@mariestad
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Climate Love
Climate Review Score ranking:
Mariestad Kommun
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Mariestad municipality has signed a “climate contract” through the project Viable Cities, committing Mariestad to take and report the necessary climate action every year to reach the goal of a climate neutral municipality by 2030. The purpose of the contract is to outline and cement Mariestad’s Agenda 2030 strategy, while the other parties commit to supporting Mariestad with research, financing, and access to networks that make the transition possible. On December 8th of 2022, the chairman of the local government board of Mariestad, Johan Abrahamsson, went to Stockholm to sign the climate contract along with 22 other Swedish cities. An important aspect of the contract is sharing knowledge and experiences between the 23 cities. Mariestad will use this opportunity to share our work in producing fossil-free hydrogen as fuel. The contract also details some key areas in which Mariestad will work to become climate neutral by 2030. The key areas are integrated into the Mariestad Agenda 2030 strategy and include: - Youth participation and education - Developing municipality-owned land to support and maintain biodiversity - Cooperation between the municipality and non-state actors like business, academia, civil society, and citizens Another key action included in the contract is a climate investment plan that intends to drive public and private sector investments towards climate-friendly solutions. Development of the climate investment plan started in late 2022 and will guide the financial decisions of the municipality going forward. The climate transition must affect all operations in the municipality, and as such, the strategy covers the whole organization and will guide decisions in all departments of Mariestad municipality. This is made even more important by the recently announced establishment of a Volvo battery factory in Mariestad. While this allows us to share our sustainable industry experience with Volvo, it also presents a challenge. The new factory will bring an influx of new workers to the city, requiring the construction of new houses, infrastructure, and potentially even whole new residential areas. The climate contract means that this has to be done in a way that doesn’t compromise the emission reduction goals. Last year’s construction of Sweden’s first fossil-free preschool run entirely by solar power and hydrogen is a start, but much more will need to be done. “Mariestad has for a long time had a clear climate focus through long-term, goal-oriented work in innovation, industrial evolution, and green transition. We are a small municipality that dares to think big. Through Climate Contract 2030 we strengthen our ambitions in continuing to be a responsible actor for a sustainable society for all,” says Johan Abrahamsson, chairman of the local government board in Mariestad. Read more (In Swedish): https://mariestad.se/Mariestads-kommun/Kommun--politik/Artikelarkiv-kommun-och-politik/2022-12-08-Mariestad-skriver-pa-Klimatkontrakt-2030---for-en-hallbar-framtid
Mariestad Kommun
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Look at the 8-storey building in the picture. There is something odd about it. But in a good way. There is no concrete in the walls, and no steel in the beams. And the climate footprint is lower than for any comparable building in the country. The wooden building in the picture is currently being erected in Mariestad, Sweden, which is not a coincidence. The municipality of Mariestad has gained international recognition for consistently pushing the envelope in terms of climate action. ”Mariestad has a very good track record in raising the bar on sustainability, and those are the kind of municipalities where we want to play an active role”, says Rolf Alexander, Marketing Manager at Vernum Fastigheter, the housing company responsible for constructing the wooden building in Mariestad. Vernum Fastigheter was born only one and a half years ago, but the founders have worked together for many years in other constellations in the construction industry. ”About four years ago, we became aware of the enormous climate footprint associated with using concrete and steel, and we realized we needed to change our way of constructing buildings”, says Rolf Alexander. Because of this, Vernum Fastigheter only builds wooden houses. The climate effect of this choice is huge. According to extensive life cycle analyses done by the Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL) and the Royal Institute of Technology KTH, a wooden house from Vernum Fastigheter can be built and used for 100 years before having the same climate footprint as a newly constructed house made with concrete and steel. ”Currently, our preferred material of choice is wood, simply because it is the most sustainable construction material on the market. But should other materials be invented that are even better for the climate, we will start using those instead”, says Rolf Alexander. Vernum Fasigheter is constantly looking for new ways to lower the carbon footprint of its buildings, with a set goal to reduce it from today’s 176 kilo of carbon equivalents per square meter, down to under 100. ”We believe it is important to be transparent and show the actual carbon footprint of a building. Nowadays one often sees companies labeling their products as climate-neutral or even climate positive, and we could do so as well by showing how much carbon can be sequestered in our buildings and by including our solar panels and other features in our calculations, but it is not a productive way to bring your emissions down. You have to be honest with the numbers.” Digitalization is an important tool for Vernum Fastigheter in terms of sustainability. ”We have developed a digital system in which the whole construction process is defined in our digital platform. This is a unique tool that gives us all follow-up numbers and calculations we need to act upon until the house is ready to be handed over to the tenant. By doing so, we can minimize not only loss of resources, but also loss of time and loss of money in the production process”, says Rolf Alexander. Vernum Fastigheters wooden houses are built in ”portable factories” on-site. See this film (in Swedish) and learn more. To further minimize loss and reduce waste, Vernum Fastigheter is finding new ways to take care of as much material as possible in the construction process. ”Today, 75 percent of our managed forests are used for products with a short life span. We try to use some of those in our buildings, thereby turning them into long-term products. For example, we are using wood-fibre for insulation, as was done a hundred years ago. By doing so, Vernum Fastigheter is also reducing the emissions from its supply chain, often referred to as scope 3 emissions. ”We try to minimize the use of emission-heavy materials, such as glue, plastics and rubber mats. More than 90 percent of all materials in our buildings are wood”, says Rolf Alexander. To lower transport emissions, Vernum Fastigheter only uses wood produced locally in Sweden. And instead of transporting the buildings in the form of pre-fabricated modules, which also means transporting a lot of air, the material used for the buildings is packed effectively, IKEA-style, before being loaded as cargo on the trucks. The climate benefits of wooden houses are well-known. But also bring health benefits to the people living in them. Research has shown that living in a house made of wood can reduce stress levels. The houses built by Vernum Fastigheter also come with the highest acoustic standards and meets all required fire safety regulations. FACT BOX: MARIESTAD - Mariestad municipality (population 25,000) is located in Lake Vänern archipelago, a UNESCO Biosphere reserve. Biosphere Reserves involve local communities and all interested stakeholders in the mission to becoming a model region for sustainable development. - Mariestad is also home to Electrivillage, a venture that involves testing and demonstration of sustainable transport and energy systems in the biosphere reserve. ElectriVillage is the way forward for Mariestad to meet ambitious climate goals like the Agenda 2030 for a fossil-free society and the Paris Agreement. There is currently no other model region in the world that exhibit a combination of sustainable transport and energy systems like the one of ElectriVillage. - Mariestad established the world's first solar-power powered hydrogen gas station in 2018 and last year constructed a fossil-free preschool, powered by innovative energy solutions. - Volvo Group is currently establishing a battery plant for trucks and other heavy vehicles in Mariestad. -
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Impressive building method to save our planet
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Super interesting! Vernum Fastigheter shows that there are ways to do things differently and better for the planet
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This is true Climate leadership! Really impressed by Mariestad!
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@Johannes_Luiga we are as well! MARIESTAD is an example of leadership and guts!!
Johannes Luiga
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Truly encouraging visiting city of Mariestad today in western Sweden where the coming battery plant from AB Volvo will be located. A big congrats to the great team at Mariestad once again is showing the way to a climate smart city and community 💚
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Awesome happenings for Mariestad
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Great news for Mariestad!
Mariestad Kommun
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The Swedish countryside is a popular vacation destination, with its beautiful nature views and the freedom to roam protected by law. The problem is that it’s hard to make it to the countryside to experience this, and you’re often left with the car as your only option to reasonably make it there. On World Bicycle Day, June 3rd, 2022, Mariestad municipality collaborated with the other municipalities around Lake Vänern to launch a bicycle route that runs along the coast of Sweden’s biggest lake to make it easy to get out and experience the beauty of Swedish nature and countryside. The larger cities around the lake like Mariestad, Karlstad and Vänersborg allow you to reach the route by public transport, and thanks to an online travel guide, it’s easy to find your way around the lake and visit tourist attractions and places to eat or sleep on your bike. The 640-kilometer (400-mile) route is divided into four legs that you can complete in one day each. Mariestad is the linking point between two of these legs, and many of our local sights are on display for tourists to visit while they stop here for the night. The online travel guide will show you where you can spend the night, either under the stars on a camping site or in the comfort of a proper bed at a hotel or lodging house on the way. It will also show you where to find service stations in case your bicycle doesn’t last the whole journey. If you cannot bring your own bike, there are locations where you can rent a bike for the trip. By highlighting what you can accomplish on the world’s most climate-friendly vehicle - the bike - while having a great vacation experience, we hope to inspire more people to leave their car behind and come closer to nature while leaving it cleaner than they otherwise would. We would be delighted to hear which other municipalities do this, or which ones should do it in the future. Take a look at the online travel guide and let us know in the comment below if you would like to see the same thing in another municipality: https://en.vanerleden.se/
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It's even a healthier alternative
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This is amazing! I wish Sweden to focus 100% on this and become the most cyclist friendly country 🙏🤸🏻♀️
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Making low carbon and natural experiences easily available to people is one of the best things a municipality can do for the climate. The reason is that on top of reducing the direct emissions from the vacations of the people that take part in this, it also creates a stronger connection to nature for them, making them more likely to advocate for more nature preservation in conversations and when voting. Great action, Mariestad!
