Perhaps one of the most comprehensive cases in this Handbook, the governmental project “Framtidens Byer” (“Cities of the Future” in English), involved Norway’s 13 biggest cities in an urban development project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make the cities nicer to live in. The project ran for seven years, 2008–2014, and had five main themes: improved urban environment; urban planning and transport; energy in buildings; consumption and waste; and climate adaptation. The most important effect appears to be the establishment of several successful networks in and between the five themes, and between not only the 13 cities but also essential actors such as industry, NGOs, and academia.
Improving the cities to improve the nation
While about half of the world’s population lives in cities today, cities account for 80% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. In Norway, 80% of the population lives in urban areas, so if the cities can reduce their emissions it would make a large difference. To ensure that Norwegian cities pollute less, be better prepared for the forecasted climatic changes, and be healthier places to live in, the Norwegian government launched the project Framtidens Byer together with the nation’s 13 biggest cities. The cities involved in the project were Oslo, Sarpsborg, Fredrikstad, Bærum, Drammen, Skien, Porsgrunn, Kristiansand, Sandnes, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim, and Tromsø. Beginning in 2008, the participating cities are described to have been “blank sheets” in many respects, but they have all improved swiftly with local initiatives and adjusted public policy. The success of the project can be largely attributed to the dialogues and platforms for knowledge sharing that many of the people involved took part in, and that are celebrated as the main take-away message from the national venture.
Many small initiatives make a big national difference
The improvements of the cities’ greenhouse gas emissions – and liveability – have been reached through various local initiatives and 25 pilot projects. For example, within the theme of urban planning and transport, much focus has been put on cyclists and public transport, creating meeting spaces, and improving the cities’ capacity to handle increased amounts of rain. Urban areas have been made denser and greener, not only to improve the cities physically, but also to help the inhabitants live healthier lives. As one initiative, Finans Norge cooperated with the climate adaptation network of Framtidens Byer to assess data from insurance companies with the aim of averting future water damage in the municipalities. Money has been granted to improve public parking policies; water runoff is now used to support urban biodiversity; all the cities have district heating and plans to extend it; tools to calculate and create greenhouse gas budgets for buildings have been revised; efforts have been made to have as many public and private actors as possible acquire environmental certifications; etc. The list of ideas and initiatives is long, the number of actors involved is even longer, and the compilation of good results and valuable lessons learned is ever growing.
Taking the time to talk
Throughout the report summarising the seven-year project are examples of networks and the important role they have played for the success of various initiatives within the themes. Many of the networks have interacted via platforms for exchange of knowledge and experience, and it seems providing venues for these interactions has been of high priority. It also appears that this project has been perceived as a joint venture for the common good, which encourages mutual support and the sharing of resources. If launched as a competition, it could instead have supported self-centred and protectionist behaviour and had the opposite effects. Many good lessons on constructive communication and cooperation can be learned here. For example, something many of the municipal employees have come to realise is the impact potential for improved sustainability by the city through public procurement processes.
Regional dimension
Apart from the obvious, positive, and physical effects of climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and more sustainable behaviour, an important outcome of this project has been improved communication between cities, regions, and the state. The established networks and connections, as well as the practical cooperation between various actors – vertically as well as horizontally – can be used continuously to improve regional development. Documenting the development of the fruitful frameworks and processes of communication and making the information freely available and easily replicable is therefore of high importance in sharing the format with other regions and nations.
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