SUSTAINABLE

SUSTAIN- CITIES
ABLE
SWE CITIES

SUSTAINA-sus
BLE
CITIES

Five Challenges
for sustainable Cities
WWF Sweden’s position on sustainable urban development
 Cities in focus Urbanization is a powerful global trend. Today half
of humanity already lives in cities, and by 2050 an
estimated 70 per cent of humanity will be urban.
To meet human needs, the world’s cities need to build basic infra-
structure in a sustainable way.

Sustainable infrastructure and consumption patterns

For many of the world’s cities, there is an urgent need to bolster their capacity to provide
their inhabitants with the right conditions to lead a dignified life. Environmental,
economic and social challenges are evident even in high-income nations, such as those of
North America and Europe. Here, existing infrastructure and patterns of consumption
need to be adapted to become sustainable over the long-term.

Problems and opportunities

Cities are sources of both environmental problems and opportunities. On the one hand,
rapid urbanization is increasing the environmental load of cities. Cities account for some
75 per cent of the world’s energy use, and over 70 per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide
emissions. Urban infrastructure is largely built without giving much thought to ecological
sustainability. A resource-intensive consumer society drives urban lifestyles, contributing
significantly to the pressure on the planet’s ecosystems. Humanity’s ecological footprint

3 BILLION
already exceeds the planet’s carrying capacity by 50 per cent, while biodiversity is on a
gravely negative trend. The ecosystem services we depend on for survival and human
welfare are at risk of critical levels of degradation.
Humans have built cities At the same time, cities have a huge potential to act as hubs for the development of smart,
for 3 billion people over sustainable solutions that can help meet human needs within minimal footprints while
still improving quality of life. In parallel with international processes on climate and
the course of 3000 years.
sustainability, there is a need for strong, visionary leadership at the urban level. Cities
In the coming 30 years we already taking strong actions to meet the sustainability challenge are becoming interna-
will build cities for tional stars.
3 billion more people.
Lars Reuterswärd,
Mistra Urban Futures
Local and global
WWF Sweden views cities as key to overcoming major sustainability challenges.
We believe that their role must be informed by:
• a global perspective, especially in terms of cities’ role in tackling global challenges
such as climate change and poverty;
• a systems perspective that links urban with rural areas, and local with international
systems of production and consumption; and
• balancing and integrating social, cultural, economic and ecological perspectives.
WWF Sweden urges decision-makers at national and international levels to drive the
transition to sustainable cities with resolve and speed. This must happen domestically in
parallel with a strong international engagement. WWF Sweden believes that ecologically
sustainable development, as a precondition for social and economic progress, needs to be
promoted by addressing five challenges for sustainable cities.

Five challenges for sustainable cities

1. Ecological Footprint
2. Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity
3. Invest for Sustainability
4. The Good Life
5. Leadership and Cooperation

2 WWF Sweden – Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities

 Here we use the term city
without a con­notation of
size or other characteristics.
WWF’s aim is to show the
city’s positive opportunities
as an arena for change and
development – an arena

Photo: Leung Cho Pan

where knowledge, vision
and transformational
power can be activated for
sustainable development.

WWF Sweden’s position

WWF Sweden’s position on sustainable cities has a national focus but is inspired by a
Sweden global perspective. Cities of all sizes – along with regional, national and international levels
of decision-making – need to participate actively in the transition to a sustainable urban
Area: 450,000 km²
future.
Forests: 53%, mountains:
11%, cultivated land: 8%, We direct our appeal to the following key actors involved in city development: politicians,
lakes and rivers: 9% planners and other public sector officials, business and finance leaders, the media, schools,
Population: 9.4 million universities, and civil society groups. We believe that these stakeholders have significant
Capital: Stockholm responsibilities, as well as opportunities, to lay the groundwork for the transition to
Form of government: sustainable cities.
parliamentary demo­
cracy, constitutional Above all, citizens must play an active role in this transition. Broad-based participation and
monarchy engagement are vital to the inclusive, innovative, positive and profound changes required
Life expectancy: to fulfill the transition.
men 79 years,
women 83 years
Municipalities: 290
Urban population: 84.5%
Population in urban
agglomerations
> 1 million: 13.8%
Photo: WWF-Canada

WWF Sweden – Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities 3

 Ecological WWF’s global goal is that by the year 2050,
humanity’s ecological footprint stays within

footprints
the Earth’s carrying capacity. Today, the global
footprint exceeds the planet’s biocapacity by 50
per cent.