Mariestad Kommun
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Climate-smart vertical farming is on the rise, and Mariestad is excited to welcome the innovative tech company Grönska to our municipality. Imagine being able to go to your local Swedish store or restaurant in midwinter and get hold of super-fresh, locally produced herbs and vegetables – harvested on-site. Impossible? Not any more. Thanks to Grönska’s portable farming modules, a variety of greens can be grown, produced and harvested anywhere – and at any time of the year. Grönska’s vertical farming method comes with many environmental and climate benefits. It’s energy-efficient, it uses 95 percent less water than free-land farming, it’s pesticide-free, and it uses far less space than traditional farming. Grönska’s produce is also grown in compostable posts and packaged in paper. The module, called GrowOff, is a vertical indoor farm, with the looks of a modern display cabinet. It is packed with sensors and smart solutions that make it very easy to use. The module collects data 24/7 and tells you exactly when it’s time to remove the covers of the plants, and when to harvest the produce. The whole process can be monitored from the customer’s smartphone. ”Tech has always been at the core of our business model and our way of thinking. How could we do things in a smarter and more effective way? For example, we have developed our own illumination system, and we have made sure we only use the exact amount of water that is needed for each plant. And thanks to the closed-circuit system, no water and no nutrients go to waste”, says Natalie de Brun, CFO, and co-founder of Grönska. Moreover, Grönska (Swedish for Greenery) takes the concept of “locally produced” to a whole new level, since its plants can actually be grown and harvested in the same grocery store or restaurant where they are sold. Which of course also minimizes the need for transportation. Born in a basement on the outskirts of Stockholm in 2014, Grönska has grown almost as quickly as its plants. In 2018 the company inaugurated one of Europe’s largest vertical farms, and at the beginning of 2022 the company expanded its business to Mariestad, where a new manufacturing facility for the production of the GrowOff farming modules has just been set up. ”We wanted to manufacture our products locally instead of setting up a facility in lower-cost regions, like Eastern Europe”, says Patrik Vidlund, Production Manager at Grönska. ”We have had many conversations with Susanné Wallner [Business Manager of Mariestad], and we were really attracted by Mariestads willingness and eagerness to support solutions for a sustainable future.” Another thing that attracted Grönska was Electrivillage, Mariestad’s model area for sustainable development. Electrivillage is a venture that involves testing and demonstration of sustainable transport and energy systems that will help Mariestad meets its ambitious climate goals like the Agenda 2030 for a fossil-free society and the Paris agreement. ”We also believe in the workforce of a small town. There is a lot of knowledge in tech and montage here, which could be of great use to us”, says Patrik Vidlund. At the time of this interview, Grönska’s Mariestad facility has just finished the production of the first few Growoff modules. Before the end of the next financial year, at least 100 modules will have been delivered. ”Currently, we only have two employees working here. But before the end of the year, we hope there will be ten of us”, says Patrik Vidlund. Susanné Wallner, Business Manager at Mariestad, is super happy with having Grönska set up its construction facility in the municipality. ”We have for some time now worked to help Grönska establish its manufacturing facility here. This establishment is completely in line with our focus on industrial sustainability, and it shows that our work with Electrivillage is paying off. We hope to attract more companies of this kind, but also to see more of our existing companies taking steps to become more sustainable”, she says. Read the previous articles in this series: - Lugnåsberget Ekohotell – a sustainable way to spend the night - UW-ELAST – a polyurethane company taking climate action - Rapsodine – leading the circular way for the skincare industry
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Are there companies that support the ideas of sustainability projects and achieve great financial profit?
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This is great if it's energy-efficient! A lot of criticism of vertical indoor farming is how much more energy it uses than traditional free land farming. So I would love to know more about the energy efficiency part :)
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Wow! Really inspiring and congrats Susanné and Mariestad to your persistent and long term sustainability work💚
Mariestad Kommun
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With locally produced food and electricity, refurbished furniture and re-used building materials, Lugnåsberget Ekohotell offers a truly sustainable experience – without cutting down on quality. In a series of articles published on our Climate Dialogue page on We Don’t Have Time, the municipality of Mariestad aims to highlight local companies and entrepreneurs that take great climate action to reduce emissions and make their businesses more sustainable. This time, we’ll take a closer look at Lugnåsberget Ekohotell (Eco Hotel), a lovely spot surrounded by forests, walking trails and grazing sheep, 15 kilometers southwest of central Mariestad. Owners Jesper Persson and Pia Åkesson happened to see the “For Sale” sign outside the property back in 2010, and decided to pursue their long-standing dream of opening up a hostel. To save money as well as planetary resources, they re-used a lot of building material and bought most of the furniture second-hand. That did not mean cutting down on quality. ”We wanted to have a good standard from the start, so we chose to install toilets and showers in each room, which is not very common in hostels”, says Jesper Persson. This proved to be a wise move. Already during its first year on the market, Lugnåsberget was voted best Swedish hostel of the year. In 2019 Jesper and Pia took the next big step, transforming Lugnåsberget from a hostel to a hotel, while still making sure to keep the eco profile. A few examples: Triple glass windows and low-flow faucets in all rooms keeps heating costs and water consumption down. The rooftop solar panels produce enough electricity to power the facilities from May until October. The hotel also has its own biological waste-water treatment plant, as well as waste separation and recycling bins available for all guests. Locally produced breakfast baskets are served to all guests, who also have the option of preordering dinner made from locally sourced, ecological ingredients. Guests are also allowed to cook their own meals in the fully equipped guest kitchen. ”Our hotel is situated a bit aside from everything else. By offering this service, our guests don’t need to take the car into town”, says Jesper Persson. Should the guests want to head into town anyway, but in a more sustainable manner, the hotel has bicycles for rent. To raise awareness among their guests, Jesper and Pia have put a display right outside the hotel front door, showing how much electricity is currently generated from the solar panels. In each of the rooms there are small information signs letting the guests know what measures have been taken to keep the carbon footprint down, and also – in a nice way – informing them what they could do to help reduce it further. ”We are trying to create awareness in a very friendly and encouraging manner, and we get lot of credit from our guests for doing so. When writing in our hotel guest book, many of our guests commend our sustainability work”, says Jesper Persson. Does this mean that the hotel’s focus on sustainability attracts more customers than it would otherwise have done? ”We haven’t been able to measure it in a good way, but we really think it does”, says Jesper Persson. Read our previous articles in the series: • UW-ELAST – a polyurethane company taking climate action • Rapsodine – leading the circular way for the skincare industry
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A reason to visit Mariestad!
