Stockholm, European Green Capital 2010

Starting 2010, one European city will be selected each year as the European Green Capital of the year. First one out is Sweden’s capital Stockholm. Let us have a look at what makes it so green.

The Venice of the north. Ten per cent of Stockholm is water, and 95 % of the city's inhabitants live within 300 meters from green areas. Living that close to a natural environment it is no wonder that the Stockholmers strive to take good care of it.

The award is given to Stockholm because of its consistent record of achieving high environmental standards; their commitment to ongoing and ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development; and because they can act as a role model to inspire other cities and promote best practices to all other European cities.

- We want to help spread local solutions and, in that way, contribute towards meeting the global challenges of ecological stress and climate change, says Stockholm's Vice Mayor Ulla Hamilton.

Here are some of the local solutions that helped Stockholm secure the title as European Green Capital 2010:

Green areas

90% of the population live less than 300 metres from a green area. This allows for a better, local quality of life, recreation, water purification, noise reduction, and enhanced biodiversity and ecology. Stockholm has 24 official bathing beaches within the city’s boundaries, and several more are planned.

Towards a fossil fuel free city

By 2050 Stockholm has the ambition of becoming a totally fossil free city, but the city has already done much to cut its emissions. Stockholm has reduced CO2 emissions by 25% compared to the 1990 levels. CO2 emissions are now less than 4 tonnes CO2 per capita – half the national Swedish average. 69% of all households have access to district heating – and the share of renewable energy in district heating is nearly 70%.

Biogas

Biogas is produced in waste water plants, through digestion of organic waste sludge. In Hammarby eco-district, the waste water from a single household produces sufficient biogas for the household’s gas cooker. Most biogas is, currently, used as fuel in eco-friendly cars and busses. Collection of food waste for biogas production is to increase from 4,500 tonnes to 18,000 tonnes between 2008 and 2012.

Cycling
BIKING. Stockholm has 760 km of cycle lanes, and the number of bikers has increased by 75 % over the past ten years. (Photo: Michael Kodransky, ITDP-Europe.)

Waste recycling

The city has an excellent waste treatment system and uses innovative production methods such as vacuum controlled underground transportation of solid waste.

25% of the waste produced by Stockholmers is recycled, 73.5% is recovered for production of district heating (energy recovery by incineration), and 1.5% is biologically treated.

Public transport

Stockholmers use the efficient, reliable and functional public transport system frequently. 77% travel by public transport during peak hours. All inner city buses run on renewable fuels and all subways and commuter trains run on renewable electricity making them an even more environmentally sustainable means of transport.

In Stockholm, the number of people cycling has increased by 75% over the past ten years. Stockholm has 760 km of cycle lanes, and more are being built.

Congestion charge

A congestion charge was introduced in 2006 for cars traveling in and out of the inner city area during daytime hours. The emission reduction levels from congestion taxes was approximately 30,000 tonnes CO2 in the year 2006. Emission levels are down 10-14% and air quality has been improved by 2-10%. Traffic has been reduced by 20%.

ECO-PROFILE. Hammarby Waterfront is an exciting new district in Stockholm where the City has imposed tough environmental requirements on buildings, technical installations and the traffic environment, from day one. (Photo: Victoria Henriksson.)

City development

The city is building two new eco-profile residential areas, using experience gained from eco-profiled Hammarby Waterfront. Located on former brownfields, one of the new areas – Stockholm Royal Seaport – aims at being fossile fuel free by 2030, while the entire city of Stockholm is aiming to achieve this by 2050. Stockholm Royal Seaport is to be a showcase for sustainable urban construction where innovative environmental technology and creative solutions are developed, tested and presented. This city district will be an example for other cities to follow, a world-class environmental urban district.

Environmental management

Stockholm’s first Environment Programme was launched in the middle of the 1970s. The city has an Integrated Management System which ensures that environmental issues are included in the city’s budget, operational planning, reporting and monitoring. All citizens can follow the environmental monitoring on the website: miljobarometern.stockholm.se

Sources: Stockholm Green Capital 2010, European Green Capital.