Transport,
From words to actions
food and In Sweden, the average per capita footprint is 5.7 global hectares (gha), while the globally
housing available area per person is just 1.8 gha. If everyone in the world adopted a Swedish
Key sectors for reducing lifestyle, it would require 3 planets to produce all the required resources and absorb the
the ecological footprint produced carbon dioxide emissions. So Sweden’s ecological footprint needs to decrease
include transport, food and considerably to reach a sustainable and equitable level. For cities and their diverse actors
housing.
the great challenge now is to convert words into actions, and to turn the vision of a globally
sustainable footprint into reality.

• Recognize cities as key actors

Cities have a key role to play to halve Sweden’s ecological footprint by 2020 (from its 2009
level), and thereafter to continue to reduce it. This is an ambitious objective that includes
both local and global challenges.

• The challenge concerns all cities

It is not enough for only a handful of major cities to make the transition. All Swedish cities
need to work ambitiously with sustainable development in order to reduce Sweden’s total
ecological footprint.
WWF’s footprint goal
• Prioritize key sectors
By 2050, humanity’s global
footprint stays within the The transition to an economy that is free of fossil fuels is essential to a substantial
Earth’s capacity to sustain reduction of cities’ ecological footprints. This requires priority actions in four key sectors:
life, and the natural re­sources energy, transport, food and housing. Cities can develop resource-efficient infrastructure
of our planet are shared based on renewable energy sources. Further, cities can provide opportunities and
equitably.
incentives for their citizens to make climate-smart and sustainable choices that can
improve their quality of life.
Ecological footprint
The ecological footprint (EF) • Support from the national level
measures the biologically
To support cities and municipalities, the government should develop national goals and
productive land and water
area required both to strategies to help provide a road map for reducing our ecological footprints to within
produce the resources that the Earth’s biocapacity.
are consumed, and to absorb
the carbon dioxide that is
generated by a population.
An EF can be calculated for
a nation, a region, a city, an
organization, or individuals.

Global hectares
EF is expressed in a unit
called the global hectare
(gha), where 1 gha represents
a biologically productive
hectare with world average
productivity.

Biocapacity
Biocapacity is the area of
land and productive oceans
Photo: Arne Trautmann

actually available to produce

renewable resources and
absorb CO2 emissions. It can
be measured for the planet or
a certain area, e.g. a country.

4 WWF Sweden – Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities

 Photo: Kevin Schafer / WWF-Canon
Climate and energy
Resilience
Resilience is a system’s
long-term ability to deal with

Cities as leaders in the transition

changes and continue to
develop. For a society,
resili­ence is the ability
to handle, in a long-term Emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases must massively decrease in order
sustainable way, such chal- to avoid catastrophic climate change. About half of the ecological footprint consists of
lenges as climate change. carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels. Carbon footprint calcula-
tions show that an average level of consumption per person per year in Sweden causes
The carbon footprint more than 10 tons of CO2 emissions. However, in order to reach a globally sustainable and
The carbon footprint (CF) fair level of carbon emissions that secures the climate, we need to reach below one ton of
registers the carbon diox-
carbon dioxide equivalents per person per year by 2050. Vital for meeting this goal is the
ide emissions caused by a
population’s total consump- transition to an economy that is based upon 100 per cent renewable and sustainable energy.
tion. CF is the sum of all direct
Greenhouse gas emissions respect no borders so a national perspective on climate is not
emissions, e.g. from heating
and transport, plus all indirect enough. On top of national emissions, Sweden’s consumption causes huge emissions in
emissions along the entire other parts of the world through the import of goods and services. A global consumption-
production chain for those based perspective is thus necessary.
goods and services that are
consumed. A CF can be cal- We do not have time to wait. While international climate negotiations continue to falter,
culated for a nation, a region, local actors must take responsibility. Already now, cities can act powerfully to switch to a
a city, an organization, or climate-smart economy based on renewable energy. Cities must also prepare for and adapt
individuals. CF is expressed in
to current climate variability and future, unavoidable climate change. In this respect,
units of tons of carbon dioxide.
Sometimes additional green- building cities’ resilience to climate change will be essential.
house gases are included,
• Convert the energy system now
and then the unit is expressed
as carbon dioxide equivalents Cities must proactively contribute to the conversion of the energy system in Sweden so that
(CO2e). by 2030 it comprises 80 per cent renewable energy, at the same time that total energy use
is reduced. This involves a double challenge: high energy efficiency and a conversion to
renewable energy sources. Furthermore, renewable energy must be produced without
serious impact on ecosystem functions or biodiversity.

