites for economic growth.

The integrated approach is based on people with a wide variety of different skills and experience

”Integrated planning models and cross-sector cooperation

provide better prerequisites for achieving sustainable solutions to urban problems.

Integrated planning – a prerequisite for sustainable holistic solutions Ulf Ranhagen, Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Chief Architect at SWECO and member of the Delegation


78129_Engelsk.indd 16 2011-11-21 09.14


Integrated cross-sector planningThe term ‘integrated cross-sector planning’ refers not only to good urban environments in combina-tion with efficient system solutions but also the democratic and cross-sector processes that lead to them.

In order to increase knowledge about cross-sector planning, the Delegation invited the actors involved to two open seminars. The first focused on processes for greater cooperation and increased citizen influence. The results of the discussion are summarised in brief below:• Cooperation is a difficult, yet necessary and

stimulating challenge• The roles allocated to people in a cooperation

process affect their freedom and room for manoeuvre

• It is important to clarify and question hierar-chies and power structures

• Process tools can facilitate cooperation and in-crease understanding of each other’s approach

• Project organisations that are to cooperate must have common objectives. Only then can

the actors cast off their roles and start cooper-ating in earnest.

• Compromise with one’s own sector interests is needed in order to reach common objectives

The other seminar dealt with cross-border work and the role of politicians in driving forward development. Seminar delegates agreed that:• Politicians have an important role to formu-

late unifying visions that have the support of inhabitants, businesses and people in the civil society.

• Citizen participation provides a better basis for decision-making

• Leadership and forms of organisation have a major effect on the prerequisites for cross-sector cooperation

• Sector authorities should cooperate more on sustainable urban development

• The most important role for politicians is to represent the citizen perspective

There is a continued need to disseminate knowl-edge about the advantages of planning models and processes that integrate different skills and sectors. The applications received for financial support indicate that some Swedish municipali-ties are working actively to develop forms of cross-sector planning. The results can be traced in the best practice examples of urban devel-opment projects that are now emerging from around the country.

working together and putting their knowl-edge and perspectives into a joint planning process. Cooperation among different actors needs to be initiated early on in the planning process or development project to have the intended effect. The scope for influencing is greater and the analysis costs lower at such an early stage of the process. Later on, the costs of changing physical structures and technical solutions can be thousandfold higher.

Our best experiences from Sweden and applications of the Swedish model inter-nationally indicate that the cross-sector approach encourages the creativity and innovation of the participating actors – politicians, experts and citizens. Long-term robust holistic solutions can be created and continuously improved in this way.

We have everything to gain from inte-grated planning.

Integrated planning – a prerequisite for sustainable holistic solutions Ulf Ranhagen, Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Chief Architect at SWECO and member of the Delegation

Integrated planning at an early stage with cross-sector coope-ration is crucial.

78129_Engelsk.indd 17 2011-11-21 09.14


But there are several areas which generally need to be much better integrated into urban planning. Examples include the social and cultur-al dimension with aspects like health, economic and social security, diversity and integration, participation, influence and cultural heritage.

There are few examples among the applica-tions of city transport – including goods trans-portation – having been integrated into urban development projects. The Delegation urges a holistic approach to be adopted, in which roads, for example, are seen as key elements of urban development, in which buildings and transport are planned so that they promote public trans-port, walking and cycling, and in which goods transportation is integrated into local action programmes and city plans.

Integrated technical solutions for resource-efficiency The integration of different technical systems generates synergy effects. By meeting several needs in a coordinated fashion, we can often increase resource-efficiency and reduce climate impact. It may, for example, be a question of integrating solutions for water supply and

wastewater treatment, landscape planning, waste management, architecture and buildings, urban functions, energy, traffic and transport.

There are many interesting examples of in-tegrated solutions in the applications for finan-cial support. Most of them are linked to more efficient energy use, although waste management and stormwater disposal are also common areas.

Real innovation lies in finding synergies between different solutions.

The Hammarby Model shows how technical systems for energy, waste, water and wastewater manage-ment can be integrated and generate synergies. The objective is sustainable resource use where energy consumption and waste have been minimised and resource efficiency and recycling have been maximi-sed. This sustainable cycle model was developed in 2002 prior to the construction of one of Sweden’s most notable urban development projects, Hammarby sjöstad in Stockholm, and has since then functioned as a model for integrated technical solutions both in Sweden and internationally.

78129_Engelsk.indd 18 2011-11-24 13.03

Most people in Sweden live in small or medium-sized cities, in smaller urban areas or in rural areas. Only about 30

percent of the Swedish population live in cit-ies with over 100 000 inhabitants. Despite this, regional strategic functions, such as universities, regional hospitals and authorities are located in the larger cities and contribute to a broad range of services and differentiated labour markets there.

Enabling smaller cities and towns to access the services and labour markets available in larger population centres requires planning that incor-porates knowledge about how cities and towns interact in sustainable regions.

The extension of the Mälarbanan rail network between Stockholm and Västerås, Eskilstuna and Örebro is an interesting example of how im-proved regional rail connections and strategic local planning can help to create an efficient regional structure with towns and cities interacting well with each other. Until the mid-1990s, the Stock-

holm and Mälardal region was a hotch-potch of separate urban sub-regions with little exchange between them. This caused major imbalances in the prerequisites for locating businesses and in the various local labour markets as well as left the sub-regions vulnerable to structural changes. Individual citizens felt restricted in terms of both the number and variety of jobs and the higher education opportunities available to them within a reasonable distance from their home.

Since the mid-1990s, however, new rail links have been built with regular trains running to and from centrally located stations in cities and towns throughout the region.

Furthermore, key functions, such as universi-ties and university colleges, major workplaces, etc., have been located close to railway stations. Building developments have also been condensed to these areas. Shorter travelling times between the towns and cities and good access to centrally located key functions, along with better connect-

ing traffic and park-and-ride facilities, have given people the prerequisites to commute efficiently to and from work and college. This has created over-lapping regions with better opportunities in the form of additional local labour markets, a broad range of housing and good access to higher educa-tion and other societal services within a reason-able commuting distance from people’s homes.

