As part of the Compiled Individual Assessment Reports within the POCACITO project, the city of Malmö was examined in detail to create a general picture of challenges it faces as it strives to become a post-carbon city. This includes environmental, economic and social factors. The assessment was made based off of information from vision and backcasting workshops.

 

The main environmental challenge in Malmö appears to be the dependence on fossil fuels. The top social hotspot is integration, while the city is doing quite well economically according to the assessment. Malmö has proactive strategies and plans in place to address discrimination and social sustainability, such as the Commission for a Socially Sustainable Malmö that was selected in 2008. Hopefully, this work continues and has an impact beyond reports and suggestions. Social issues and culture were also highlighted by stakeholders in the vision and backcasting workshops, showing that this is a key issue to the success of sustainability in the city. It remains to be seen what the revision of the energy strategy will bring in terms of new targets and actions to help the city on its path to post carbon. The work has to be a joint effort by energy industry, municipality and citizens, potentially aided by smart IT solutions to reduce energy use in households.

 

Be sure to check out the full analysis for both the city of Malmö and the other POCACITO case study cities within the Compiled Individual Assessment Reports.