From time to time, we will meet one of our partners in greater depth. Here, we're pleased to say Hejsan to Emilia Nordgren from Växjö Kommun, in southern Sweden (www.vaxjo.se).
Växjö are the newest member of our partnership, having only joined officially in June 2009, when an extra funding opportunity emerged. However, they're old hands at promoting the green message. Växjö is renowned as "The Greenest City in Europe" and have reduced their per capita CO2 emissions by a staggering 35% since 1993.
Växjö are contributing a lot to ANSWER, delivering pilot projects for their schools, community members and businesses. Like all of our partners they have some things to teach us, and some things to learn.
What do you see as the key strength of the ANSWER Project for Växjö?
By participating in the project we are able to encourage even more schools, businesses and inhabitants of Växjö to take a first step towards our common goal: a fossil fuel free city. It is an advantage to be able to work on several levels simultaneously.
Tell us about one of your local activities in ANSWER
As a part of reducing carbon emissions in the geographical area of Växjö, we are going to create 5-10 ‘climate idols' as a way to attract attention. The climate idols will be local celebrities from TV, radio, the local newspaper, music and theatre, restaurants and organizations.
The most important criterion is that the idols are well known by the citizens of Växjö. The climate idols will get five challenges during spring 2010, covering transport, energy, food and consumption.
They will be coached by experts and provided with climate-smart products and services by local businesses. If they succeed in each challenge, they receive a "green card" from the mayor, who is also a protector of the climate idol project.
What do you think is the area where Växjö has most to teach our other partners?
Växjö has reduced carbon emissions and increased growth at the same time. By setting up ambitious goals you can inspire decision makers, organizations and businesses to create a greener city.
What do you think is the biggest challenge in asking people to change their behaviour in response to climate change?
Habits! They are hard to break, and to be able to create new habits people will need knowledge and information, but also a public infrastructure that makes it easy to make the right decisions concerning transport, food, consumption and energy.
And finally, tell us something we won't know about Växjö
13% of the area of Växjö municipality consists of lakes and watercourses. You can go swimming, ice-skating or canoeing in the city centre. In a local vote, it was decided to place a giant mirror ball (2.8 meters in diameter) in the city centre lake shortly.
Thank you, and keep up the good work!
Växjö Kommun are undertaking pilots with schools, businesses and community members.
For more details, email Emilia.Nordgren@vaxjo.se