• Meet tough emissions reduction goals

Via a rapid and effective transition to sustainable energy systems, cities can actively
contribute to reducing domestic emissions of carbon dioxide in Sweden by a minimum
of 40 per cent by 2020 (from a 1990 baseline).
Read more about WWF’s
global energy vision • Halve the carbon footprint
The Energy report – 100%
Cities are vital for halving by 2020 the carbon footprint per person from transport, food,
renewable energy by 2050
The report can be downloaded housing and other consumption. Decision-makers must create good conditions – for
at panda.org example by promoting stricter building standards, upgrades of existing buildings, mass
transport systems free of fossil fuels, consumer education, as well as campaigns and
support for more vegetable-based, locally produced, and seasonal food.
International platforms
for climate reporting • Have an international impact
• Local Governments for Swedish cities should be active in the international arena and contribute to advancing a
Sustainability (ICLEI) iclei.org strong, global climate agenda. Important steps include publishing city emissions of green-
• Carbon Disclosure Project house gases, reporting on actions to reduce climate impacts, and actively implementing
(CDP) cdproject.net tougher emissions reduction goals.

WWF Sweden – Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities 5

 Ecosystem The planet’s biodiversity and ecosystem
services are basic conditions for our survival.

services and
Cities directly impact biodiversity through
their physical structure and urbanization’s

biodiversity
effects on landscapes. Indirectly, cities’
consumption of materials and energy has even
larger impacts, with their ecological footprints
contributing to environmental degradation all over the globe.

Core values for the sustainable city

For sustainable cities, ecosystem services in and outside the city are key assets that
provide a wide range of values: environmental, economic, social, and cultural. High
quality urban greenery and urban water bodies produce multiple benefits in biodiversity,
climate regulation, improved public health, and quality of life – thereby raising both the
Processes attractiveness and sustainability of the city.

In many growing cities there is a continuous conflict between conservation and develop-
ment. So decision-makers must act effectively to preserve, restore and even create urban
greenery and urban water bodies. This requires them to implement tough, innovative and
proactive planning, with a holistic perspective and cooperation across sectors.

• Invest in ecosystem services

A city must make an assessment of its ecosystem services, to make well balanced planning
and investment decisions on the use of land, air, sea and freshwater. Cities should invest
in ecosystem services and in the landscape’s ecological infrastructure: for example in
relation to air quality, aquatic ecosystems (e.g. seas, lakes, watercourses), farming and
forestry, pollination, green corridors and migration routes, microhabitats such as edge
Products zones and wetlands, and protection of highly vulnerable species.

• Cities as actors in conservation

Cities can assume ambitious roles in conservation by protecting animal and plant life
in and around cities. They can also work actively in national and international arenas to
strengthen the protection of species and for sustainable stewardship of the planet’s bio­
diversity.

• Support and incentives from the national level

National governments should provide a strong framework for local nature conservation
by, for example, increasing funding for nature conservation, introducing planning norms
for minimum distances between housing and green space, and facilitating the creation
of more urban national parks and other types of protected areas. They should also provide
Services incentives to protect and develop urban green-structure and near-urban nature. The value
of urban greenery as a tool for climate adaptation and increased public health should
especially be highlighted.

Ecosystem services
Ecosystem services stands for all the products, processes, services and values
that are provided by nature.
• Products such as food, medicines, timber, biofuel
• Processes such as photosynthesis, soil formation, water purification and pollination
cultural values • Emotional values such as recreation, beauty, and spiritual experiences

6 WWF Sweden – Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities

 Beyond the city
Sustainable relations in focus
A city does not end at its boundaries. Its relations to the world around it – local, regional,
and global – play a decisive role in sustainable urban development. A city’s basis for

WWFs
existence is in many ways dependent on its relations to the world around it. A city thrives
on a continuous exchange via the import and export of material and energy in different

mission
forms. Today this involves not only urban-rural relations, but an entire global system
of production, commerce and consumption.