Sustainable cities are found in sustainable regions Stellan Lundberg, Director of ÅF City Planning and a member of the Delegation

”The cities along the Mälar-banan railway network now

make up a common labour mar-ket, where it is possible to live in one city and work in another. This benefits large, medium-sized and smaller cities, urban areas and surrounding rural areas alike.


78129_Engelsk.indd 19 2011-11-21 09.14

Effective supply chains with the efficient distribution of food and other goods in cities and their surrounding areas are crucial to

the economic growth of society and the quality of life of city-dwellers Goods transportation repre-sents, on the other hand, a major challenge for sus-tainable cities. But nowadays there is considerable potential for more creative and innovative solutions

Cities and their surrounding areas are hugely sig-nificant for economic growth and efficient supply chains are therefore a key element. Efficient goods transportation that helps to link together cities in different parts of the region also provides the right conditions for regional growth. Goods transporta-tion through the cities also provides important links to European road haulage networks, and, where appropriate, to extensive national exports via our seaports. Urban goods transportation does, on the other hand, cause local environmental problems in the form of heavy cargos, noise pollu-tion, vibration and more dangerous roads. Despite

this, there are many examples where goods trans-portation has hardly been mentioned in city plans.Urban goods transportation faces major challeng-es. Economically and environmentally sustainable urban development sets new prerequisites and new demands. Current urbanisation trends, with growing cities and a constantly rising demand for resources, also necessitate greater availability and mobility of goods - food and other products have to be distributed more quickly, in greater volumes and to more places. Fewer accidents and better technical transport solutions are other require-ments.

More creative and innovative solutions are need-ed to meet future challenges as regards sustainable urban goods transportation. There are currently far too few city plans and development proposals that take a holistic approach to the city’s supply chain and goods transportation. Vital ingredients in a holistic approach include:• Goods transportation being integrated into local

action programmes and city plans.• Long-distance transportation, inter- and intra-

city transportation being integrated and linked together in efficient chains.

• Better control, coordination and follow-up of goods transports.

• Better communication platforms, in the form of road traffic control in real-time systems, traffic information, route planning and loading opti-misation, simulation, communication between operators, e.g. driver/vehicle/infrastructure.

• Technical development of transport modes.• Funding of R&D activities and demonstration

projects.• Cooperation between different actors such as

agencies, transport purchasers, haulage compa-nies, infrastructure owners and vehicle manu-facturers.

”The holistic approach must be coupled with innovation.

Urban goods transportation faces major challenges Jan-Eric Sundgren, Director AB Volvo and a member of the Delegation


78129_Engelsk.indd 20 2011-11-21 09.14


The holistic approach must be coupled with innovation. Showcase projects are important in order to visualise and utilise opportunities, test research findings and support further development.

One interesting demonstration project is TRUST, an urban transport development project. This is a cooperation project be-tween several actors in Göteborg, in which different passenger and goods transporta-tion solutions are developed and in which pilot schemes are established and planned. The project also cooperates with Lyon in France, a city that is prioritising the devel-opment of sustainable goods transport.

TRUST is one of the few projects in Sweden where goods transportation in urban areas and beyond is being seen from a holistic perspective and which includes the city’s various actors. Lindholmen Eco Area is one of the TRUST showcase projects looking at new solutions for the distribution of essential supplies and waste disposal in one of Göteborg’s city districts.

Urban goods transportation faces major challenges Jan-Eric Sundgren, Director AB Volvo and a member of the Delegation

Here are some examples of integrated techni-cal solutions from the applications received:

• Business premises and offices supply energy to housing during the day. The opposite occurs in the evenings and at night. Cold-storage facilities in offices and shops can be used to charge hot water storage vessels for housing. Industrial waste heat is being harnessed for energy supply to housing areas.

• Surplus heat in the summer is stored in under-ground storage facilities and then used during the winter. Cool air in the winter can be stored in the same way and used for cooling purposes in the summer. Building carcassing used to store heat and cool air. Windows designed so that they cool or heat depending on the need.

• The orientation and inner functions of build-ings are planned so that solar collectors, solar cell panels and light sources can easily be in-stalled. The buildings are integrated with the energy supply system and can deliver surplus energy in the form of heat or electricity to the district heating and electricity grids.

• Waste disposal is organised so that transport is kept to a minimum, including local compost-ing and local return of compost earth. Waste-water and organic waste is used in treatment plants to produce biogas.

• Organic waste from housing is disposed of in waste grinders. The waste is conveyed to un-derground collection tanks in the housing area

78129_Engelsk.indd 21 2011-11-21 09.14


and then used to produce biogas. The biogas is used as vehicle fuel in the car pool that serves the local residents.

• Collected rainwater from roofs is used in air-conditioning systems, for area maintenance and for toilet flushing. Indoor plants are used as part of the ventilation system.

• Landscape architecture integrates stormwater solutions with climate adaptation measures. Local stormwater solutions add to recrea-tional values as well as dispose of and treat stormwater to reduce pressure on the waste-water system.

• Green walls and green roofs have several functions, e.g. equalising temperature varia-tions and improving the local climate. They can also dispose of the carbon dioxide pro-duced by local activities.

• Car pools are being created with electric cars, the batteries of which are charged using elec-tricity generated from local windpower and solar cells.

• Integrated control and monitoring systems are used to optimise energy consumption in the entire area and encourage energy-smart behaviour among local residents and business operators. The systems can also be used for joint booking systems, e.g. for car pools.

© F

OJA

B a

rkite

kter

More examples of

integrated technical

solutions

78129_Engelsk.indd 22 2011-11-21 09.14

When are we going to stop discuss-ing climate change and actually start doing something about it? The

threat to our climate is real! We must limit global warming to a maximum of two degrees.

The perpetual questions are: How ambi-tious should our objectives and targets be? How should they be achieved? Who should do most? How much can it cost? Who should pay?

It has proven very difficult to come to a de-cision and get people to step forward and take a firm grip on the situation. I have a proposal: Why not get the world’s property owners to cooperate with our politicians?

