Malmö:
Local Agenda 21 Environmental Program and Action Plan
Malmö:
| |
| Country: | a) Northern Europe | ,b) Sweden |
| Language: | |
| Type: | Resolution, 1 |
| Area: | City/Town, 100,000 - 1 mill. |
| Actors: | Local government |
| Funding: | Local government |
| Topics: | Environmental education |
| Information and public participation | |
| Objectives: | Improve access to information |
| Improve environmental efficiency | |
| Increase public awareness | |
| Instruments: | Integrated planning approach |
| Public participation |
As with most local authorities in Sweden, Malmö has been actively working on a Local Agenda 21 (LA 21) since the mid-1990s. Malmö's LA 21 initiative was unanimously adopted by Malmö City Council in 1997. Through this the City wants to present itself as a model for sustainable development in both its day to day work and long-term planning. An emphasis is placed on informing and motivating the public to take action to improve the local environment and health of the population. Specific goals and actions are identified in several different plans and programs. Malmö's LA 21 is considered to be a significant initiative as:
While LA 21 is in theory an all-encompassing project, Malmö's LA 21 is in essence an expanded local environmental program, building on a history of environmental planning. Still, the consideration for environmental problems as well as for human health is comprehensive, and a long-term view is emphasized in Malmö's LA 21. Following are some of the main aspects of this LA 21:
The Local Agenda 21 document for the City of Malmö, described as a "blueprint for a quality environment and sustainable development", deals with the entire city, and encompasses a description of the current situation, guidelines for further development and a Vision of a sustainable Malmö. A review of current problems concentrates on environmental issues such as air and water quality, threats to biodiversity and resource consumption. The Vision of a sustainable Malmö provides images of a more democratic society, a reduction in the use of single occupancy vehicles, a stronger local economy, reductions in resource use, and in general a greener and healthier city. The LA 21 document also offers Four Requirements for Sustainable Development, Four Important Principles, and a Guide to Environmentally Sound Decision-Making.
Malmo's LA 21 is being publicized and implemented through a variety of programs and projects, including the Environmental Stategy for the City of Malmö 1998-2002, urban development plans, City District participatory structures, programs related to food, alcohol and smoking, and City initiatives dealing with traffic, waste, water and open and green spaces. A children's book has been published dealing with environmental issues that has been distributed to every child in the City who is 6,7, or 8 years of age (about 10,000 copies). Relevant films have been made and distributed, exhibitions have been organized in local libraries, and a data-base is being created that describes Malmö's ecological systems. A monthly Agenda 21 newsletter is produced and 30,000 copies are distributed around the City.
The 1998-2002 City Environmental Strategy was established by the Council of Malmö as a replacement of the environmental strategy from 1990. This involves a range of initiatives and for each topical area defines existing problems and then offers specific goals and action plans to address the problems. It is intended that the goals and action plans, while flexible, should be incorporated into all Malmö City departments. The planning process has involved experts from municipal departments, local urban district committees and private companies. Citizens groups have been given opportunities to propose actions. Progress in implementing the Strategy will be evaluated, for example through new environmental management systems (EMAS). The Environmental Strategy includes 16 different problem areas and goals, dealing with such issues as green house gases, ozone, land and water resources, indoor climate and public health work. Eight separate action plans are described which deal with challenges such as water and energy usage, traffic, production and consumption, waste, and education.
The City of Malmö, along with the surrounding Skane (Scania) Province, is participating in the EMASSER Project with three other regions from around western Europe. This involves an implementation of the EMAS environmental management system in local governmental authorities. This comes from the recognition that municipalities and other local organizations can be important as role models, for example in the demonstration of sustainable procurement and purchasing practices. As the City improves its own practices with regard to sustainable criteria, it is hoped that citizens as well as local organizations both public and private will be inspired to work in support of sustainability. EMASSER is supported by the European Union with the objective of developing environmental management models for municipalities and service sector organizations.
A Green Map has been produced as a guide to sustainable projects around Malmö. Hundreds of places and initiatives are located on a map that is available free of charge, with information in both Swedish and English. The second edition was published in 1997, which was locally funded and had the assistance of maps from the Malmö City Planning Department. The concept is based on the international Green Map System which began in 1992 in New York City.
