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GREEN CITIES : 

1 GREEN CITIES – AN ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIP

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2 In 2000, a handful of Danish municipalities joined forces on how to solve day to day environmental tasks. The Green Cities partnership came into existence - now with eight municipalities as members.

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Cooperation commitment : 

4 Cooperation commitment Being a Green Cities municipality means showing commitment. We set high standards and subject our work to an official audit every year.

Environmental cooperation commitment : 

5 Environmental cooperation commitment The Green Cities framework has been set up in a common agreement, which includes 10 sustainability areas and 16 common benchmarks for how to fulfill the goals.

Payment : 

6 Payment Green Cities municipalities pay an annual fee to “keep the wheels going” . These payment are used for working group activities, conferences, newsletters, website maintenance and further information.

Organization : 

7 Organization We work in three levels: The Steering Committee is our primary body. This is where political, organisational and financial decisions regarding the Green Cities partnership are being made The Directors Group monitors all cases that are considered at Green Cities level

The Working Groups : 

8 The Working Groups We have six working groups on: Chemicals Climate Nature Organic food Sustainable construction Sustainable purchasing

EU projects : 

9 EU projects In 2004 the partnership received a contribution from the EU Life-programme, worth DKK 7.5 mill. The grant was used for supporting and developing the partnership, based on the “Environmental Management at City Level” theme.

Carbon Network - a climate project : 

10 Carbon Network - a climate project In 2009 Green Cities has, together with the Danish Association of Local Government, applied the EU for a contribution to the “Carbon Network”; a project that seeks to optimize climate effort towards energy-consuming industries in the seven member municipalities.

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GREEN CITIES : 

12 GREEN CITIES Climate vision

Green Cities climate vision : 

13 Green Cities climate vision Energy consumption should be CO2 neutral. Joint climate benchmarks: To reduce CO2 emissions by 25% before 2015, compared to 2006 figures. All municipalities will draw up climate plans which describe how this benchmark will be met.

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The Municipal Enterprise : 

15 The Municipal Enterprise The municipalities are setting good examples by implementing climate initiatives in a number of areas within their own enterprise organisation: Purchasing of sustainable (“green”) electricity Sustainable purchasing (“green”) policies Sustainable renovation and refitting of existing buildings Sustainable construction of new buildings Environmental certification of the entire municipal enterprise

Encouraging renewables : 

16 Encouraging renewables The municipalities are encouraging the use of renewables both when planning, when cooperating with other parties, and in the projects they participate in: District heating from refuse combustion Biofuels Sustainable (”green”) electricity Solar and wind energy

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Traffic : 

18 Traffic The municipalities want to create sustainable alternatives to car traffic by: Improving cycle conditions and conditions for public transportation Providing of “Mobility Management” Establishing a framework for using electric and hydrogen cars

Companies : 

19 Companies The municipalities want to motivate private sector companies to reduce their energy consumption. One of their approaches is climate networks for companies who want to reduce their climate impact. These networks offer various benefits, such as free energy counselling, expert presen- tations and workshops, and focus groups, comprising participants from the business community, different associations and citizen representatives.

Citizens : 

20 Citizens The municipalities want to encourage sustainable citizen behaviour and choices, and they want to provide a proper framework for this. Some of their approaches are: Citizen projects The Citizen Climate Ambassador scheme Village projects Involving children and offering education

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GREEN CITIES : 

22 GREEN CITIES Environmental Management

Environmental Management : 

23 Environmental Management Municipal environmental management ensures that the environment and the climate are included in all processes, at all levels. The Green Cities target is to ensure that all institutions and civil services are environmentally certified and are operating in accordance with environmental management principles by 2015.

Environmental Management puts environmental work into system : 

24 Environmental Management puts environmental work into system The municipality will set up a detailed scheme for including environmental and climate considerations in all activities. All civil services and institutions will set up an environmental policy and work out targets and action plans. The municipalities will follow up on the continuous progress to ensure a reduction of the municipal environmental impact.

The environment will become part of each employee’s normal workday : 

25 The environment will become part of each employee’s normal workday All employees are encouraged to help achieve the environmental benchmarks, for instance by: Making sure that municipal purchasers are considering environmental aspects before they decide on their purchases Making sure that everyone reduces their consumption of electricity, heating, and water, and that everyone are aware of how to sort their waste correctly

Benchmarks and communication : 

26 All institutions must have some kind of environmental benchmark, like: Each municipality should ensure continuous communication with the employees about the progress of environmental efforts. Benchmarks and communication Sustainable renovation and refitting of childcare premises Establishing organically driven children’s vegetable patches Shifting to serving organic food in residential homes

The first municipalities in the world to receive environmental certification : 

27 The first municipalities in the world to receive environmental certification In 2007, the municipality of Albertslund was the first municipality to become 100% EMAS environmentally certified in Europe. The municipalities of Ballerup, Copenhagen, Herning and Kolding operate according to environmental management principles in parts of the municipal sector. Albertslund has gained valuable experience from working full scale within the environmental management system. The other Green Cities municipalities now benefit from their knowledge.

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GREEN CITIES : 

29 GREEN CITIES The Nature

Green Cities nature visions and benchmarks : 

30 Green Cities nature visions and benchmarks The vision To maintain abundant opportunities for adventure in a biologically diversified natural environment, cultivated in accordance with ecological principles Joint benchmarks To have stopped the loss of biological diversity by 2010, and to have increased the number of species by 2015 To run municipal agricultural areas in accordance with ecological principles Climate changes and human activities take their toll on nature, and it is therefore important to set targets and start initiatives to preserve biological diversification.

