With the Green Deal and the “Fit for 55” package, the EU has committed to cutting emissions by 55 percent by the end of this decade. For Europe’s cities, the stakes are even higher; with the EU inviting at least 100 of them to become climate neutral by 2030. But are these goals really feasible, and what changes do we need to implement to get there? What kind of support will the European cities receive?
In the process of becoming climate neutral we must not forget the people that actually live in our cities and communities. Social values and citizen involvement play a strong role in managing the change to become climate neutral. How can we secure that cities are developed for people? In the work of becoming climate neutral we must also work towards healthy, resilience and inclusive cities and communities, leaving no one behind.
Civic engagement is a key part of a city’s evolution. Input from citizens can help define the dynamic of a city. Recently, we’ve seen an uptake in the public debate about citizen participation in site development and its importance has received increasing attention. Also part of the debate is the question of both the realism and the willingness to facilitate participation – do we actually facilitate for citizens to participate or is it mostly used to create the right impression?
We all have a responsibility to reduce the climate footprint. How can we collaborate to create low emission neighborhoods and cities. To achieve this, we need systems and tools to show how to live a more sustainable life and track change. Real change stems from collaboration and the sharing of data, both at the societal and individual level.
Public spending in the Nordics can be used strategically towards a socially and economically sustainable future and to accelerate the green transition. Both the public sector and the inhabitants benefit from vendors’ smart solutions. The National Programme for Supplier Development in Denmark, Finland and Norway are working in close collaboration with public buyers and suppliers to use public procurement as a strategic tool to achieve policy objectives and priorities. The Nordic panel will discuss how, together, we can achieve the full potential of public-private cooperation through procurement, by: creating awareness from action, showcasing good examples, inspiring and mobilizing to involve even more public actors and suppliers.
The Norwegian government has ambitions to create jobs, increase exports and to cut greenhouse gas emissions through a green industrial boost. Do we have the necessary skills needed to succeed? Is there a correspondence between the need for IT and technology competence in the business world and what is taught at our universities?
This session will explore how mobility can be a key driver for sustainable urban development which enables both people and the environment to prosper. How can we use design thinking to refocus our mobility strategies to prioritize these key values? And who should be involved in this process?
Associated Workshops on 11th May:
How can Maritime Solutions change Urban Mobility?
Towards becoming climate neutral we need cross-sector and cross-boundary collaboration to build on the best ideas and the achievements from around the world. Through boundaryless exchange of concept and experiences, we can create new market opportunities for companies, new areas of research and development, and most importantly – better cities and communities for people to live in, today and for the future.