The local perspective is always important. Each city needs to build sustainable relations
is to stop the degrada­ locally – focused on the municipality or the larger regional area. At the same time, the
tion of the planet’s impact of a city’s consumption on sustainable development requires a global focus, under-
natural environment and lining the city’s total claim on resources and environmental impact on the entire planet.
The challenge for a city is to create sustainable relations with the world around it without
to build a future in which shifting its consumption impacts to another place or level in the system.
humans live in harmony
• Integrated environmental stewardship
with nature. Planners and decision-makers in cities should make use of an integrated model for
environmental management, where all use of land, air and water is planned across
sectors, so that growing and sometimes conflicting demands on ecosystems can be
managed effectively. Environmental planning should also consider the global impacts
of resource consumption, along with the impacts on local land use.

• See the potential in sustainable relations

The City Biodiversity Index
A systems approach to urban-regional-global levels enables more effective sustainability
is an international standard
based upon data on biologi- gains. Closing material flows and increasing local supply of materials and energy can bring
cal diversity. The index can numerous ecological, economic and social benefits. Today’s mainly linear flows of the use
be used as a tool to monitor of materials and resources, e.g. of phosphorus, need to be replaced with resource-efficient,
changes in biodiversity over circular flows. Local resource flows can be encouraged through support for localized
time at the city level. Find out
urban production and distribution of food, energy and materials. Cities can show leader-
more at cbd.int
ship for ecosystem-based stewardship by taking responsibility for, and investing in,
surrounding ecosystem services, e.g. water systems that supply the city.

The Royal National City • Long-term land-use planning

Park in Stockholm Land is a vital natural resource. How a city plans its land use has long-term consequences.
Around Stockholm is an From a global perspective, bio-productive space is already a scarce resource, not least
interconnected park land- for supplying food and energy. Choosing among different types of land-use is a basic
scape that in 1995 became question for every responsible city administration. Powerful political, economic and
the world’s first national city
park. The park comprises
business interests must be balanced within a framework of long-term environmental
approx. 27 km2, of which and social sustainability. The precautionary principle should provide guidance.
19 km2 is land, and covers
parts of three municipalities
in Stockholm. The concept
of a national city park entails
the protection, conservation
and showcasing of unique
natural, cultural and outdoor-
recreational values that such
an area provides. The con-
cept also relates to the listed
houses and environments, a
rich animal and plant life, and
to health and quality of life
for the city’s residents and WWF Sweden
visitors. Most significantly, urges governments
urban green spaces such as a to encourage cities
national city park also provide to establish diverse
important ecosystem services types of urban
such as producing oxygen, protected areas,
cleaning the air, dampening such as municipal
noise pollution, and buffering nature and culture
both heavy precipitation and reservations.
heat waves. Photo: Thomas Atterdal

WWF Sweden – Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities 7

 Invest for The transition to sustainable development in
the world’s cities demands huge investments. In

sustainability
the fast-growing cities of developing economies,
it is vital that basic infrastructure is built in a
sustainable way. In the industrialized world,
existing infrastructure needs to be updated with climate-smart
and resource-efficient systems. To break the heavy dependence
on fossil fuels, innovations and new technologies on a broad
front are needed.

Cities as drivers of a green economy

While Sweden makes this shift at home, Swedish actors should be encouraged to play
active roles internationally. Swedish innovators and entrepreneurs, especially those
working with energy and climate solutions, need appropriate support to penetrate global

350 trillion
markets. Innovation need not only involve technology. Financial, social and institutional
innovations are equally important, such as new ways to think, organize and cooperate in

dollars
order to meet human needs in a smart and resource-efficient way.

• Invest in sustainable urban development

Cities must attract large-scale investments in order to help address the climate challenge
approximately FIVE times and develop sustainably. Investing for sustainable development will entail managing
significant commitments – but would also generate large profits. Cities need to establish
the world’s GDP will long-term plans and offer tailored financing models. New constellations of cooperation
be invested in infra­ are needed, along with a combination of public and private funds. The lock-in effects
structure in cities in of ineffective, fossil fuel dependent infrastructure must be avoided at all costs.
the coming 30 years. • Work with the financial market
It is vital that these Cities should place demands on the financial market to bring about sustainable change.
investments are made in Today, only 7-10 percent of the world’s financial assets are managed with strict sustain-
ability criteria. Such a low figure contributes to long-term lock-in effects within a
sustainable solutions. fossil fuel dependent economy. Cities often act as financial hubs that can provide the
Reinventing the city – Three appropriate environment for financial actors to contribute to loan guarantees for
prerequisites for greening urban
infrastructures entrepreneurs, for example, or finance models that market solutions for sustainable
urban development.