Malmö LA 21 objectives are also being realized through some significant urban development initiatives such as the Ekostaden Augustenborg. This is the collective name for a program to make the Augustenborg area into a more socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable neighborhood and is one of Sweden's largest urban sustainability projects. Augustenborg, built in the 1940s, has in recent decades been hit harder than most areas of Sweden by patterns of economic and social decline, and is now being rejuvenated by a long-term redevelopment process that has a focus in the Ekostaden program. This urban renewal project involves a participatory planning process, innovative local mobility initiatives such as the world's first electric road train and an integration of social and ecological interests. (see SURBAN case study: Malmö: Ekostaden Augustenborg, Sustainable Regeneration of an urban neighborhood)
Bo01 - a European Housing Exposition scheduled for May 11 - September 9, 2001 - is sited on a 'post-industrial' waterfront in Malmö. Bo01, also referred to as the City of Tomorrow, is the first phase of a long-term development plan for the Västra Hamnen (Western Harbour) area in Malmö. The Exposition consists of two parts: a newly constructed urban district with about 800 apartments and a temporary exhibition regarding "The City of Tomorrow in the ecologically sustainable information and welfare society." (see SURBAN case study: Malmö: Bo01, City of Tomorrow: European Building Exhibition and sustainable redevelopment of industrial waterfront)
LA 21 in Malmö is based in the City Department of Environmental and Public Health Protection. There is a City District system with an LA 21 coordinator for each of these 14 areas of Malmö. The City also participates in a regional LA 21 network, "Agenda 21-forum Skane." This cooperative structure involves local authroities, county administration, regional council, universities, private companies and NGOs in Scania, Sweden's southernmost Province.
Malmö LA 21 efforts in the year 2000 enjoyed a financing of about 4 million Swedish Kr. About 2 million of this supports a staff of four people, and the other half of the budget goes toward the City's "Environmental Fund." This Fund is available to assist local District Councils and citizens groups in implementing their projects. Local projects can include everything from public events to the greening of school yards.
Malmö, Environmental Department 1997. Local Agenda 21, document for the City of Malmö.
Malmö, Department of Environmental and Public Health Protection 1998. Environmental Strategy for the City of Malmö 1998-2002.
Agenda 21 Malmö
www.miljo.malmo.se/agenda21.htm
Agenda 21-forum Skane
www.agenda21forumskane.nu
City of Malmö
www.malmo.se/english/welcome
Malmö Environmental Department
www.miljo.malmo.se
EMASSER: European Union environmental management system for local authorities
www.emasser.nu
Green Map System
www.greenmap.com
| Name | : | Abrahamson |
| Firstname | : | Asa |
| Telefon | : | ++46 40 342067 |
| Telefax | : | ++46 40 304105 |
| Address | : | The Environmental Department |
| The City of Malmö | ||
| SE-205 80 Malmö | ||
| Sweden |
| Name | : | Gisby |
| Firstname | : | Birgitta |
| Telefon | : | +46 40 342053 |
| Telefax | : | +46 40 304105 |
| Address | : | The Environmental Department |
| The City of Malmö | ||
| SE-205 80 Malmö | ||
| Sweden |
Malmö is Sweden’s third largest municipality and the commercial center for southern Sweden. The City’s population has increased over the last decade due to significant immigration, and about 25% of Malmö’s residents have foreign roots.
The historical City District is surrounded by a system of canals and bridges. While Malmö has long been a well-established trade city, including links by water, land, and air, Malmö is now connected to Copenhagen through the Øresund Bridge, which was opened on July 1, 2000. The Øresund ”Fixed Link” is both a tunnel and a bridge between Sweden and Denmark, and includes both a new motorway and railway.
The new Malmö University places an emphasis on multi-disciplinary research in collaboration with many regional public and private institutions. There are about 9,000 companies in Malmö and approx. 120,000 jobs. Malmö is making significant efforts to transform itself from a city of industry to being a city of culture and research, but in the transition is having to deal with considerable unemployment.
Project was added at 05.09.2001
Project was changed at 05.09.2001