Now Växjö – The Greenest City in Europe, puts the pressure on Europe concerning the issue of climate change

By the year 2030, Växjö is to be a “fossil fuel free” place. In order to us to succeed in this goal, it is required that more players in the community come together and work in the same direction. Therefore Växjö Municipality, Linnaeus University and Sustainable Småland, the organisation of the business community, are collectively presenting today the Växjö Declaration. The recipient was the Swedish Government.

In the declaration, the Swedish Government was urged to establish the goal of becoming the world's first fossil fuel free nation.

-“One must set high goals! When Växjö decided back in 1996 to become a fossil fuel free city, we were probably the first in the world with such a decision. The decision has been crucial to Växjö’s success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” observes Bo Frank (M), Chairman of the Växjö City Council.

-“We believe that a business community in the forefront is the winner for the future. Our production of articulated haulers in Braås outside Växjö is already fossil fuel free, and we want, via the Växjö Declaration, to show that it is possible to switch to renewable sources of energy and to encourage other businesses to take similar initiatives,” comments Niklas Nillroth, chairman of the Sustainable Småland and sustainability manager at Volvo Construction Equipment.

-“It feels good that our university can be a part of this and to be actively engaged in promoting local climate action. We have expertise in areas such as wood technology and bioenergy, which will be useful when we discuss future solutions for a fossil fuel free society,” remarks Stephen Hwang, Vice Chancellor at Linnaeus University.

Sweden is described today in the Växjö Declaration as a society where one is constantly extracting virgin resources, consuming them, and then casting them away. The authors of the Växjö Declaration would rather instead create instruments to steer the direction to a society where waste is regarded as a resource in a circular economy. In Växjö, we plan to build a “Reutilisation City,” which will contribute to recycling, reuse, and circular economy, not least by the Reutilisation City’s role in the innovation arena. The Reutilisation City will be realised via broad cooperation between multiple stakeholders in the city of Växjö.

-“It is important to think about the big picture. We believe that a Reutilisation City can benefit the local economy while reducing our environmental impact,” asserts Bo Frank (M), Chairman of the Växjö City Council.

Minister for Climate and the Environment Åsa Romson stands as the recipient of the Växjö Declaration

“The Växjö Declaration is a clear signal about the importance of working to achieve a fossil fuel future. I welcome the commitment. It inspires and strengthens the national government in its efforts to tighten up climate policy. Climate change is the fateful issues of time. Joint cooperation between companies, municipalities, regions and the national government is essential if we are to meet the challenge,” remarks Åsa Romson concerning the local initiative.

For more information and to comment

Bo Frank (M), Mayor of Växjö. Telephone: +46(0)470-413 90, +46(0)705-84 13 90

Niklas Nillroth, chairman of Sustainable Småland and sustainability manager at Volvo Construction Equipment Telephone: +46(0)470-387676