• Develop smarter cities

Cities should set objectives and develop tools for how ICT (Information and Communi-
cation Technologies) can be used in urban planning, transport, and energy systems, in
order to enable smart and resource-efficient systems.

• Demand new solutions

The development of sustainable cities requires not only gradual improvements of exist-
ing technologies, but also entirely new ways to think about and organize urban needs,
functions and infrastructure. Cities can provide leadership by demanding and imple-
menting transformative innovations – solutions that enable a profound and sustainable
transition.

• Connect solutions with markets

Many technical innovations with the potential to radically reduce CO2 emissions
are already on the market, but are not applied at the scale necessary to reach climate
goals. Swedish cities can contribute to stronger cooperation between environmental and
Photo: Tovovan

energy technology sectors and the fast-growing markets of, for example, Asia and Africa.
Cities can also seek out and invest in climate innovations from developing markets so
that these reach mature markets.

8 WWF Sweden – Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities

Read more about
innovations
Enabling the transition
– Climate innovation systems
for a low-carbon future
The report can be down­loaded
at panda.org

WWF’s site for climate

innovations
climatesolver.org

Read more about jobs and

sustainable development
Investing for the future:
More jobs out of a greener
EU budget
Low carbon jobs for Europe:
Current opportunities and future
prospects
The reports can be
downloaded at panda.org

Promoting green procurement and jobs

Municipalities are key economic actors. The public sector’s share of Sweden’s GNP is
Influence
nearly 20 per cent, of which municipalities account for a significant share. Municipalities
financial are responsible for a range of public services which entail extensive material production
flows through, for example, energy, water, and waste management. The public sector is also
There is an enormous an important employer and purchaser.
need to re-direct global
capital flows away from Swedish municipalities have a relatively large freedom to act independently, both
solutions that are based politically and economically. They are entrusted with significant responsibility to follow
on fossil fuels and toward national and international decisions and guidelines concerning environment and sustain-
investments in energy able development. They also have opportunities to drive sustainable development forward
efficiency and renewables.
independently. For example, cities can influence the market by demanding environmen-
• More than 280 of the tally friendly goods and services. They can make especially ambitious commitments in
world’s largest investors water, sewers, energy, recycling, and waste management. Municipalities can also help
together with the UN
to develop a green jobs market.
Environmental Programme
have called for the • Green public-sector procurement
creation of financial
Cities should use public-sector procurement as a proactive political tool for purchasing
incentives that shift the
risk-reward balance in environmentally friendly and climate-smart goods and services, especially in the energy,
favour of low-carbon food, and fibers (e.g. wood, paper, cotton) sectors. Cities should follow internationally
assets. accepted criteria and standards for responsible production of goods that can damage
• Present annual levels important ecosystems, such as wood, paper, cotton, soy, palm oil, meat, milk, fish, and
of financing for sustainable bioenergy. It is essential that public-sector consumption is both environmentally friendly
solutions must increase and resource efficient, and that it contributes to the required reduction in society’s total
by at least 5 times, and use of materials and energy.
then accelerate to a level
perhaps 35 times higher • Supporting frameworks and incentives
by 2050. Without a supporting regulatory framework, it will be difficult for green procurement
• New platforms and to make a significant impact. Sweden and the EU must develop procurement rules that
models are needed to enable, and in some cases, force public-sector actors to make environmentally respons­
widen access to financing
ible choices in their procurement. At the same time, policy measures need to focus on
for climate- and environ-
mentally-oriented inno ­- reducing the demand for environmentally harmful products and services.
vations, in partnership
• Green jobs
with banks, investors,
and innovation agencies. Cities can create more green jobs by stimulating innovative projects for climate solutions,
environmental protection and nature conservation. Cities also need to promote synergies
between job creation policies and their environmental and sustainability goals.

WWF Sweden – Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities 9

 THe good life Welfare and lifestyle are key dimensions of
sustainable urban development. The social
dimension of sustainability – concerning citizens’
equitable access to essential goods, services and wellbeing – has
been a key policy issue for many of Sweden’s larger cities. From
a global perspective, the social dimension has even more urgent
relevance, for example, in poverty reduction.

