Climate-neutral Karlskrona 2030

How do we create a good life for everyone - within the planetary boundaries?
This is the central question in the project Climate Neutral Karlskrona 2030, where Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH), together with Karlskrona municipality and local actors, is driving the transition towards climate neutrality. Through expertise in strategic municipal and regional development for sustainability, BTH contributes to shaping the sustainable city of the future.

Part of a national mission

The project is part of Viable Cities, a strategic innovation program for climate-neutral and sustainable cities supported by the Swedish Energy Agency, Vinnova, and Formas. The mission is clear: climate neutrality by 2030. To achieve this, changes are needed that permeate the whole of society - from childcare and housing to procurement and mobility. At the same time, climate action provides major added benefits, such as cleaner air, greener urban environments and better health.

BTH is co-leading the project with the municipality and contributing expertise in sustainable municipal and regional development. By applying the eight sustainability principles according to FSSD (Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development) and working in close dialogue with local actors, the mission is concretized in a Karlskrona context through four tracks:

• Concrete activities in current focus areas, such as reuse in the construction sector
• Communication and inclusion for broad participation
• Joint reflection and exchange between actors
• Planning processes to support an effective transition

The project kicked off in earnest on September 11 with an inspiring backcasting-style workshop, where 60 participants gathered to strengthen local collaboration. Among other things, participants were invited to take a mental time travel to the year 2030 - to create memories of the future and imagine a climate-neutral Karlskrona with a good life for everyone.

To succeed, all actors in society need to work in the same direction, based on their conditions and roles. Starting with the kick-off, Karlskrona is now mobilizing to improve how we collaborate, finance and procure. In addition to the municipality and BTH, Affärsverken, Naturskyddsföreningen and GodaHus are active project partners in the work.

Within the strategic innovation program Viable Cities, lessons learned are shared between cities so that good solutions can be quickly disseminated. Through its research contribution, BTH strengthens the ability to speed up the transition - not only in Karlskrona, but also in other cities that want to lead the way.

The mobilization also takes place in interaction with the EU's initiatives on climate-neutral cities by 2030.