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Fantastic. Would love to stay there with my family on my next visit to Mariestad.
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Incredible!! Definitely on the list to visit.
Mariestad Kommun
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As a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Mariestad municipality is a model area for sustainable solutions. We want our citizens to be aware of and inspired by this, and give them practical knowledge about the solutions that have been implemented in our city. On December 23rd, we launched a new way of doing this, in the form of a guided tour through central Mariestad. The tour is around 8 km long and has 5 stops where citizens and visitors can see and learn more about some of the sustainable solutions that we have implemented in the energy sector and others! Some examples of the solutions on display are: - The world’s first hydrogen fuelling station that runs on solar cells. - Sweden's first preschool run by solar power and hydrogen. - A trash can that uses solar power to compress waste and signal when it is ready to be emptied. The tour can be accessed through an app on your smartphone, and it will also give information on how these solutions contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. We are hoping that this can increase awareness and discussion around how cities and societies can be more sustainable. Read more on our website (in Swedish): https://mariestad.se/Mariestads-kommun/Hallbarhet--miljo/Strategiskt-hallbarhetsarbete/Agenda-2030/ElectriVillage-Mariestad/Artiklar/Artikelarkiv-Electrivillage/2021-12-23-Hallbarhet-i-praktiken---en-rundtur-i-Mariestad
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This would definitely work in my city
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I think all cities should do this, this is a good idea to learn about your city in another way
Mariestad Kommun
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Nilsson Energy and their parent company REH2 are, funded by the investment company Qarlbo, making an unprecedented investment to establish Sweden’s and Europe’s first network of green hydrogen fuelling stations. With financial support from the Swedish governmental initiative Klimatklivet, the plan is to build 24 stations. The project is an important step in Sweden’s and the EU’s plans to establish a fossil free fuel infrastructure. In its initial phase, nine hydrogen fuelling stations are to be built by 2024, and Mariestad is the site for the first one. The remaining 15 stations are to be completed by the end of 2025. This project is hoping to accelerate the development of hydrogen powered vehicles and to push transport buyers to start demanding fossil free transports. “Our investment is unique for Europe. While there are hydrogen filling stations in other countries, Sweden has the prerequisites to deliver a network of hydrogen filling stations with only green hydrogen. There is no one else who can provide this today”, says Martina Wettin, co-founder of Nilsson Energy. Read more: https://nilssonenergy.com/press-release-unique-investment-to-build-europes-first-network-of-green-hydrogen-filling-stations/ Listen to our Business Manager, Susanné Wallner, talking about it on Swedish Radio (in Swedish): https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/mariestad-forst-ut-i-stor-satsning-pa-vatgas
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Quite an intriguing concept
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Congrats Mariestad! Very interesting project
Sarah Chabane
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The small town from southern Sweden is the only Swedish municipality invited to the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow. Mariestad will be an active participant with a rich programme with international and regional partners during its three-day-long visit and will show how small towns have opportunities to make an impact in the transition. “It is absolutely fantastic that a small municipality gets the opportunity to be involved and show examples of industrial renewal and sustainable development. Electrivillage has put us on the international map ", said Susanné Wallner Business Manager for Mariestad Municipality. Mariestad Municipality will have a delegation in Glasgow consisting of the Johan Abrahamsson Chairman of the Municipal Executive Board, Susanné Wallner Business Manager and Development Manager Jonas Johansson. Mariestad has been designated by Unesco to be a model area of sustainability (Biosphere). ElectriVillage is a venture that involves testing and demonstration of sustainable transport and energy systems in the model area. Recently Mariestad joined the "Viable cities" initiative, 23 Swedish cities working together to become climate-neutral and sustainable cities. Keep your eyes open for @wedonthavetime and @mariestad collaboration during COP26! You can read more about Mariestad in their profile: https://app.wedonthavetime.org/profile/mariestad Here is the episode of Climate Action News programme with Susanné Wallner: https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/413353d0-0013-41a6-8c15-f9f952ae1dbb
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Wonderful
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Truly wowing and worth the UNESCO recognition as a standout global model on sustainability.hoping other towns will draw Inspiration to follow suit.
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Thank you Peter we do our best to keep up the good work.