Welfare and lifestyle in a new light

Sustainable urban development should take its starting point in promoting citizens’
wellbeing. Even if ‘the good life’ cannot be easily measured or planned, city planners
can provide citizens with the preconditions for living well and sustainably. A city can
offer a range of lifestyle and livelihood possibilities. This is why many people today
choose to live in cities, even after starting families, and view urban living as their long-
term lifestyle choice. A sustainable city should therefore provide the preconditions for its
citizens to enjoy a climate-smart, resource-efficient and high-quality lifestyle. A truly
sustainable city would thus typically involve a dense, integrated and green environment
with attractive housing, working and living conditions for all sectors of society. The pro-
vision of public spaces and meeting places are immensely important and can help a city
provide its inhabitants with a sense of identity and place.

• Ensure an inclusive transition

Urban planners should ensure the equitable participation of residents in the processes
City planners should
for retrofitting the built environment and, more relevantly for cities in the Global South,
promote preconditions
converting informal settlement areas. Participation is an important precondition for
for climate-smart and
a sustainable ecological transition.
sustainable lifestyles.
Photo: Hendrik Holler / IBL • Provide incentives for sustainable lifestyles
City planners should promote climate-smart and sustainable lifestyles by creating the
preconditions and incentives to, for example, use public transport, work flexibly, live
energy efficiently, re-use and recycle materials, choose seasonal and locally produced,
vegetable-based foods, and reduce food wastes.

• Engage citizens
Cities should actively raise awareness among residents of the advantages of making
climate-smart and sustainable consumption decisions. Exploring sustainable lifestyles
can be an exciting means to engage citizens in city development.

• Scale up fair trade

Scaling up fair trade can raise awareness of global social and humanitarian issues. It can
thus be used as a catalyst for sustainable urban development. It is important to go beyond
advocating fair trade as a niche market and work more broadly to boost fair commerce.

Capacity to act for sustainable development

• Knowledge of the problems, but also of opportunities and solutions
• Motivation – will, courage, and inclination to act
• Opportunities – to see alternative paths of action and
have the ability to apply them
• Reflected positions – to seek solutions and critically relate
to different proposals

10 WWF Sweden – Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities

 Learning and participation
Active citizenship for sustainable urban development
Learning and participation are guiding principles for sustainable urban development.
Schools should provide appropriate learning tools to enable young people to relate to the
future’s challenges. Education should involve strengthening the capacity of children and
young people to act. However, learning for sustainable development needs to happen at
Participation is the basis for all ages, and must go beyond the individual to incorporate group and institutional learn-
active citizenship. Citizens, ing. How do change processes happen in cities?
in their various roles, should Participation is the basis for active citizenship. Citizens, in their various roles, should
have opportunities to take have opportunities to take responsibility for shaping sustainable development. Participa-
responsibility for shaping tion and learning are also basic elements of a city’s resilience, i.e. the ability to handle
sustainable development. changes. There is a strong relationship among human rights, democracy, dialogue and
participation. Sustainable urban development cannot be directed only from the “top-
down”, or completely from “bottom-up”. Instead it must combine both. Working with
sustainable cities should be viewed as an excellent opportunity for developing the tools
of local democracy.

• Inclusive city planning

Decision-makers in cities should involve citizens in the city’s planning and develop­-
ment processes. Especially important target groups are those who are usually under-
represented in planning processes, for example, the urban poor, women, youth, ethnic
minority groups, and socially marginalized sectors.

• Innovative cooperation
The municipality should encourage cooperation and learning among different sectors and
city departments. By engaging the education sector, residents and business, it is possible
to strengthen knowledge and participation across several sectors. In this way, entrepre-
neurial competences can be developed to help tackle obstacles to a sustainable future.
Cities and
schools • Learning for sustainable development
Ecological and social
Teachers, school administrators and governors need to be given sufficient support and
values should develop as resources for learning for sustainable development to have an impact in schools. The
the city grows. Here the vocational qualifications for teachers and school administrators should prepare them
education sector can for greater cooperation both within schools and between schools and society.
support processes of
participatory, holistic and • Entrepreneurship is key
long-term sustainable Entrepreneurship and learning for sustainable development are cited as all-embracing
development by engaging perspectives in the Higher Education Act in Sweden and official school curricula. Skills
in outreach and cross-
border educational
development that supports entrepreneurship is one of the EU’s stated key competences.
activities. Learning for When education encourages students to think about issues concerning sustainable urban
sustainable development development, it becomes possible to achieve social and ecological goals in addition to
must incorporate entrepre- educational goals.
neurship skills so that
students are equipped with • Access to nature from an early age
both knowledge and skills In Sweden, all schools and pre-schools should promote access to nature for play and
to participate in the city’s learning activities. Provision of outdoor and environmental educational activities needs
development.
to be further strengthened. School gardens and urban farms, for example, can contribute
to valuable insights for children.

