Press release
18 December 2012
Ministry of the Environment
The Delegation for Sustainable Cities
Take action now
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, rapid global urbanization and the realization that it is our cities that hold the key to solving the climate issue.
The Delegation has been active from September 2008 to December 2012 and has implemented different measures that help to improve the conditions for the development of sustainable cities.
The Delegation has adopted a financial support package to stimulate sustainable urban development projects. Important foundations for the Delegation have been established and are now presented in a policy for sustainable cities:
Take Action Now
Take Action Now - A Policy for Sustainable Cities
The policy contains the following ten recommendations:
The crucial role of residents
The most important actors in cities are, not surprisingly,
the people who live there. Sustainable urban development
is dependent on peoples capacity to understand problems,
change their values and adopt new ways of thinking. The
climate issue is also about behaviours and ultimately about
peoples survival.
Combine the ability to take action
with a long-term approach. The main aspects of a sustainable urban development strategy include insight into the limitations of development, strong leadership, broad dialogue, mobilization and the ability to take action combined with a long-term approach. The need for measures covers a broad range of sectors. A genuine transition goes hand in hand with a new interpretation of welfare and requires a different set of fundamental values.
Renewal takes time and we therefore have no time to lose!
Invest in best practice examples
Projects that go a step further and can be exhibited to the
international community drive forward development. The
Delegation has awarded financial support to 98 pioneer projects throughout Sweden. Knowledge transfer from both the Delegations projects and from other best practice examples is now needed. Financial support also needs to be given to new projects that help to drive forward the transition.
Use leverage
Government support provides leverage at several stages since best practice inspires local applications on a broad
scale. Investments in showcase projects with climate benefit and other sustainability aspects in focus will be recouped many times over when experiences are disseminated to many actors.
More research and innovation
The funding for research, development, innovation and
showcase examples in the field of urban development needs
to increase. To create breakthroughs and progress, experimental activities and innovation are required. Sweden must develop a broader, more systematic and dynamic approach to knowledge and innovation as regards urban development than currently is the case.
Reduce isolationism work across the sectors
Isolationism is a clear obstacle to a sustainable transition of cities. A holistic view, cooperation, a systems approach and tenacity are required to achieve synergies and sustainability in all dimensions. It is a political task to facilitate cross-sector cooperation, but better training and education, new platforms and different planning tools are also required.
Invest in the renewal of the million-homes project
Renewal and refurbishment in the million-homes areas are
both a challenge and a major opportunity. The areas must
be included in the urban fabric and be on an equal footing
instead of isolated peripheral developments. This is also a
question of investing in and incorporating a social capital in the living environment.
Improve the regulatory framework
The regulatory framework must be better coordinated to promote and drive forward sustainable urban development. Prohibitive regulations should be identified and phased out. The Public Procurement Act, the Planning and Building Act, the Environmental Code, traffic legislation and the environmental objectives system with the environmental quality objective A Good Built Environment are among the instruments that perhaps need to be reviewed and better coordinated.
Strengthen international exchange
International cooperation and knowledge exchange are required to achieve sustainable urban development. The building-up of institutional capacity in recipient countries by Swedish and international actors is a basis for long-term results. Business models for export must also be based on local needs and prerequisites. Exchange and the Swedish export of know-how in the field of sustainable urban development need to be safeguarded by implementing knowledge development measures.
National focus on sustainable cities is needed
A national urban policy is an instrument that can be used to coordinate the sector interests of central government and to lend support to regional and local work on sustainable urban development. An important reason for developing a national urban policy is to eliminate obstacles that hinder cooperation between public and private interests, for example regulatory frameworks and financial models.
18 December 2012
Ministry of the Environment
The Delegation for Sustainable Cities
Take action now
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, rapid global urbanization and the realization that it is our cities that hold the key to solving the climate issue.
The Delegation has been active from September 2008 to December 2012 and has implemented different measures that help to improve the conditions for the development of sustainable cities.
The Delegation has adopted a financial support package to stimulate sustainable urban development projects. Important foundations for the Delegation have been established and are now presented in a policy for sustainable cities:
Take Action Now
Take Action Now - A Policy for Sustainable Cities
The policy contains the following ten recommendations:
The crucial role of residents
The most important actors in cities are, not surprisingly,
the people who live there. Sustainable urban development
is dependent on peoples capacity to understand problems,
change their values and adopt new ways of thinking. The
climate issue is also about behaviours and ultimately about
peoples survival.
Combine the ability to take action
with a long-term approach. The main aspects of a sustainable urban development strategy include insight into the limitations of development, strong leadership, broad dialogue, mobilization and the ability to take action combined with a long-term approach. The need for measures covers a broad range of sectors. A genuine transition goes hand in hand with a new interpretation of welfare and requires a different set of fundamental values.
Renewal takes time and we therefore have no time to lose!
Invest in best practice examples
Projects that go a step further and can be exhibited to the
international community drive forward development. The
Delegation has awarded financial support to 98 pioneer projects throughout Sweden. Knowledge transfer from both the Delegations projects and from other best practice examples is now needed. Financial support also needs to be given to new projects that help to drive forward the transition.
Use leverage
Government support provides leverage at several stages since best practice inspires local applications on a broad
scale. Investments in showcase projects with climate benefit and other sustainability aspects in focus will be recouped many times over when experiences are disseminated to many actors.
More research and innovation
The funding for research, development, innovation and
showcase examples in the field of urban development needs
to increase. To create breakthroughs and progress, experimental activities and innovation are required. Sweden must develop a broader, more systematic and dynamic approach to knowledge and innovation as regards urban development than currently is the case.
Reduce isolationism work across the sectors
Isolationism is a clear obstacle to a sustainable transition of cities. A holistic view, cooperation, a systems approach and tenacity are required to achieve synergies and sustainability in all dimensions. It is a political task to facilitate cross-sector cooperation, but better training and education, new platforms and different planning tools are also required.
Invest in the renewal of the million-homes project
Renewal and refurbishment in the million-homes areas are
both a challenge and a major opportunity. The areas must
be included in the urban fabric and be on an equal footing
instead of isolated peripheral developments. This is also a
question of investing in and incorporating a social capital in the living environment.
Improve the regulatory framework
The regulatory framework must be better coordinated to promote and drive forward sustainable urban development. Prohibitive regulations should be identified and phased out. The Public Procurement Act, the Planning and Building Act, the Environmental Code, traffic legislation and the environmental objectives system with the environmental quality objective A Good Built Environment are among the instruments that perhaps need to be reviewed and better coordinated.
Strengthen international exchange
International cooperation and knowledge exchange are required to achieve sustainable urban development. The building-up of institutional capacity in recipient countries by Swedish and international actors is a basis for long-term results. Business models for export must also be based on local needs and prerequisites. Exchange and the Swedish export of know-how in the field of sustainable urban development need to be safeguarded by implementing knowledge development measures.
National focus on sustainable cities is needed
A national urban policy is an instrument that can be used to coordinate the sector interests of central government and to lend support to regional and local work on sustainable urban development. An important reason for developing a national urban policy is to eliminate obstacles that hinder cooperation between public and private interests, for example regulatory frameworks and financial models.
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