Mariestad Kommun
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Mariestad is one of 23 Swedish cities that will work with “Viable Cities” and four agencies to become climate neutral and sustainable cities. Mariestad is aiming to become climate neutral by 2030. Photo: André Nordblom By working together we increase the possibilities of finding mutual solutions to the large societal challenges that the climate crisis entails. The cities that are part of the collaboration, which kicks off on October 1st, are Mariestad, Enköping, Järfälla, Göteborg, Lund, Malmö, Stockholm, Umeå, Uppsala, Växjö, Borlänge, Borås, Eskilstuna, Gävle, Helsingborg, Kalmar, Karlstad, Kristianstad, Linköping, Nacka, Skellefteå, Örebro and Östersund. The purpose of Viable Cities is to test new ways of working, new solutions and to learn from each other. It is about what is good for business, the citizens and the national economy, and of course what is good for the climate. In Mariestad we will, among other things, test sharing services for vehicles, and work with citizen dialogue. Concrete actions As a start of the coming three years of work, all cities will be invited to a series of workshops during the autumn. The participants will, among other things, be introduced to a unique tool - Klimatkontrakt 2030 (Climate Contract 2030) - which concretizes what cities and agencies commit to doing to accelerate the climate transition. It is very positive that we can now up the pace in the work towards reaching an industrial transition in the corporate sector and work together with our citizens to reach the climate goals”, says Johan Abrahamsson (M), chairman of the local government board in Mariestad. A central part of Viable Cities is Klimatkontrakt 2030 which is a mutual agreement between Swedish cities and the national level to speed up development to reach climate neutral cities. Concretely, this is an agreement between Mariestad and the Swedish Energy Agency, Vinnova, Formas and the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth. One of the things that the agencies commit to is alleviating funding for efforts in the climate transition. Read this press release in Swedish
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Seems pretty tight knit?
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What is the population of Mariestad? If they are successfully transitioning that could be a blueprint for other Northern cities of similar size.
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In Mariestad municipality live 24 500 people and in the city there live 16 600 people. We will work hard for a transitioning and hope to inspire other cities as well.
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Hi Cynthia and Maria. The 23 cities / municipalities that are now part of Climate Neutral Cities 2030 together represent about 40 % of the total population in Sweden. At Viable Cities, we are very happy that Mariestad is joining in the efforts to accelerate climate and sustainability transition in cities. A lot of cities, big and small, need to move a lot faster to keep global warming in check and create a sustainable future.
Mariestad Kommun
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We are proud to be a partner to the Exponential Climate Action Summit III - Circularity and the Race To Zero on September 23rd, 2 PM CEST. Visit the website to read the full program and register for the event: wedonthavetime.org/circularity https://youtu.be/iK15rwNXxW0
Adam Wallin
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Thank to Mariestad's work with carbon free hydrogen gas, the Swedish security company Securitas has elected to patrol with a hydrogen car in the municipality. For a company that needs to use their car so much for their daily work, this is a great effort to reduce emissions. Thank you for offering the infrastructure to make real change, Mariestad municipality! Read more in Swedish: https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/securitassverige/pressreleases/solgenererad-vaetgas-rullar-securitasbil-i-mariestad-3119052
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We in ElectriVillage - Mariestad Municipality thank you all for all the Agrees. It makes us want to work even harder to reach the Global Sustainable Development Goals!
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Thank you for supporting our work. In Mariestad.
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That's great! A good practice that other Swedish cities should follow
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Influencing climate action in society. Way to go, @mariestad!
Mariestad Kommun
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Listen to our Business Manager Susanné Wallner in this episode of the Power Up podcast!: https://www.powerelectronicsnews.com/is-hydrogen-the-next-step-for-energy-podcast/ "The zero net emission target by 2050 implies complete decarbonization of the economy, also favoring a transition for the most polluting sectors which find it more difficult to move away from fossil fuels. Decarbonization is a global issue and Hydrogen is one of the elements that will contribute to the zero-emissions target and is emerging as the most promising alternative energy. In this podcast, we will talk about hydrogen technologies with Susanné Wallner, Business Manager of Mariestad municipality, who is responsible for ElectriVillage, a test and demonstration site in the municipality. The site will host industrial renewal and sustainable development projects aimed at achieving the sustainability goals in Agenda 2030 and create new business opportunities; We will also talk with Patrick Le Fèvre, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Powerbox. Patrick firmly believes that Hydrogen is not a dream anymore, but a reality."
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Thank you, interesting podcast 👍🏻
Mariestad Kommun
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ElectriVillage in Mariestad Municipality together with multiple stakeholders just got a project approved to support business during Corona. To be able to deliver wares in a safe and sustainable way we have, among other things, tested and developed a packaging that secures the cooling chain. The tests involved partially finding a new innovative material, developed by Stora Enso, but also to secure the cooling chain for grocery transports. The Taxi service and the grocery chain Coop in Mariestad are now working with deliveries and the first order was tested about 2 weeks ago. Freelway is the company behind the digital transport coordination, as well as the unique temperature control required for uninterrupted cooling chains in the deliveries. The happy news is that this is still being used, and that Coop and Taxi Mariestad are collaborating to deliver in a more sustainable and efficient way. We at ElectriVillage Mariestad Municipality who work with these issues think it's great to take part in a project that can show the savings in transport and coordination to achieve sustainable and industrial innovation to reach our climate targets. The purpose of the project was initially also to create value and possibilities to send wares safely and sustainably during a pandemic, but it also fulfills the demands during regular circumstances, and therefore we are even happier to be able to use a service that coordinates and creates value regardless of society's circumstances. For us in Mariestad Municipality it also feels good to be able to contribute as a testing and demonstration site for something that can later be used in the companies' operations at a larger scale.