Teachers, school
administrators and
governors need to be given
sufficient support and
resources for learning for
sustainable development to
have an impact in schools.
Photo: Kerstin Carlsson

WWF Sweden – Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities 11

 Leadership and Shifting to sustainable urban development
requires new ways of thinking. It is about going

cooperation
from one-dimensional perspectives – based on
sector, competition, or growth – to thinking in
terms of holistic, sustainable systems. Not least,
it is about discussing the basic issue of what is the ultimate goal
of urban development?

Footprint
New methods for the sustainable city
family A systems perspective lays the groundwork for envisioning the city as connected and
• Ecological footprint integrated with the world around it, including the relationships between city and country­
• Carbon footprint
side, city and region, city and the rest of the world. But a change of perspective does not
take place overnight. Cities need to actively explore and test methods and indicators that
• Water footprint
integrate ecological, social and economic aspects of sustainable city development.
Read more in the Living
Planet Report 2012. Old patterns of planning and management can be broken with the aid of new perspectives.
Today, cities are already working with more coordinated and cross-sector methods. This
The report can be down-
loaded at panda.org
transformation needs to be strengthened. Changing from “drainpipe” to cross-sector
approaches is key to the management of sustainable cities.

• Transformational leadership
Sustainable cities require not only gradual improvements of existing technology and infra-
structures, but also creative and visionary ideas about the future city. Actors who work with
transformational leadership enable a profound and sustainable change process.

• Broader perspectives
Cities should complement a local perspective with a global resource and sustainability
perspective in their analysis and reporting. This can be done by using consumption-based
indicators, for example, ecological footprint, carbon footprint, and water footprint, together
with local indicators for the city’s development.

• Complementary indicators
Cities should provide active leadership in exploring and testing indicators for sustainable
city development. The challenge is to put together a balanced set that combines ecologi-
cal, social, and economic aspects, and that together provides a nuanced picture of the city’s
development.

International
learning cases
Urban solutions for a living
planet – An inventory
of 100 learning examples
from the entire globe at
panda.org/urbansolutions

Find out more

about indicators
WWF Sweden has developed
an overview of indicators for
Photo: Martin Good

sustainable urban develop-

ment with a starting point in
WWF’s goals and perspective.
To learn more please contact:
[email protected]

12 WWF Sweden – Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities

 Networking and cooperation
To share and learn globally
Urbanization is taking place at breakneck speed. While cities around the world are facing
increasing pressures to develop sustainably, some have already been internationally
recognized for taking their own initiative to prioritize climate and environmentally
friendly development.

Urban solutions will play a decisive role in securing sustainable development globally

Gapminder
in the next decades. By acting through networks and projects for mutual exchange, cities
can combine their efforts and thereby more effectively tackle the global sustainability
challenge than through their own individual initiatives. Swedish cities have something to
teach the world and cities from around the globe have something to teach Swedish cities.
Fighting the most
devastat­ing myths • Provide supportive urban policies and frameworks
Sweden should have the goal of being a world leader in urban development characterized
by building a factbased by globally sustainable footprints, protected ecosystem services and biodiversity, and high
world view that levels of welfare and quality of life. For Sweden’s municipalities and regions to be able to
everyone understands realize this, national objectives and financial support are needed, not least if pilot projects
Hans Rosling are to have long-lasting impacts. National governments need to clarify the responsibilities
and opportunities that cities have to advance sustainable development. At the same time,
At gapminder.org you can governments need to provide appropriate conditions and supportive structures. Conflict-
view important statistical ing goals among social, ecological and economic aspects of sustainable development need
trends on humanity’s to be identified and resolved.
development.
• Encourage innovation
Innovations and entrepreneurship are vital for the global diffusion of solutions. The
govern­ment should commit to supporting international cooperation among cities on
inno­vation, above all in energy and climate solutions. This will help cities to achieve local
energy and environmental goals. For Sweden to position itself globally, the government
should develop an innovation strategy that suggests where in the global value chain for
develop­ment and production of solutions that Swedish cities can provide the most effective
benefits.

• Participate in global networks and initiatives

Cities can participate in international networks and initiatives for sharing knowledge
and experiences of sustainable urban development. The aim is for all Swedish cities to be
engaged internationally on the basis of their own contexts and what they have to offer.