The climate objectives can be met – using today’s technology and at the lowest possible cost - by ensuring buildings are energy-efficient. This involves major investment, but it will be profitable for society in the slightly longer term. In a report commissioned by the former prime minister, Tony Blair, the British economist, Nico-las Stern, proved that the negative impact on the

world’s combined GDP of a rise in the global temperature is between five and 20 times greater than the costs of preventing the temperature increase. The Stern Report was a warning signal for economists and politicians the world over. Another report commissioned by the United Nations shows that the greatest value for money is to be derived from taking measures in the building and property sector. In no other sector, not in transport or industry, can the objectives be met in such a cost-effective manner.As far as Swedish buildings and property are concerned, there are already plenty of prof-itable ways of saving energy and hence of reducing carbon emissions. If such profitable

measures were implemented, energy consump-tion in buildings could be reduced by between 15 and 20 percent. But this is far from enough. We must jointly take active decisions to achieve the reductions necessary in a 50-100-year perspective. Raising energy and carbon taxes, for example, to drive forward change using economic instruments while at the same time creating resources for necessary joint stimulus and energy infrastructure initiatives.

Such political proposals are not especially popular and politicians who put them forward risk losing votes or even elections. But the elec-torate need to be aware that early, substantial investment in buildings to make them energy-efficient will minimise climate change, reduce the costs associated with it, and, no less impor-tant, will mean that the measures are paid for by those of us who have created the problems in the first place. Waiting and doing nothing will mean that we will shift even greater blame and responsibility onto future generations.

Energy-efficient buildings – the easiest and cheapest way of reaching climate objectives Bengt Wånggren, President of the Sweden Green Building Council and a member of the Delegation

”In monetary terms, the nega-tive impact on the world’s

combined GDP of an increase in the global temperature is between five and twenty times greater than the costs for preventing the increase.

The Delegation for Sustainable Cities – Experiences and conclusions so far 23

78129_Engelsk.indd 23 2011-11-24 12.55


Reduced climate impactClimate change is one of the world’s greatest challenges. Cities must join forces and, based on local conditions, contribute to reducing green-house gas emissions. The work on climate issues must take a holistic view of sustainable urban development, in which ecological, economic and social aspects are integrated. Adaptation to forthcoming climate change must also be taken into consideration.

Seminars and conferences on energy and climateThe Delegation has organised and taken part in a large number of meetings and conferences, at which urban energy and climate issues have been in focus. For example, the Delegation was involved in planning the high-level conference on climate and sustainable urban development that was held during the Swedish EU Presidency in the autumn of 2009.

Results from the conference were carried for-ward to UN climate negotiations at the COP15

conference in Copenhagen in December 2009, at which a seminar on the subject was held.

In the spring of 2010, the Delegation held seminars in five Swedish municipalities in asso-ciation with the Swedish Energy Agency on the theme of “Energy efficient and climate-smart ur-ban planning”. The aim of these seminars was to create arenas on the regional level and, through best practice examples, inspire and disseminate experience on how to be energy efficient and climate-smart at an early stage in the urban plan-ning process and urban renewal projects.

In partnership with IQ Samhällsbyggnad (Swedish Centre for Innovation and Quality in the Built Environment), the Delegation has also held a seminar on industrial energy efficiency methods in apartment blocks. The aim was to exchange information and create contacts between actors planning energy efficiency im-provements and renovation projects and actors with experience of innovative solutions.

More information is available at hallbarastader.gov.se.

The Sustainable Järva Project in Stockholm is testing different ways of making common types of housing energy efficient.

The United Nations Climate Conference, COP15, in Copenhagen.

Phot

o:M

artin

Lag

ergr

enPh

oto:

Kar

l Mel

ande

r/S

ydsv

ensk

an/S

canp

ix

78129_Engelsk.indd 24 2011-11-21 09.14

Cooperation between municipali-ties and the business sectorTo increase knowledge about what contributes to good cooperation between the business sec-tor and municipalities in urban development projects, the Delegation has conducted a ques-tionnaire and interview study.

The study shows that there are some factors that are particularly crucial to ensure good co-operation. It also indicates that there is a strong connection between good cooperation and the extent to which the project participants deem the project objectives to have been achieved.

Good cooperation between municipalities and the busi-ness sector in urban deve-lopment projects provides better results.

Cooperation must take place from the word go in new urban development projects. Municipalities that express

their intentions clearly and set clear-cut objec-tives for sustainable urban development force and encourage new forms of cooperation with builders and developers.

There are several examples of municipali-ties taking a long-term perspective. In Norra Älvstranden in Göteborg, the Flagghusen district in Malmö and Välle broar district in Växjö, the municipalities have pursued a dia-logue with their future customers at an early stage. The municipalities have had their own model, but they have all carried out a number of discussions, meetings, workshops, study visits and other activities aimed at inspiring all the project stakeholders and providing them with greater knowledge.

During the dialogue, the framework for the forthcoming development project has been jointly set by the municipality and the build-

ers. Only once the prerequisites are clear do the land allocation and planning permission processes get under way. This working method builds up mutual trust between the parties. When, almost inevitably, more difficult issues arise, finding solutions is much easier and quicker.

Clearly expressed intentions and clear-cut objectives inspire cooperation Kurt Eliasson, President of SABO and a member of the Delegation

”It is a win-win situation when municipalities and

business cooperate at an early stage. The municipalities have a greater chance of ensuring that the objectives are achieved. Busi-nesses appreciate a clear path being signposted by the munici-pality. Because the sector has the desire and the ability to build sustainably, if only it receives a clear order.


78129_Engelsk.indd 25 2011-11-21 09.14

Diversity must be a watchword when it comes to housing construction – diver-sity in design, in forms of tenure and

not least with regard to suppliers and actors.Diversity in forms of tenure means greater

freedom of choice. The forms of tenure in Swedish apartment blocks are rental tenure, condominium and cooperative ownership. Freehold ownership, a common form of hous-ing in Europe, was introduced in 2009. Free-hold ownership means direct ownership of the apartment – condominium means having the right to use the apartment. So far, ten or so freehold apartment blocks have been built in Sweden. More freehold ownership would help increase diversity in the housing stock.

