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Working
with visions of a sustainable society
In
the project GöTEBORG 2050 we develop visions of a future city and
region of Göteborg in a sustainable world. Images of
a long-term sustainable future are used in the project to
stimulate and foster an accelerated movement towards sustainability
using a methodology called backcasting. The project GöTEBORG 2050
includes components of research, scenario development, support for
strategic planning, dialogue with the public, visualisations, and
support for demonstration projects.
The
project is a co-operative effort between the Chalmers University of
Technology and Göteborg University, the City of Göteborg with its
municipal administration, and the city energy utility (Göteborg
Energi AB) and other public municipal and regional companies.
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The
project is active in a number of planning processes in the
City of Göteborg and the Göteborg region, using the
backcasting method (see below). We supply visionary and
sustainability-focused input into the development of a new
energy plan for the city (Solar City Göteborg 2050). We are
also active in the planning processes for the city's urban
planning and the city's waste management planning. The
project is also supplying visionary input in a process where
the Göteborg region is evaluating sustainable transportation
futures.
The
project also reaches into the areas of building construction,
time use, industrial development, food, and consumption of
goods and services. |
Underlying all scenario work in the project is the
understanding that social
sustainability, The Good Life, is just as important as reaching
environmental sustainability. Another
important goal for the project is to have an outreach to the general
public. Through exhibitions, meetings, media interaction and
information work we
reach out to the citizens of Göteborg in order to show positive
visions of a sustainable future. The project is also proactive in
initiating demonstration projects that show the sustainable world
already today.
The project is supported by The City of Göteborg, Göteborg
Energi AB, Chalmers University of Technology and Göteborg
University. Additional financial support is received from the
Swedish National Energy Administration and the Swedish Research
Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning
(Formas), Region Västra Götaland and Renova.
The project work will be completed in 2004, but the
work for a sustainable future will continue within the Göteborg
Region.
Using backcasting in order to move towards
sustainability
In
the project GöTEBORG 2050 we use a method known as backcasting in
order to use visions of the future as a tool for fostering change
towards a more sustainable city and region. The method involves four
steps.
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1.
Analyse
the present situation
2.
Examine
and decide upon criteria for sustainability
3.
Create alternative scenarios
4.
Use the scenarios to promote change
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It is our conviction, after
working with this method for some time, that it is possible to use
visions and images of the future to accelerate the rate of sustainable
development.
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