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@mariestad continues to be a role model for all other municipalities in Sweden 🌱
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A great example of the enormous capability for municipalities to coordinate multi-stakeholder processes to create positive change for everyone!
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Wow! Truly encouraging! Keep up the good work!
Sven Nilson
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Varför har ni inte något om WDHT på hemsidan?
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Det är en bra idé och såklart borde vi ha information om det på kommunens webbsida. Vi försöker ordna det så snart vi kan.
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Bra fråga! Borde vi ha alla svenska kommuner som partners?
Johannes Luiga
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According to Swedish Agricultural newspaper ATL, Barclays is predicting 150 times more Hydrogen to be used in the future compared to today’s situation. I hereby send a Climate love to the Swedish city of Mariestad that already two years ago built the world’s first solar driven fueling Hydrogen station. Keep up the good work Mariestad💚 https://www.atl.nu/teknik/vatgassektorn-kommer-att-vaxa-kraftigt/
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Thank you for the fine words! It's exciting to see the development around hydrogen gas and to see what opportunities it can open up for a climate friendly future in our society.
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A true role model for other cities in Sweden and cities around the world! ♥️
Mariestad Kommun
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We are building Sweden's first preschool run by solar power and hydrogen. The school will be self-sustainable in terms of energy consumtion, all year around. Follow us on this journey towards a more sustainable future for our children. (You can add English subtitles to the Swedish video using YouTube's settings) https://youtu.be/BKMN0-kRQWg
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On last year earth week, I appreciated what you do overthere Sweden. God bless!
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Inspiring indeed
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Your community is showing the world how to do great things for the environment. Thanks for being a role model
Mariestad Kommun
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Sustainability is the foundation for all development in Mariestad. Our municipality is located in Lake Vänern archipelago, which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Biosphere Reserves involve local communities and all interested stakeholders to become a model region for sustainable development. Mariestad is also home to Electrivillage, a unique venture that involves testing and demonstrating sustainable transport and energy systems in the biosphere reserve. In a series of articles published on our Climate Dialogue Page on We Don’t Have Time, we highlight some of the impressive climate action taking place within the companies in our municipality. Last week we presented Rapsodine. Today we'll take a closer look at UW-ELAST. ”It is with pride that we present our next company that is investing in the future. It’s great to have companies in very different sectors that see business opportunities in working sustainably”, says Susanné Wallner, business manager with a special focus on sustainability, in Mariestad municipality. UW-ELAST manufactures custom-made polyurethane components to clients worldwide. Polyurethane is an oil-based material, and might not be the first thing that comes to mind when discussing climate action and sustainability. But UW-ELAST might prove you wrong. First, and maybe most importantly: The products made by UW-ELAST are very durable. ”The climate-friendliest product is the one that is never made, and if we can construct products that will last for decades, without having to replace them with new ones, that’s probably the best thing we could do for the climate. We never mass-produce, and we always strive to offer the right polyurethane of the highest possible quality”, says Magnus Ahl, head of sustainability at UW-ELAST in Mariestad. One important sector for UW-ELAST is the off-shore wind industry. For instance, UW-ELAST manufactures gigantic one-tonne fenders, which are used by vessels when boarding off-shore wind power stations for construction and maintenance work. ”When using the fenders to hook on to the platform, the vessel doesn’t need to work the engines as hard to keep the boat from drifting. This actually saves a lot of fossil fuel”, says Magnus Ahl. High-performance fenders for boarding off-shore wind turbine foundations, produced by UW-ELAST. The company has also taken several steps to actively reduce its own climate footprint. In 2018 UW-ELAST started using the Green-House Gas Protocol to measure all in-house and value-chain emissions. It turned out that the company emits 4,9 kg of CO2 for every kilo of polyurethane manufactured. ”80 percent of our value-chain emissions come from the production of the raw materials that we use. This means we need to start putting more pressure on our suppliers”, says Magnus Ahl. To reduce its emissions UW-ELAST has changed its heating system in Mariestad from oil to district heating, and switched to 100 percent renewable electricity. The company has also started replacing fossil-fuel vehicles with electric ones. Thanks to these efforts, emissions were reduced by 17 percent from 2018 to 2020. All the stats are made available for anyone to look at on the company website. The numbers are even more visible for clients, since the carbon footprint from each customer order is calculated and presented on the offer. ”It’s a way of displaying both the emissions, and how we compensate for them”, says Magnus Ahl. UW-ELAST compensates for all its greenhouse gas emissions by funding a solar park in India. ”We are well aware of the ongoing debate regarding climate compensation as a kind of get-out-of-jail-free card. But the important thing to remember is that climate compensation should always be the last step, never the first.” Magnus Ahl, head of sustainability at UW-ELAST in Mariestad. UW-ELAST will soon start constructing its own solar park, on municipal land. ”Our politicians gave us the green light a month ago, so now it’s time to start making it happen”, says Magnus Ahl. When finished, the solar park will produce 200 000 kWh in a typical year, which would provide UW-ELAST with 11 percent of its current electricity demand. ”Since it will be situated right next to the main entrance road, it will also give us a great marketing value.” According to Magnus Ahl, polyurethan will be around for many years to come, because of its durability and unique features. But he is trying to stay updated on the latest development, and he says there is a lot of interesting research going on, both in terms of bioplastics and in making polyurethan recyclable. In the meantime, UW-ELAST will continue to reduce its emissions year by year. ”It would say we can probably halve our emissions in five-ten years”, says Magnus Ahl. FACT BOX UW-ELAST, based in Mariestad and Traryd, is Scandinavia’s leading manufacturer of molded products in polyurethane. Its customers and partners are found in many industries, from large, heavy and well-known steel and paper industries, to small and medium-sized companies. UW-ELAST is not a large and fully automated industry. Most of the steps in the process are pure craftsmanship that requires great care. The company currently has 65 employees.