A diversity of purchasers and suppliers leads to a greater number and variety of actors taking on the same challenge. New ideas are often developed in the borderland between competition and cooperation. Early coopera-tion between purchasers and suppliers is a

pre-condition for good results.A good example of cooperation and com-

petition contributing to diversity is the City of Malmö’s dialogue with thirteen different builders prior to the construction of the Flag-ghusen district in Västra hamnen (Western docklands area). Common knowledge about the project was created during the dialogue. The process resulted in an agreement signed by all the parties, a ‘sustainability agreement’. The builders cooperated in several areas: co-ordination of foundation work, joint procure-ment of construction materials, coordinated marketing of housing units.

The Fullriggaren district is the next new de-velopment area in Västra hamnen. Eleven build-ers have joined forces in a ‘Sustainable Building’ dialogue with the aim of building Sweden’s largest collection of low-energy, climate-smart housing units. As part of the dialogue, sustain-ability ambitions are being raised and the forms of cooperation are being further developed.

Development potential in such a cooperation

project will be much greater than if municipali-ties were to work in a more traditional fashion using written specifications of requirements to inform builders of the objectives that are to be achieved. One-way communication of this kind only leads to builders and suppliers seeing diffi-culties instead of opportunities. Furthermore, the municipality seldom has the option of imposing sanctions if the requirements are not satisfied.

The need for diversity applies equally to reno-vation and rebuilding projects in Sweden’s “million homes” housing areas. Here, a diver-sity of solutions and best practice is needed. Different forms of tenure, more owners and fewer units can contribute to the positive de-velopment that many of these areas need.

Diversity is a prerequisite of sustainable building.

Diversity through cooperation and competition Anders Larsson, Consultant at Thetis AB and a member of the Delegation

”More freehold ownership would help increase diversity

in the housing stock.


78129_Engelsk.indd 26 2011-11-21 09.14


The factors for good cooperation identified in the study are:

• The degree of advocacy for the objectives in the business sector

• Awareness in the business sector of the mu-nicipality’s interests and conditions

• Awareness in the municipality of the business sector’s interests and conditions

• Financial benefit for the parties involved• The organisational prerequisites for coopera-

tion between the municipality and the busi-ness sector

The organisational prerequisites highlighted in the study include close contact early in the project, clarification of the content of the agree-ment, clear mandates and a clear division of responsibility. The success factors are valid irre-spective of the degree of complexity and innova-tion in the project, irrespective of the number of actors involved, irrespective of which actor took the cooperation initiative or whether the project manager came from the municipality or the busi-ness sector.

For more information visit hallbarastader.gov.se.

Cop

yrig

ht W

hite

Ark

itekt

er

78129_Engelsk.indd 27 2011-11-21 09.14

The social dimension should be afforded more scope in the work with sustainable urban development.

Participation and influenceIt is obvious that the social dimension of the concept of sustainability must be emphasised even more than it is today, both in Sweden and in European cities, which often have to grapple with the same type of problems as we do.

But what is the social dimension? The concept needs to be developed and explained. Aspects such as democracy and health, economic and so-cial security, identity and gender equality, diver-sity and integration, participation and influence and cultural heritage are all examples of areas that we believe are part of the social dimension of sustainability.

Tools and methods of cooperation, participa-tion and influence need to be used to a greater extent.

The Delegation has arranged and participated in several seminars to discuss important issues relating to methods and processes for increasing participation and influence among residents and the general public.

City districts and housing areas char-acterised by segregation, poverty and social vulnerability, which are run

down and poorly maintained and have high crime rates go against the vision of the sustain-able city. There is a strong link between per-sonal accountability for adopting a sustainable lifestyle and being treated like a valued citizen and resident, not being marginalised or treated like a second-class inhabitant. The Delegation wishes to underline the social dimension of the concept of sustainability.

The Swedish “million-homes” housing areas are often discussed as a major problem for the city of today and tomorrow. The images described are many - the memories of those who grew up there, the dreams of those who decided they should be built or the prejudices of those who have never set foot in them. The discussion is often clichéd and painful for the

residents, who don’t want to acknowledge the image of them living in some kind of ghetto.

It is important to uphold the positive quali-ties of the million homes programme and to remind people that they were created as a solution to a major housing shortage. Rebuild-ing, renovation and maintenance – in dialogue with the residents – can help to make these housing areas more attractive, energy-efficient and climate-smart.

We need a more nuanced discussion on Sweden’s ’million-homes’ housing areas Peter Örn, Chair of the Delegation

”Participation helps to change lifestyles which in

the long run helps to eliminate the climate threat.


78129_Engelsk.indd 28 2011-11-21 09.14

The quality of the projects is enhanced by participation in both the planning and implementation process by the relevant stakeholders – the municipality, business sector, residents and others.


Tools and methods of co-operation, participation and influenceneedtobeusedto a greater extent

The seminars have shown not only that there are numerous problem scenarios for the housing areas that need to be tackled but also that there are many signs indicating the capacity to con-tinuously muster positive counter forces. Every area and housing company can find its own way of managing change. The key elements of a suc-cessful working method seem, however, to be responsiveness to and respect for the residents, and their active involvement.

Some methods for increasing citizen and resident participation that are being successfully used by the housing company Gårdstensbostäder in Göteborg and in the Järva Dialogue in Stock-holm are dialogues, future workshops, walking tours, focus groups, neighbourhood watch walks and SWOT analyses.

Read more at hallbarastader.gov.se.

Phot

o:D

anie

l Ola

usso

n/B

otz

Phot

o

Phot

o:Fi

lip H

amm

arbe

rg/G

lad

rekl

am

78129_Engelsk.indd 29 2011-11-21 09.14

Building up a society is a continuous proc-ess, that never stops and that can never be finished. We must constantly relate to

a changing society, herein lie not only challenges but also opportunities.

Because many people together can achieve more than each person individually. The more people have the common will to create a sustainable society, the greater the power behind it. Working together takes longer but the combined results will be better. Our strength as humans also lies in the fact that we are different, but have an equal value.

