Uppsala – Award Winning Climate City

Toxin-free Environment 2050 and Sustainable Resource Flows

Reducing the use and exposure to hazardous chemicals is one of the greatest global and local environmental and health challenges of our time. The Municipality will implement its action by:

• Setting requirements linked to the goal when purchasing goods and services.
• Informing people who live, work, and reside in Uppsala Municipality about the need to work together for a toxin-free environment.

A Climate-Neutral Uppsala by 2030 for a Climate-Positive Uppsala by 2050 at the latest

A Climate-Neutral Uppsala by 2030 implies that:

• Greenhouse gas emissions will decrease at the rate required to be in line with the Paris Agreement and sustain global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The reduction in Uppsala shall be 10–14 per cent per year.
• Total greenhouse gas emissions in the municipality may amount to a maximum of 28 percent of the emissions 2020 or 297 kilotons of CO2e by 2030.
• Net zero emissions must be achieved by 2030 at the latest. This implies that absorption of greenhouse gases (negative emissions) must amount to at least the same amount as residual emissions after the annual emission reduction of 10 to 14 per cent within the Municipality. Negative emissions cannot replace reduction of emissions but are means of achieving climate-neutrality and climate-positivity.

A Climate-Adapted Uppsala

Uppsala, like most cities and communities, is designed in such a way that the effects of climate change are often amplified. There are, for example, hard surfaces and densely populated areas which can exacerbate the effects of floods and heat waves. The climate factors which principally affect Uppsala Municipality are:

• higher temperatures with milder winters and longer periods of vegetation growth
• more heat waves and greater risk of local heat islands
• increased risk of drought
• higher precipitation and heavier cloudbursts
• increased risk of flooding and changed flows in watercourses, including in Fyrisån.

In the chart below you can see that Uppsala's emissions of greenhouse gases have gone down since 1990. The chart also shows target levels according to the long-term targets.

Uppsala Climate Protocol

Uppsala Climate Protocol is a local network initiated by the Municipality in which companies, associations, universities and public organizations work together and inspire each other and others to secure Uppsala's long-term energy and climate goals. The fifth programme period is running 2022-2025. The network consists of about 40 members.

In early 2010, Uppsala Municipality invited local actors from both the public and private sector to sign a "local Kyoto Protocol" which became Uppsala Climate Protocol. In the first programme period (2010-2012) 17 organizations signed the protocol. Today the protocol is an established and effective arena for climate action and cooperation in Uppsala, and the main gathering for developing ideas how to reach the city's long-term energy and climate goals. Each member sets energy and climate goals (in sectors buildings, transports, production and other) to reach a common goal for the programme period.

• During the first period (2010-2012), the common goal was to decrease the members' greenhouse gas emissions by 3.7 %. The outcome was a decrease of about 4 %, while total turnover increased.
• During the subsequent programme period (2012-2015), the goal was to reduce our collective emissions by about 4.5 %. The result was a decrease of fully 11 %.
• For the third period, 2015-2018, the goal was to reduce emissions in total by 4,7 % in 2016-17. The results showed a twice as high reduction of 10 %.
• During the fourth period (2018-2021), the networks emission decreased by 26 % compared to the goal of a decrease of 14% (a goal based on the carbon budget of the Paris Agreement).

For the current, and fifth, period the network’s goal is to continue a decrease in emission to stay within the carbon budget of the Paris Agreement with an average decrease of 14 % per year.

The continuously positive results in emission reductions from Uppsala Climate Protocol have showed that it is an effective collaboration for climate action.

Innovative New Neighbourhoods

Uppsala municipality wants to set a new standard for sustainable travel which will play an important part if the Municipality's long-term climate and environmental goals are to be reached.

Ulleråker

Several major areas in Uppsala are under development to meet the expected population growth. For the new residential area, Ulleråker, a mobility action plan has been developed. Ulleråker will thus act as a forerunner and set a standard for how systematic mobility work should be carried out within Uppsala.

The plan describes organization and working methods in the planning process to ensure systematic work with sustainable mobility throughout all the stages. It also explains how to monitor and evaluate goals and work processes. The plan will contribute to achieving Uppsala's ambitious goals, which, among other things, indicate that at least 80 % of the inhabitant's trips will come about by walking, cycling, or public transport.

Material choices in new buildings are made in regard to climate impact and the reduction of negative environmental effects. A life-cycle perspective characterizes both the construction of houses and the design of public spaces. The starting point is choosing robust material of high quality and long life span. This reduces future operating costs and renovation needs.

Rosendal

In another new area, Rosendal, parks and green spaces are designed to provide ecosystem services: features that benefit humans and preserve and improve living conditions and well-being for plants and animals as well. Air to breathe, food, pollination, and other values that provide quality of life and health.

The water in Rosendal is taken care of locally. This means that the water is delayed and cleaned in the area's natural waters, ponds, plants, rain beds, and temporary flood zones. Water is supplied to trees, plant beds and raised in open waterways to add natural beauty. The plan beds are enriched with bio-char, making them a carbon sink – a climate positive action.

Biking Before Driving

The Municipality of Uppsala has been focusing on cycling issues for several years. A few years ago, a major analysis was conducted with focus group interviews with politicians, students, bicycle companies, bicycle dealers, major employers, etc. Also, a wide-ranging survey of residents was conducted. The result clearly showed that two areas were prioritized, namely information and communication on traffic rules and the extension of Uppsala’s cycle infrastructure. In line with this, widespread efforts are ongoing, for example construction of more separate cycle paths/lanes and improvements in previously built cycling infrastructure.

Promotion and information on bicycling has made it easier to choose the bicycle as a first-hand transportation mode. This includes for example bicycling courses for both adults and children, traffic information, maps, safer bike paths to schools, and more.

Winter Cyclists

An obstacle for many inhabitants whom usually enjoys biking is the Swedish winter. Biking in northern Europe is not always easy and comfortable in the winter due to the snow, icy roads, and cold weather. There are however things one can do to make it safer and easier. To further encourage those who previously felt the need to use motorized transportation during the cold months the municipality started the project "Winter Cyclists". The project aims to both help individual bikers and making sure that biking lanes are safe and free from snow. Bike lanes are now the number one priority when removing snow and sanding. The bikers are also given equipment like studded tires and warm saddle covers to make it safer and more comfortable.

Uppsala Produces its Own Biogas

Since the end of the 1990s Uppsala has had its own production of biogas made from organic waste from households, restaurants, and industries. Through the years, the operation has grown from producing about 100 000 Nm3 biogas a year to today's production of about 6 700 000 Nm3 a year. It is one of the world's leading facilities for producing biogas from organic waste and sewage. Apart from being a great energy alternative biogas makes an effective use of our waste in a circular economy.

The biogas plays an important part in Uppsala's path to a fossil fuel free community. The gas is also a better alternative to conventional fuels regarding air quality and pollution. It is therefore mainly used to fuel public buses in the city area. But is also sold to private car owners and taxi companies.