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Wow. This is maybe one of the most sustainable plastic company? Great article and good climate action. I hope they will find an alternative to fossil-based plastic.
Mariestad Kommun
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Mariestad hälsar Biofuel Express välkommen! På deras station är det nu är möjligt att tanka fossilfria gröna bränslen. - Mariestad satsar målmedvetet på miljösmarta lösningar. Därför välkomnar vi extra varmt Biofuel Express anläggning. Detta stärker även Mariestads strategiska läge i Norden som ett mycket gott logistiskt läge, säger Erik Randén, exploateringschef i Mariestads kommun kommun. Läs mer: https://www.biofuel-express.com/%ef%bb%bfmariestad-station/
Mariestad Kommun
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”In the municipality of Mariestad in Sweden, we are proud to see so much climate action going on in many of our local companies. I would therefore like to take the opportunity to share some of these encouraging developments with you. Hopefully, this can inspire others to follow in their footsteps”, says Susanné Wallner, business manager with a special focus on sustainability, in Mariestad municipality. In this first article, we’ll introduce you to Rapsodine, a local skincare company that has come a long way in terms of sustainability. Rapsodine produces and manufactures skin care and cleaning products based on organic, cold-pressed Swedish rapeseed oil. The ingredients are vegetable and mostly organic, and many of the products are perfume-free and thereby free of allergens. Body lotion, shower cream, shower oil, liquid soap, shampoo and conditioner can be refilled in Rapsodine’s own factory shop in Mariestad. Lately Rapsodine has been focusing on reducing the climate footprint of packaging, in many different ways. ”Just as with the content, we want the packages to be locally produced. We have replaced all the plastic in our bottles with bioplastic, and we never use extra packaging for our products. Also, many of our products can be used by all family members, which is another way to reduce the number of packaging used in each household”, says Lotta Johansson Lönn, product and brand manager at Rapsodine in Mariestad. The company’s latest bold step is to remove packaging completely. The idea started about a year ago when Gram contacted the company and asked about the possibility to sell Rapsodine products in their package-free grocery store in Malmoe. ”At first we were skeptical. There are so many regulations governing cosmetics. But then we started thinking about the possibilities instead”, says Lotta Johansson Lönn. ”We have now delivered package-free liquid soap, shampoo, conditioner och shower cream to Gram for over a year. It’s been a success.” Lotta Johansson Lönn at Rapsodine’s refill station in Mariestad. In September last year Rapsodine set up refill stations in the own factory in Mariestad. Customers can now bring their own bottles and cans to the store, fill them up and pay by weight. ”We were not sure how our customers would react, but the response has been very positive. They are now asking us to make the refill service available for more products”, says Lotta Johansson Lönn. Once emptied, the durable ten-litre refill cans are cleaned and put back into production. ”We are the first Swedish brand to create a circular system of this kind. In the long run we could save 98 per pent of our plastics by re-using all our plastic bottles as many times as possible”, says Lotta Johansson Lönn. Rapsodine has also begun making the production process more resource-efficient. One way of minimizing the waste is to not throw away products with minor manufacturing faults, but to sell them at a lower price as factory seconds. Rapsodine is now about to launch its package-free concept to all retailers, which will make it possible for them to set up their own refill stations in shops around the country. ”It won’t stop here. We have very ambitious plans for the future”, says Lotta Johansson Lönn. FACT BOX: MARIESTAD Mariestad municipality is located in Lake Vänern archipelago, a UNESCO Biosphere reserve. Biosphere Reserves involve local communities and all interested stakeholders in the mission to becoming a model region for sustainable development. Mariestad is also home to Electrivillage, a venture that involves testing and demonstration of sustainable transport and energy systems in the biosphere reserve. ElectriVillage is the way forward for Mariestad to meet ambitious climate goals like the Agenda 2030 for a fossil-free society and the Paris Agreement. There is currently no other model region in the world that exhibit a combination of sustainable transport and energy systems like the one of ElectriVillage. Mariestad established the world's first solar power powered hydrogen gas station in 2018 and is currently building a fossil-free preschool, powered by innovative energy solutions. FACT BOX: RAPSODINE Rapsodine is a family-owned Swedish company that produces organic, vegan skincare and cleaning products. The company was founded in Mariestad in 1992 and has currently 7 employees. The products are based on cold-pressed rapeseed oil, which is produced on an organic farm in Southern Sweden. All products are made in the company's factory in Mariestad.
