The City of Stockholm

Since 1995, the City of Stockholm has worked systematically and efficiently to protect our climate. During this time the emissions per inhabitant of Stockholm have been reduced by around 25% from the levels of the base year of 1990. In real figures, this means the emissions have been reduced by 500,000 tonnes of CO2, while the population has grown by 60,000 inhabitants. In 2005, the emissions per capita in Stockholm were down to four tonnes a year, compared to the 5.3 tonnes of 1990.

Of crucial importance for the Stockholm success story has been the early decision to go from theory to practice; policies have been matched by concrete action to reach the overall goals. Furthermore, the achievements would not have been possible without collaboration with stakeholders outside the city’s own organisation, such as private companies and not least the citizens of Stockholm.

City initiatives

A great number of measures have already been carried out and there are at least 50 in progress – ranging from physical investments to awareness rising – in the fields of heating, energy use, transportation and waste management. A few of the principle areas in which the City of Stockholm is active are presented in brief here.

District Heating: Stockholm’s district heating network is one of the most developed in the world. The vast majority of the city’s households are connected to the district heating network, and the system is gradually being converted to biofuel. Apart from significantly reduced levels of greenhouse gases, the extension of the network greatly benefitted the air quality in the city.

Clean Vehicles Programme: Traffic is the main source of health hazardous emissions and noise, and also of greenhouse gas emissions in Stockholm. To reduce emissions and noise, the City of Stockholm has initiated the project, Clean Vehicles in Stockholm, with the objective of reaching a market breakthrough for clean vehicles.

The work to promote biofuel-driven, light and heavy vehicles has been extensive. Thanks to the persistent work and policies, e.g. exemption from congestion charges and free local residence parking for clean vehicles, a market breakthrough for clean vehicles can now be seen. From zero in the early 1990s, approximately 40% of all new sold cars in the Stockholm region are today biofuel vehicles (January 2008).

Congestion charges: During rush hour the Stockholm traffic system comes close to its maximum capacity. Congestion charges were implemented as a one-year trial in August 2005 and made permanent in August 2007. The trial reduced emissions of greenhouse gases by around 14% within the city, while the inner city traffic was reduced by approximately 20%.

The revenue of the trial period was used to improve the public transport system. At present it supports new infrastructure schemes. Clean vehicles are exempted from charges.

Fossil fuel free public transport: Every day, more than 700 000 people travel with the Stockholm public transport system. The region´s public transport company, run by the County Council, has passed a resolution to become fossil-fuel free by 2021. The underground and commuter trains already run on energy from renewable sources, and buses will run on 50% of renewable energy by 2011.

Communication projects: During the last four to five years, the City of Stockholm has carried out several interactive communication projects with a range of stakeholders: from youth, to business and industry, to car owners, to city employees and citizens in general, with the overall aim to communicate the City Council’s target – Fossil Fuel Free Stockholm 2050 – and to encourage people and companies to take action. Generally, the projects have been found to be cost-efficient measures to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.

Political support

This systematic climate work in Stockholm over the last decade has naturally generated attention and interest on the political scene. Political commitment to the climate issue is logically a decisive success factor, since there would be no way to carry out the programmes without this support. The goals, which have been clear and set to be reached within a limited time, have been adopted at the highest political level. They have been matched by comprehensible action plans, showing the actual input and funding required.

No single city, nation or organisation can turn the tide in relation to climate change, but together we can have an impact. We believe that by continuing to be a good example of successful climate initiatives the City of Stockholm can make a difference for a positive development. The overall target for the City of Stockholm is a fossil fuel free city by 2050. A proposed intermediate goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to three tonnes of CO2 by 2015 has recently been adopted by the Stockholm City Council.

W: www.stockholm.se/klimat