Increased biological diversity : 

31 Increased biological diversity Larger natural areas will increase the number of species Diversified landscape and natural habitats will increase the number of species Improved transitions between different nature areas will provide better opportunities for more species to spread and find safe habitats Improved transitions between different nature areas will provide better opportunities for more species to spread and find safe habitats A focussed improvement of nature areas will ensure the survival of vulnerable and threatened species

Sustainable nature from cities to open country : 

32 Sustainable nature from cities to open country Urban green areas should provide biodiversity and recreative opportunities Urban green areas should merge into nature areas beyond the city limits for the benefit of people, plants and animals

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Planning, communicating and cooperating : 

34 Planning, communicating and cooperating Our employees plan the maintenance and preservation of nature areas in the municipality. They also make it possible for citizens to use the areas for recreation and various activities Nature schools and nature interpreters communicate knowledge and understanding of ecological environments to all ages Citizens and landowners will be included in eco-policy discussions and planning to encourage their sense of responsibility towards initiatives and solutions

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GREEN CITIES : 

36 GREEN CITIES Green purchasing

Green Cities encourage green purchasing : 

37 Green Cities encourage green purchasing Green purchasing encourages sustainable production and consumption. Green Cities will therefore establish green purchasing policies which include detailed environmental benchmarks. Public purchases amount to 10-20% of the GDP, so it makes a difference when municipalities demand that the products and services they buy are environmentally sustainable.

Toolbox for green purchasing : 

38 Toolbox for green purchasing Green Cities are preparing a toolbox to assist in green purchasing. The toolbox will contain: A description of green purchases in the Green Cities municipalities Definitions of purchasing concepts Overview of environmental requirements and criteria, nationally and at EU-levels. Joint Green Cities environmental requirements and criteria for selected products.

Green Cities benchmarks for green purchasing : 

39 Green Cities benchmarks for green purchasing Joint Green Cities environmental requirements and criteria must support the other joint benchmarks: Chemicals - products must be free from hazardous chemicals CO2 -special requirements to production, energy consumption and transportation of the products Organic food - all food must be organic Environmentally certified products and life cycle appraisal of products help us achieve our targets

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Examples of green purchasing : 

41 Examples of green purchasing Preferred electrical appliances and cars: The most effective, A-rated electrical appliances. CO2 impact/km from cars should be minimal. Preferred cleaning and construction materials: Should not contain any of the 13 chemicals which have been blacklisted by Green Cities

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GREEN CITIES : 

43 GREEN CITIES Ecology

Green Cities are shifting to organic produce : 

44 Green Cities are shifting to organic produce Organic farming increases the natural and biological diversity, protects the ground water, the climate and human health in general. This is why we want to use only organic produce. Joint benchmarks All municipal food consumption should be organic At least 75% must be organic by 2012

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Climate and eco-considerations : 

46 Climate and eco-considerations Shifting to consuming only organic food in the Green Cities municipalities makes it necessary to consider the climate. We do this through recommending a reduced intake of meat and increased intake of seasonal vegetables making better use of all raw materials and minimizing waste demanding climate considerations from our suppliers, for instance in terms of transportation and packaging

Organic food in all kitchens : 

47 Organic food in all kitchens Child care institutions: lemonade and cake have been replaced by fruit and milk. The result is happier and healthier children Schools: lunch packets have been replaced with school food, for instance organic wholemeal sandwiches with salad and chicken. Organic nutrients are fuel for brains and increased learning Residential homes: the vegetables and the milk taste like they used to do, when the residents were children. Organic food contains more natural flavours

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GREEN CITIES : 

49 GREEN CITIES Anchorage

Sustainable development initiatives must be anchored : 

50 Sustainable development initiatives must be anchored Anchorage is when actions and choices are influenced in the right direction. Anchoring sustainability is one of the cornerstones in the Green Cities project. We want to inspire citizens, companies and the public sector to become conscious about their environmental impact and be committed to playing an active part in sustainable development of the environment.

Sustainable anchorage in the citizen community : 

51 Sustainable anchorage in the citizen community Green lifestyles and choices in the community are essential for creating sustainable development. Green Cities have therefore initiated various activities for and together with the citizens. Examples are: Launching an internet campaign that gives advice to citizens on how to cut down on their CO2 emission An event, in which celebrities got on their bicycles and advocated for the importance of choosing the bicycle instead of the car

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53 Further examples: Establishing networks in which citizens can discuss ”green” initiatives with municipal representatives This will create a bigger sense of responsibility among the citizens Launching various local projects, such as having a village determine its own climate benchmarks and work towards reducing its CO2 emission School education about the climate. Children contribute to family climate habits

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Anchoring sustainability in the business community : 

55 Anchoring sustainability in the business community The municipalities cannot solve the climate and environmental challenges alone. Green Cities are therefore engaged in formal cooperation with the business community. The key words in this cooperation are dialogue, voluntariness and commitment. In Company Networks, the municipality is cooperating with local companies to create sustainable development When the local business community contributes to creating a municipal climate plan, they feel a stronger responsibility for achieving CO2 reduction benchmarks

Anchorage of sustainability within the municipality : 

56 Anchorage of sustainability within the municipality Sustainability initiatives must also be anchored within the municipality. Green Cities are committed to including sustainability principles in all policies and service areas. Each municipality must set a good example. We are committed to ensuring that all municipal institutions have received an environmental certificate by 2015.

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