The sustainable society is about putting the human being at the centre, about our needs and proposals for joint solutions and opportunities for participation.

The sustainable society has many dimen-sions that must be defined, described and man-aged. One of these dimensions is our living environment. But what is a living environment? What basic values should it have?

A living environment is the people you meet, your home, the buildings around you, your local school. A living environment is the smell of fresh-ly cut grass, spring flowers, sounds from the garden or backyard and the light on the street. A living environment is something vibrant and constantly changing that rests on two basic values: security and identity. Our living environments fulfil many important tasks: everyday use, socialising, enjoy-ment and reminiscing. Meeting other similar yet unique people in our living environments always implies taking a step towards change.

Creating sustainable living environments is a real challenge. Sustainable living environments form local communities which in turn shape the larger sustainable city. Everything is interconnected, both

in the local community and in the larger city. The “roadmap” of a common vision towards the sustain-able society must be developed in local communi-ties and be linked together with the city. Starting at the local level, capturing the power and creativ-ity of the citizens is the key to reversing negative spirals. A socially sustainable development also actively underpins environmental development.

Participationandinfluence must be based on the premise that these things are important and real for the citizens. The questions on the roadmap of the common visions must crystallize, individuals’ powers for good and creativity must lead to visible actions that strengthen the living environment. And the forms for participation must constantly vary so that it is fun to be involved.

Renewal takes time. There is no time to lose in our joint efforts to create the sustainable city. The main strategy for realising this is broad coopera-tion and mobilisation.

”Our living environments fulfil many important

tasks: everyday use, socialising, enjoyment and reminiscing.

Renewal must be given time and be based on participation Katarina Ahlqvist, President of Gårdstensbostäder and a member of the Delegation


Phot

o:K

atar

ina

von

Brö

mss

en

78129_Engelsk.indd 30 2011-11-21 09.14

Conclusions that have emerged from the Delegation’s seminars on the develop-ment of dialogue tools: • Be open to the fact that residents often

highlight issues and put forward solution proposals that are different to or supple-ment those that the initiative-taker had in mind.

• Notice how representative the group is.

• Feed the results of cooperation back to the residents and the general public.

• Evaluate the dialogue tools and continue to develop methods and other process tools, preferably methods that visualise and activate.

• Enable young people to participate more.

• Use art and culture and other creative industries to increase participation.

• Enlist the help of professional process managers who can build bridges and fa-cilitate understanding between different actors.

The new Planning and Building Act that came into force in May 2011 puts the active citizen at the centre. Less bureauc-

racy makes things easier for business operators. The strategic role of the comprehensive plan has been made clearer. The planning process has been simplified. Provisions on the rapid handling of planning permissions, better building control, simpler and clearer rules - all this is intended to benefit the private individual. One example is

that it will now take a maximum of ten weeks to have a planning application processed.

The act increases the scope for highlighting the social dimension of sustainability. This is de-spite the fact that it is not always so easy to find methods or to evaluate these aspects. It is up to all of us to be alert and ensure that the citizens’ perspective is always included when the new act is applied.

New planning and building legisla-tion to support the active citizen Janna Valik, Director-General of the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning and a member of the Delegation


78129_Engelsk.indd 31 2011-11-21 09.14

Knowledge developmentThe Delegation for Sustainable Cities works in cooperation with other institutions and agen-cies to develop and disseminate knowledge in the area of sustainable cities. The Delegation promotes greater cooperation among Swedish research-funders in the area and calls for more resources for research on sustainable cities. The work of the Delegation aims to lift up the impor-tance of urban research to the European level and highlight the need for changes in educational programmes. For further information, please go to hallbarastader.gov.se.

On several occasions, the Delegation has brought together research-funders who award grants for sustainable urban development research to discuss the prerequisites for greater research cooperation. These meetings have constituted a platform for important discussions and have generated several initiatives. Five agencies have, for example, joined forces and made a joint announce-ment about the availability of research funds in the area of sustainable urban development.

The entire knowledge development chain within urban development must be strengthened.

It is obvious that there is a need for more concerted, combined efforts to improve knowledge in the area of

sustainable cities. The issue of the role of higher education and research to achieve sustainable urban development has been very prominent in the Delegation’s activi-ties. We have brought research funders and education managers together to discuss current problems and future op-portunities. Prior to these discussions, we have performed our own general analysis of urban research and how current higher education programmes are trying to over-come isolationism.

The discussions themselves have proven very fruitful and the efforts have resulted in, among other things, a research strat-egy for sustainable urban development. The need for a cross-sector approach at

all points of the knowledge triangle of research-education-innovation has been highlighted.

The proposals and viewpoints of the Delegation have received a surprisingly positive response. I would like to highlight two crucial prerequisites for this.

Within its ranks, the Delegation has several members who have substantial ex-perience not only of higher education and research in the field of sustainable urban development, but also of policy work at universities and research-funding bodies. In our role as members we only represent ourselves, however, not any particular individual party. The Delegation therefore functions as a neutral arena. It has proven to be very beneficial to bring many differ-ent parties to the meeting table.

Cross-sector perspectives meet in a neutral arena Eivor Bucht, Professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Alnarp and a member of the Delegation


78129_Engelsk.indd 32 2011-11-21 09.14


The delegation considers that:• A national knowledge and innovation

system for urban development needs to be developed.

• A uniting actor is needed to continuous-ly and systematically coordinate funding, monitoring, dissemination of findings and implementation of knowledge.

• A substantial increase in research appro-priations in the field of urban develop-ment is needed in order to safeguard an efficient, Swedish knowledge and inno-vation system for urban development.

• A cross-sector approach needs to be taken to educational programmes at the university level.

• Development initiatives are needed that build bridges between genuine academic research and purely practical activities. Forms need to be developed to ensure that groups other than researchers are engaged in university research within established research disciplines and involved in open knowledge production.

An analysis of Swedish research in the area of urban development has also been performed. The analysis shows that the research is divided and inadequate in relation to the knowledge requirements. Less than one percent of the total research funding awarded goes to cross-sector research in the field of urban development.