• Mutual benefit and learning

Cities’ international engagement, with twin-towns partnerships for example, should have
an active learning and sustainability perspective. In the Global South, these efforts should
focus on a sustainable use of ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as strengthening local
management and sustainable urban development.

• Shaping opinion
Via international networks and procurement alliances, cities can shape opinion in support
of, for example, stronger EU trade rules for natural resources, such as sustainability
standards on biomass, stronger regulations concerning the trade in illegally cut timber,
and fisheries agreements with third party countries.

International networks and initiatives

Will your city inspire • The European Covenant of Mayors: eumayors.eu
the world? • The Global Cities Covenant on Climate: wmsc2010.org/the-mexico-city-pact
Earth Hour City Challenge • Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI): iclei.org
– an international challenge
to cities. Find out more at: • Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP): cdproject.net
panda.org/citychallenge

WWF Sweden – Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities 13

Find out more!
WWF and sustainable cities
WWF is one of the world’s leading environmental and nature conservation organizations.
WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to
build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature by:
• conserving the world’s biological diversity,
• ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable,
• promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Cities play a decisive role in view of their fast-growing shares of the global population,
resource use, and environmental load. WWF urges stakeholders in cities to work
WWF’s emerging work effectively and rapidly to reduce cities’ ecological footprints and to manage ecosystem
with cities is aimed at services and biodiversity in a sustainable manner.
pushing and supporting The good news is that despite huge problems there are many solutions for attractive
this transition. Our vision lifestyles within the limits of the planet’s biological capacity. But there is a need both
is cities where people for political leadership and engagement by businesses, financial organizations, entrepre-
can live fulfilling and neurs, and citizens, for these solutions to be able to become realities and contribute to a
sustainable lives within the fast and positive transformation. WWF’s emerging work with cities is aimed at pushing
limits of one planet. and supporting this transition. Our vision is cities where people can live fulfilling and
sustainable lives within the limits of one planet – a One Planet Future.

WWF Sweden’s position is directed firstly to decision-makers with key roles in city
development. But each citizen’s participation is essential, in a basic way, for creating real
and enduring change. It is time for all of us to ask questions and seek answers about how
we can live well and sustainably on one planet.

14 WWF Sweden – Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities

More reading
Download and read more on sustainable cities and global sustainable development.
• Living planet report 2012 – Biodiversity, biocapacity and better choices
• Reinventing the city – Three prerequisites for greening urban infrastructures
• Enabling the transition – Climate innovation systems for a low-carbon future
• Financial Vehicles – Driving Private Investments in Climate Innovations
• Urban solutions for a living planet – Learning cases

• The Energy report – 100% renewable energy by 2050

• Sharing the effort under a global carbon budget
• Investing for the future – More jobs out of a greener EU budget
• Low carbon jobs for Europe – Current opportunities and future prospects
• Big cities, big water, big challenges – Water in an urbanizing world
• Mega-stress for mega-cities – A climate vulnerability ranking of major coastal
cities in Asia

More information
Read more at panda.org/sustainablecities

Visit Urban Solutions for a Living Planet at panda.org/urbansolutions

Learn more about the Earth Hour City Challenge at panda.org/citychallenge

Please contact us at
[email protected]

Collage page 1: ODELIUS

Design and production: ODELIUS #36062

WWF Sweden – Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities 15

 Five Challenges for Sustainable Cities

Five Challenges for sustainable Cities

WWF Sweden’s position on sustainable urban development

Cities
Ecosystem
Already half of the world’s population today lives in
cities and by 2050 an estimated 70% of humanity will

services
be urban.

In the sustainable city, ecosystem

Ecological
services – both in the city and in
relation to the world around it
– stand for a wide range of benefits.

footprints
Cities have a key role in making
the vision of globally sustainable
footprints into reality.

Leadership
A strong focus on urban solutions
is needed in order to secure a
globally sustainable development

Investments
in the coming decades.

L
and innovations Why we are here
To stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and Welfare
Sustainable cities require new ways of thinking
about and organizing tothe
build
city’s a future
needs, in which humans live in harmony and nature.
functions
Cities can provide opportunities for
and infrastructure.
climate-smart and resource-efficient
lifestyles with high quality of life.
Photo: NASA

Why we are here

SE

To stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and

ular to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

www.panda.org
Edition 2, 2013

wwf.se

© 1986 Panda Symbol WWF-World Wide Fund for Nature (Formerly World Wildlife Fund).
® “WWF” is a WWF Registered Trademark.
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