eco-town magazine issue #1

ECO-TOWN, April/May 2012

Stockholm:

April/May 2012

Issue #1

The very first European Green Capital.

ECO-TOWN, April/May 2012 2


With the European Green Capital award,

Stockholm is an ecological city. Recycling, using public transports,… it is common for Swedish people ! But how do they recycle ? Why ? Do they have particular reasons ? What kind of transports do they use ? How is their da i l y f igh t aga ins t po l lu t ion ? In this magazine, we will answers all these questions, clearly, with images… For you to understand the importance of ecology and environment and how we can do so many things just with a bit of will !

EDITORIAL

By Julie Avizou and Rachel Tornior 1S1,

Paul Langevin Suresnes.


6 Stockholm : a Green City

• an European Green Capital

• A sustainable development’s mo-

del

Stockholm Public Trans-

port:

• Underground trains and buses :

their being greener.

9


Wastes Selecting: • How much eco-conscious is the

Swedish society ? • The Mesures taken indivudually

and collectivelly

12

16

Travel on nature’s terms :

• How can we travel and do not

pollute in Sweden ?


Stockholm: an European Green

Capital.

The cities nominated

were evaluated on the b a s i s o f s e v e r a l environmental indications: climate change, local transport, public green areas, air quality, noise, waste handling, water consumption, waste water treatment, sustainable ut i l izat ion of land, b i o d i v e r s i t y a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l management.

Stockholm was the first city to receive the award European

Green Capital by the EU Commission in 2010. By giving the Eu-ropean Green Capital award to one chosen city each year, the designated city becomes a role model for environmental stan-dards. By presenting good examples and sharing experiences and ideas with other cities, the goal is to improve the environ-ment long term.


These are just

some of the r e a s o n s w h y Stockholm was the first city to be a w a r d e d t h e European Green Capital title. In its

year as European Green Capi ta l , Stockholm pursued its aim to inspire other cities towards achieving a more s u s t a i n a b l e environment, via i n t e r n a t i o n a l

conferences,

s e m i n a r s , exhibitions and the official opening of a n e w t r a m w a y, d u r i n g 2 0 1 0 ,

demonstrated that S t o c k h o l m i s greener than ever T h e C i t y o f Stockholm operates with a holistic vision, one which combines g r o w t h w i t h s u s t a i n a b l e

development for the benefit of its almost 800,000 citizens.

Why Stockholm was the first city to be awarded the

Green Capital title?

Transport emissions are relatively low, and all trains and inner city buses run on renewable fuels.

Furthermore, green h o u s e g a s emissions have been reduced by 25 % since 1990, and the city council has the ambitious target of becoming wholly independent of

fossil fuels by 2050.


SL– Stockholm Public Transport

Stockholm is often praised

for its comfortable and safe transportation. Stockholm Public Transport, SL, is res-ponsible for buses, under-ground trains, commuter trains, trams and certain ferry lines in Greater Stock-

What are the main measures taken by the

city to make the displacements greener?


The underground is electric .

This is the easiest way to get around town. The lines go out to major at-tractions like Skansen and the Vasa museum. The Stockholm underground is also known as the world’s longest art gallery as so many its stations are adorned with the works of dif-ferent artists.

The Underground: fast and ecologic.


Stockholm stakes particularly on the ecologic

transports. Its 760 km of bike lanes have promoted an 75% of bicycle trips increase during the ten last years. In 2006, the town has established a tax on the traffic jam which has reduced the traffic of 20% and improved the air quality until 10%.In the Swedish capital, the underground, trams and s u b u r b s t r a i n a r e n o w e l e c t r i c .

Stockholm encourages nonpolluting transports’ development

The Clean Vehicles project

involves city buses being replaced by, or converted to, eco-vehicles. Today, roughly one bus in three is fuelled by ethanol or biogas, and the goal is 100 per cent by 2025. Many buses are equipped with an hybrid engine combining electricity and bioethanol.

Buses:


On foot or by bike

If you really want to

minimize your carbon footprint, put on a pair of comfortable shoes. Stockholm is a compact city and its investment in pedestrian and cycle paths makes it easy to get from one city district to another on foot or by bike. There are also excellent oppor tun i t i es fo r renting bicycles. And besides, walking and cycling are unbeatable ways to see the city.


Travel on nature’s terms

Fly Green

Stockholm-Arlanda Airport

is the first in the world to receive the highest accredi-tation in The Aiports Council International Europe Pro-gram for classifying envin-mental impact of airports. The airport is working acti-veky on a number of solu-tions, from how its terminal are heated and colled to what kind of taxis and bu-ses may serve the airport. So-called « green approa-ches » are one such effort to reduce aircraft emissions. By the end of 2012, 8 to 10 approaches will be green.


Stockholm residents come together to make two

million trips each day. 70 percent of the distance traveled within the city by car. Traffic in Stockholm increases. This depends on several factors: Population growth, income increases, and some of the new buildings are difficult to make a living by public transport.

If you really must go by car,

go by eco-car. Ten per cent of Stockholm's total taxi fleet runs on biogas or ethanol, but the proportion is even higher in the larger companies. A new rota system gives priority to cabs with low carbon emis-sion levels. If you choose an eco-friendly car you'll also dodge paying the congestion charge when you drive in the inner city. The congestion charge was introduced in 2006 and a distinct reduction in city traffic was noticed almost im-mediately. Sales of eco-friendly cars in Stockholm have risen conspicuously. Two out of five cars sold in 2009 were eco-friendly

By car


Wastes Selecting

The Swedish population really takes care of its

country. In Sweden, you always can see recycle

You always have to choose a trash when you want to

throw something. Is it paper, plastic, cardboard…? Recycling is now totally common for Swedish people but not for everybody in the world. Indeed, everything for recycling has been done in order to be as easy as possible.


Because it has to be done

because there are not many natural resources because of all the snow during winter for example. So, there are many different trashes in the street for light glass, dark glass, p a p e r s , n e w s p a p e r s ,

There are also

machines in the s u p e r m a r k e t which gives you money when you put an old bottle o r s p o o l . P e o p l e e v e n recycle at home. Indeed, Swedes have a habit of recycling. Nearly 100 % of the domestic waste is recycled. Swedish people care a lot a b o u t t h e pollution.


The City Council has decided on a future document, Vision 2030. The vision comes to Stockholm in 2030 is one of the world's most beautiful cities and the cleanest and safest capital. It will have clean lakes. The city parks will be beautiful and safe. New homes will be built with environmental norms.

The l o ca t i on o f Stockholm enables the air pollution to be diluted and vented with cleaner air. Despite, the lead emissions are quite high in the city. The city always tries to use renewable energy instead of fossil ones.

And what about the future ?


Hamburg na-

med the 2011

European Green

Capital

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