The applications received for financial sup-port highlight the difficulties associated with applying new and innovative solutions in urban development contexts in practice. The Delega-tion can therefore establish that there is a need for government initiatives to stimulate more rapid development. In a strategic research vision, the Delegation describes its view of what kinds of initiatives are needed.

Export of environmental technology and sustainable urban developmentThe point of departure when the Delegation was appointed was - and still is - that the urban problems can be turned into opportunities and that Sweden can continue to play a role in a glo-bal context as a pioneer country and exporter of technology and knowledge in the field of urban development.

This ambition constitutes the backdrop to the Delegation having participated in several international contexts together with the Swedish Trade Council and the Government’s Secretariat for the Promotion of Swedish Environmental

Technology in China, with the explicit aim of both disseminating knowledge about Swed-ish experiences and of promoting the export of Swedish green technology and knowledge. In partnership with Swedish actors and using Swedish examples, these activities open doors for Swedish green technology companies and contribute to the exchange of experience be-tween foreign and Swedish actors. The Swedish initiative to appoint a delegation for sustainable cities has been positively received in interna-tional circles.

Sweden’s ambition to be a pioneer has also been a starting-point for the Delegation’s efforts to formulate a strategic research vision. This vi-sion emphasises that investment in research and development is necessary in order to ensure that Swedish export is based on new and relevant knowledge.

Success for Swedish exports in the environ-mental field also breeds success for sustainable development on a global scale.

Sweden can continue to have a pioneering role as an exporter of knowledge and technology in a global context.

78129_Engelsk.indd 33 2011-11-21 09.14

The Hammarby sjöstad information centre, GlashusEtt, in Stockholm had 14 000 visi-tors in 2010. Most of these were visitors

from overseas. Heads of state, community plan-ners, researchers and school students came to learn about the district’s environmental initia-tives. “The Hammarby Model”, with integrated solutions for waste disposal, water treatment and energy efficiency, is attractive. Public transport with attractive choices between boats, trams and car pools makes an impression. The fine architec-ture with distinct and green choices of material is impressive.

The success factors behind the district now being able to display solutions and systems that attract international attention are numerous:• A powerful environmental programme that was

developed with political consensus.• A strong leadership team with a clear responsi-

bility for planning the district.• The involvement of many different builders to

achieve something somewhat out of the ordinary.• Additional investment funding to the project

that came from the Government’s initiative to provide financial backing to local investment projects (LIP).

This additional government funding helped to develop solutions that would not otherwise have emerged. It was quite simply a bolder venture, but more money being available did make a differ-ence. As members of the Delegation, we can now see similar things happening around Sweden – project implementers being a little bolder when they are given the opportunity to test their ideas, have them acknowledged and rewarded.

In a few years’ time, we will start to see the results of the efforts of support recipients and the extra money that has been put to good use and made a difference. The many new showcases that have received support from the Delegation will show that a little more investment in the sustain-able city will be recouped many times over.

Success factors for a well-visited showcase Kerstin Blix, Consultant at Kerstin Blix AB and a member of the Delegation


A foreign delegation being shown round Hammarby sjöstad.

78129_Engelsk.indd 34 2011-11-21 09.14

Crown Princess Victoria and Trade Minis-ter Ewa Björling try out SymbioCity at the climate conference COP15 in Copenhagen in December 2010.

The simulation game SymbioCity Scenarios has been developed in cooperation with several agencies and

organisations. For fifteen minutes, the player – the city mayor – has a predetermined budget with which to make strategic invest-ments in sustainable urban development. The game is available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Russian and can be down-loaded from symbiocity.org. With a clear message and simple teaching methods, the game spreads knowledge about the impor-tance of taking a holistic approach to urban planning. SymbioCity is a brand name that encapsulates Swedish tradition and experi-ence in resource-efficiency and sustainable urban development.


Today’s showcases are important when foreign mayors and governors come to visit and they are of major importance

for many Swedish export companies. Such visits often lead to assignments for Swedish consultants to perform feasibility studies, which in turn often generate major business opportunities for other Swedish companies.

Sweden’s greatest advantage from an inter-national perspective lies in its resource- efficiency and holistic approach. We are world leaders at developing cooperation models for urban planning and at generat-ing synergy effects. We must continue to market these outstanding skills. We must also continue to support new showcase projects, so that we can remain at the cutting edge. The Swedish export industry creates growth and employment in Sweden and is of crucial significance for the country’s future.

Exports can also be strengthened if we

consider how we package and market Swed-ish experience of urban development more carefully. Knowledge can be found along the entire chain – from planning expertise, a systems approach including ecosystems, to technical solutions, architecture, processes and methods of cooperation. If we can make all the links in the chain more visible, we can also contribute to a more sustainable world.

We are the best in the world at cooperation and synergies Johan Marcus, Vice President of Business Areas Swedish Trade Council and a member of the Delegation

”Sweden’s greatest advantage from an

international perspective lies in its resource-efficiency and holistic approach.

78129_Engelsk.indd 35 2011-11-21 09.14


The support applications – a unique source of knowledge and future workIn 2009-2011, the Delegation for Sustainable Cities received 250 applications for financial support to fund investments that promote sustainable urban development. The applications constitute unique material that can provide a picture of how municipalities and other appli-cants work with sustainable urban development, what objectives they establish, what they wish to achieve in the short term and what they think is possible in the longer term. Every application – including the less successful ones – contains important knowledge and can serve as an inspir-ing example.

The applications reflect the vision of the sustainable cityThe applications reflect an awareness about the complex issues and major challenges that cities face. Against this background, the applicants provide a picture or vision of the sustainable and attractive city. Although substantially simplified, they paint a picture that focuses especially on the physical form of the sustainable city and the everyday life it enables. In many respects, this

picture is concordant with and clearly reflects the fact that Swedish cities, in relation to many cities in other parts of the world, have a favour-able basis on which to build.

An important starting-point in many applica-tions is the desire to create a lively city with its own distinctive features.

