Kalmar region has highlighted five environmental fields as especially important for a good regional development. These fields are
- reduced climate impact (see more information below)
- better water quality, especially reduced outlets of nutrients to water
- decreased amount of waste, especially hazardous waste
- increased sea safety
- protection of valuable nature and cultural sites
A fossil fuel free region
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The region wants to be a forerunner in the work for decreased outlets of greenhouse gases and for sustainable growth. By 2030, Kalmar County aims to be a fossil fuel free region.
The work to obtain this goal is collected under the name and logotype "No oil." |
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 Video clips that shows what some of our climate work is about »
More examples can be found among the links to the right |
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Objectives
- Energy and environment as a base for sustainable growth! More jobs and more export.
- Fossil fuel free region 2030 - No net outlet of fossil carbon dioxide
- Efficient use of energy
Kalmar County in southern Sweden – also in the centre of the Baltic Sea Region – has already succeeded in getting the region moving on climate issues on a massive scale. The long Swedish history of working with district heating and insulation of buildings far above European standards are known by many. Today, our climate-related initiatives involve converting from fossil fuel energy to renewable energy and we are making more effective use of energy at all levels and in all sectors. Furthermore, we are producing renewable energy but also products and services, which will facilitate the transition to a society free of fossil fuel.
In general it is a question of transforming ambitious environmental targets into actual commercial benefits. When representatives from the public sector or the industry in Kalmar County are asked what it would take to get the region moving on climate change issues, the answer is always the same: It mainly comes down to tapping the area’s potential and turning it into practical benefits for the public sector, trade and industry and individuals.
We are interested in learning more and are also ready to contribute with knowledge and dialogue in discussions dealing with energy and climate issues from a local and regional perspective. This paper presents some examples on ongoing work in Kalmar County.
Energy 2020 is (almost) here
Some examples, in relation to the objectives in Europe 2020 strategy:
- Already two thirds of the energy used in Kalmar County comes from renewable sources – to be compared with the EU objective of 20% renewable energy year 2020. From 2005 to 2008 the use of fossil fuels have decreased with 5%.
- From 1993 to 2008, the emissions of fossil carbon dioxide in the county have been reduced by 13% – to be compared with the EU objective of a 20% reduction of greenhouse gases from 1990 to 2020. From 2005 to 2008 the reduction was 4%
- From 2000 to 2008 the energy efficiency in Kalmar County increased by 14% (expressed as kWh/GRP) – to be compared with the EU objective of a 20% more effective use of energy by 2020 compared with 2008.
Some examples
The overall goal is to become a fossil fuel free region, already by 2030. The region has moved on from ambitious political targets to specific actions, involving all parties in society, not least the citizens. As a result of the broad consensus in the society a large number of projects are currently already under way in all the focus areas, both in the form of work which has already commenced and various projects at the planning stage. Some examples:
- Long term work in active local authorities. In 2008, Kalmar was appointed as a pilot region in the national program “Sustainable Municipalities”, led by the National Energy Agency. Some examples are local programmes for energy efficiency in all municipalities and 100% renewable energy in public administrations.
- Climate-neutral public transport. More than half the public bus services in Kalmar County run on renewable fuels (biogas or RME). You can also visit an upgrading plant that uses slaughterhouse waste to create methane gas for vehicle-quality fuel. In Kalmar County, the public sector uses only eco-cars.
- Public awareness. This includes a “Climate Promise Campaign” aimed towards the citizens. More than 50% of the national “climate promises” came from citizens in the region.
- Biofuel-fired Combined Heat and Power plants (CHPs). In our region, we use the waste from the forestry industry to generate electricity and produce heat. Most of the cities and villages are connected to public district heating systems, using biofuels for heating. One example is the Moskogen plant, one of the world’s most modern CHP plants. The plant is fired with biofuels from the forest in the form of wood chips, bark and residues from the forestry and wood industries, as well as a small amount of peat.
- Renewable energy in industry. One example is Södra Cell Mönsterås, a big producer of pulp, but also of renewable energy. Roughly half of the wood brought into the mill goes to pulp, the rest becomes heating and electricity. Today, the mill produces more renewable energy than it uses, which means that the mill is “climate neutral”.