A sustainable city is a beautiful city with compact districts, varied architecture, public artwork, open spaces, squares, water, vegetation and parks. It is a city that, instead of laying claim to valuable agricultural land, strives to make use of brownfield sites and docklands. It is a coherent city that encourages cycling and walk-ing - that is not dominated by road traffic and dissected by thoroughfares. It is a multifaceted city that mixes housing, work and services with an extensive range of culture, meeting-places and restaurants. And it is a city that encourages human and social diversity, meetings and discus-sions between people, a city free of ill-health and the fear of violence and criminality – a city characterised by trust.

The city of the future is an environmentally sustainable one. It offers clean air, clean water and clean water to drink. It has a very limited

What is “the sustainable city”?

Energy use will be halved after the refurbishment.

78129_Engelsk.indd 36 2011-11-21 09.14

Our Swedish cities are old, well-man-aged and dynamic. There is nothing to suggest that they are likely to collapse

in the foreseeable future. Over time, they have adapted to different internal and external pre-conditions. Change is part of city life.

At the same time, the older parts of the city and its structure have demonstrated tenac-ity and historical continuity. Our cities are basically quite sustainable. We must bear this perspective in mind when considering what the major climate challenges involve.

We must preserve and develop the value it represents. Not construct buildings to then later demolish them, but to maintain. What we build must be of high quality and strength-en the city, add new qualities and be designed for long-term use. In its older parts, the city can be seen as a structure, an interacting com-bination of buildings and flows. Newer cities seldom possess this quality but are instead

characterised by dominant sector interests, especially road traffic, and by urban sprawl.

We must see the changes in external and internal conditions that can undermine the city’s sustainability. Large-scale investment which we make now must be attractive and be possible to operate within a tighter framework and using energy sources other than fossil fuel. Misplaced investment not only means resourc-es down the drain but will also make a future transition even more abrupt.

Our current housing stock can only be changed slowly; this is a major and critical

challenge. We have too few homes in our ex-panding cities and a distribution of dwellings that does not cater for the growing number of small households.

Road traffic and urban development went hand in hand during the 20th century. But the car demands too much space, pollutes the environment and over longer distances is too slow to constitute the backbone of a sustain-able transport system.

The city is not built on the basis of a single plan or individual will. It is formed in a col-laboration between many different demands, concerted actions and time, which is the great city planner.

Time is the great city planner Erland Ullstad, architect in Växjö and a member of the Delegation

”Our cities are basically quite sustainable. We must

bear this perspective in mind when considering what the major climate challenges involve.


78129_Engelsk.indd 37 2011-11-24 12.57

impact on the climate: it is transport-efficient with extensive public transport, cycle-paths and footpaths, car pools that reduce the need for pri-vate cars. The car is no longer necessary in order to move around the city centre and its environs.

The sustainable city is energy-smart and cli-mate-neutral. Just as much energy is produced in the city as is consumed. All the energy produced and consumed is renewable, often from the sun and wind. District heating is based on renewable or waste fuel. Geothermal energy sources are utilised wherever possible. Food waste is used to produce biogas and heat is recovered from the wastewater. The scope for storing heat and cool air is utilised in new ways. Smart metering is available in every home and office, allowing residents and businesses to influence costs.

The goal is zero emissions of greenhouse gases. The amount of carbon emitted is no greater than the amount captured.

The sustainable city is part of the sustainable society, in which we both individually and to-gether seek a lifestyle that considers the environ-ment and the restrictions imposed upon it by the threat to our climate.

Acity emerges over the course of centuries and decades and each stage is important to safeguard for

cultural and historical reasons. This is also true of urban development in the 1970s. Each stage tells us something important about the architecture of the era and about the prevailing social and economic conditions. And every generation makes mistakes to learn from in the future. One important lesson is that no single genera-tion knows the ultimate truth. Every vi-sion is bound by time and must therefore be treated as provisional.

We only have to look back a few dec-ades in Swedish city planning to under-stand how people’s values change. Once upon a time, the dream of the future was woven around the car and the suburban home, now it focuses on the centrally located home with large glass windows on the waterfront. We can perhaps imagine that tomorrow’s values will place greater emphasis on an ecologically and ethically sustainable lifestyle.

In light of this, it is important for us to humbly ask ourselves what future genera-tions might ask for. This issue is part of what can be described as a ‘navigational’ approach - a way of daring to reflect and plan for the future without thinking we already have the perfect solution in our hand.

Plan the city for future generations Peter Örn, Chair of the Delegation


Phot

o:H

asse

Hol

mbe

rg/S

canp

ix

78129_Engelsk.indd 38 2011-11-21 09.14


”To be able to realise a systems perspective, technical solutions

and lifestyles must underpin and positively reinforce each other.”

In November 2010, the Delegation for Sustain-able Cities invited around 10 researchers and practitioners to a round-table discussion on the

city of the future. The driving forces and counter forces that influence the prerequisites for realising visions of sustainable cities on a social policy level were among the items discussed at the meeting. A brief summary of the conclusions reached at the meeting is given below.

In visions and scenarios, the image of the sus-tainable and attractive city of the future is often portrayed as unproblematic. Unifying visions drive development forward but often have given rise to unintended negative side-effects.

Despite relative consensus on the vision and the route to take to get there, not all the actions taken are compatible with the vision. There are forces on the overall societal level that either drive forward or apply the brakes on development. To uncover these more quickly, we sometimes need to take a step back and refocus, take a more analytical perspective and get help to navigate our way through this process.

The climate threat, regionalisation, changed values and attitudes as regards what constitutes quality of life are among the powerful driving forces. Changes to working life and workplace organisation can lead in the long term to city dwellers demanding more

attractive and sustainable urban environments that underpin an enlightened urban lifestyle. As the borders between working life and recreation dissolve, public environments will become even more impor-tant arenas for professional networking and social intercourse.

The difficulty of realising the systems perspec-tive is one of the counter forces. A city is a com-plete unit which calls for a systems perspective and actors who cooperate. This can sometimes be exacerbated by differences in the decision-making processes and economic time perspectives of pub-lic and private actors. Furthermore, different actors often have different points of departure. Planners and architects, for instance, represent a holistic per-spective, while actors with a specialised economic perspective often disregard holistic considerations.

To be able to realise a systems perspective, technical solutions and lifestyles must underpin and positively reinforce each other. A question of considerable importance in this context is how far society can go in its endeavour to recognise and

steer a course towards sustainable behaviour and lifestyles with the aid of new technology and nor-mative regulations.

Freedom also belongs to the sustainable and at-tractive city of the future. A counter force against rapid change is a general scepticism towards social interventions in the market. Tools for driving forward change and for reaching consensus include public dis-cussion and debate, social media and digital meeting-places. These tools facilitate horizontal cooperation. Simple financial incentives, such as carbon taxes and congestion charges, are other effective tools.

In the holistic planning vision, the human is at the centre. On the societal level, this means that urban development must adopt a welfare reasoning which takes the link between city and health into consideration. At the same time, however, there is uncertainty over the relationship between physical planning and people’s well-being.

An important question is whether mental diseases, insecurity, solitude and middle-class stress when faced with the “jigsaw of life” can be alleviated by better urban planning. Architects have a respon-sibility here to enlist the help of other professionals, such as behavioural scientists, anthropologists and sociologists, in the process of investigating and shap-ing public space.

Driving forces and counter forces in our endeavours towards the sustainable city of the future

78129_Engelsk.indd 39 2011-11-21 09.14


With the help of Swedish embassies, the Delegation for Sustainable Cities has gathered information on best practice,

developmental trends and national programmes within the field of urban development in 20 countries around the world - Denmark, Nor-way, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Finland, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands,

the United States, Canada, Brazil, Ecuador, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, China, India, Kenya and South Africa. More information can be found online at hallbarastader.gov.se

The report shows that several countries are work-ing with best practice with the aim of providing inspiration on the national level and for interna-

What is being done in the rest of the world?

The German city of Freiburg and Masdar City in Abu Dhabi (right) are examples of pioneering sus-tainable urban development projects.

© M

asda

r C

ity

78129_Engelsk.indd 40 2011-11-21 09.14

In the next generation, the global population is expected to rise by 50 percent. Most of these nearly three

billion people will end up in cities, cities in what we often call developing coun-tries, cities that are dilapidated and have large slums. One billion people already live in slums. And yet the greatest chal-lenge is not to regenerate these areas but to create completely new city districts that do not grow uncontrollably. We must build new cities to last in the long term.

Cities are not therefore a threat. On the contrary, well-planned and productive cit-ies can be the best alternative. But for the cities of tomorrow to be sustainable for the majority of the population, they must be more economically productive than

is currently the case. A sound economy is a prerequisite for social sustainability, as long as the wealth is fairly distributed among all the inhabitants. This will then create the skills and resources required to bring about investment in better envi-ronmental systems, in the research and development of new technologies and approaches. The solutions of tomorrow can then be scaled up and have a broad impact.

Economically productive cities – a prerequisite for social sustainability Lars Reuterswärd, Director of Mistra Urban Futures, Vice Chancellor’s Advisory Board, Chalmers Univer-sity of Technology and a member of the Delegation

tional marketing. Some countries have national initiatives with financial support available for separate urban development measures such as individual buildings and transport projects. Several countries present initiatives on renewable energy and climate-smart transport solutions, often with the aim of being carbon-neutral.

In Tübingen and Freiburg in southern Ger-many, there are far-reaching urban development projects that attract many visitors. Urban devel-opment projects that aspire to being internation-al best practice examples can be found in Masdar City in Abu Dhabi and Borgå-Skaftkärr outside Helsinki. China is building and developing cities at a furious pace and has explicit ambitions to build “eco-cities”. This is being done with the support of international actors from developing countries. It is clear that many of these cutting-edge projects have taken inspiration from Ham-marby sjöstad.

There are several interesting, expansive exam-ples in Austria and Canada.

Austria’s initiatives are based on a long tradition of local Agenda 21 work and Canada invested heavily in the run-up to the Winter Ol-ympics in Vancouver in 2010. In Europe, France and Ireland are pioneering projects that have the ambition to include social aspects.


”The greatest challenge lies in creating completely

new city districts that do not grow uncontrollably

78129_Engelsk.indd 41 2011-11-21 09.14


The Delegation for Sustainable Cities was appointed by the Swedish Government in the autumn of 2008 with the mission to promote the sustainable development of

cities, urban communities and housing areas. The Delegation is working together with municipalities, the business sector and other parties and is to implement a variety of measures aimed at improving the conditions for sustainable urban development. These initiatives will constitute a national arena for sustainable urban development. The Delegation will present its final report in December 2012.

The mission includes: contributing to knowledge develop-ment; supporting existing initiatives; collecting and dissemi-nating best practice examples; promoting dialogue and coor-dinating different sectors and skills; facilitating public-private cooperation; strengthening the development, use and export of green technology; and promoting international cooperation on sustainable urban development. The Delegation shall also compile experiences and examples from its work and from the support projects and make them publicly available.

To begin with, the Delegation’s mission was to run from the autumn of 2008 until the end of December 2010 but has since

been extended for a further two years. The renewed mission means that the Delegation will continue to implement various measures that focus on and make a long-term contribution to improving the conditions for sustainable urban development. During 2011–2012, the Delegation is to concentrate its efforts on:• Following, supporting and constituting meeting-places for

sustainable city projects• Reporting experiences and best practice• Promoting the development and export of green technology• Strengthening the social dimension of sustainable urban

development• Promoting cooperation on research and development• Identifying obstacles to sustainable urban development and

proposals for measures and solutions

The Delegation shall also administrate the financial support provided by central government for sustainable urban develop-ment.

More information on the Delegation’s mission and work can be found at www.hallbarastader.gov.se.

The Delegation for Sustainable Cities– a national arena for sustainable urban development

78129_Engelsk.indd 42 2011-11-21 09.14

78129_Engelsk.indd 43 2011-11-21 09.14

The Delegation for Sustainable CitiesPostal address: SE-103 33 StockholmVisiting address: Karlavägen 100A, 9th floor

www.hallbarastader.gov.se

78129_Engelsk.indd 44 2011-11-24 13.01

Documents

Sustainable Cities