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Great! Way to go Mariestad!
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Awesome!
Mariestad Kommun
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Is hydrogen the solution to power shortage and the climate crisis? Watch Anders Lundell, president of Hydrogen Sweden (Vätgas Sverige) in this interesting interview. English subtitles are available through the YouTube player's menu in the bottom right! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qayZ7nTtkak
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This is interesting. What I like most is the political courage and political will of Mariestad. I would like to know how many cars are there making use of the free filling of Hydrogen and how is It going in your town?
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The municipality of Mariestad are using 14 hydrogen cars and they are all filled up at the Hydrogen filling station. There is also one private user that we know of and a couple of other cars passing by that also uses the station.
Rainer Bartesch
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Hi, here's Rainer Bartesch, german composer and environmental activist. I have written a 24-minute oratorio entitled "Our World Is On Fire" in order to create more awareness for climate change and communicate this subject in a more emotional than intellectual way. The premiere will be on June 12th in Munich, but in the meantime I will create a global virtual performance where every one and anyone can participate! Have a look at: https://our-world-is-on-fire.org I know you are not a big city, but maybe it's possible to perform the oratorio in your community too? Kind regards, Rainer www.rainerbartesch.de contact@rainerbartesch.de
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Mariestad Kommun
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Mariestad municipality is given the award “Årets Hjulklapp” (Wheel* Present of the Year) by Motormännen Sverige The award has been presented every year since 2000 with the purpose to acknowledge traffic issues of environment, security, mobility or economy. Earlier recipients have been scientists, activists, organizations, pedagogues, police, politicians and developers, and this year we at Mariestad municipality can take our place among the winners! Mariestad received the award for opening the world’s first fueling station where hydrogen gas is created on site and which is open for everyone. The fueling station is unique since it’s not connected to the power grid and is entirely self-sufficient in energy through solar cells. Motormännen Sverige hopes that more municipalities will acknowledge our work and follow our example. The motivation for the award from Motormännen Sverige is as follows: “By opening the world’s first fueling station for hydrogen gas that is not connected to the power grid, and making the station available to the public, Mariestad municipality has created an example of green transition for car use which is a good example for every other Swedish municipality to follow. Hydrogen gas is one of many fuel alternatives that help achieve a fossil free vehicle fleet. By opening this station, Mariestad municipality has created both the conditions for green car tourism and an example of working locally to reduce transport emissions.” We are honored and very happy to receive the award from Motormännen Sverige. Mariestad municipality’s efforts create ripples on the water and this honorary award makes the municipality more attractive, both as a town of residence and one of industry. We are the small municipality that takes initiative and shows that you can transition even with small amounts of resources, says Johan Abrahamsson, local government representative (M) in Mariestad municipality. Other than the glory, the winner gets a diploma, flowers and the plantation of a €1000 forest in the area around Victoria lake in Eastern Africa. In picture, from left to right: Chief of Development Jonas Johansson, Development Strategist Susanné Wallner, Chair of the Local Government Board Johan Abrahamsson and Head of Mariestad local government Kristofer Svensson. *The Swedish words for "Wheel" and "Christmas" sound the same, hence the name "Wheel Present"
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Mariestad is really worth the price and I hope that many municipalities will follow Mariestad´s initiative, as we need alternatives to electric cars.
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Big congrats!
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Thank you Patrick Kiash🎄
Ingmar Rentzhog
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The new preschool has a unique energy solution and the project is part of Mariestad municipality's sustainable project "ElectriVillage". Solar cells on the preschool's roof will provide most of the energy needs. Hydrogen gas is produced from the surplus electricity, which is both produced and stored in a building outside the school building. During the dark period of the year when the sun is not enough to cover the energy needs, the hydrogen gas is converted into electrical and thermal energy that is used for operation and heating. - It is with care for our youngest municipal residents and the children's future that we build this preschool. We in Mariestad municipality once again show that we have the ability to go from words to action to drive development forward through another innovative energy solution towards a fossil-free tomorrow, says Johan Abrahamsson (M), municipal councilor in Mariestad municipality. The supplier for the energy solution is Nilsson Energy. - We are very happy and proud to deliver a complete RE8760 renewable energy system to the preschool in Mariestad. Here we break common ground and show that it is possible to store renewable energy until it is needed and that it is relevant to locally produce green hydrogen as an energy carrier, says Pontus Lundgren, CEO, Nilsson Energy. The project will start construction in October 2020 and is expected to be completed in January 2022. Illustration: https://www.serneke.se/media/nyheter/serneke-och-mariestads-kommun-bygger-forskola-med-unik-energilosning/
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This is a very innovative and praiseworthy project. Congratulations!
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@Mariestad is taking another exceptional step and is showing the big guys that Mariestad is doing better than them. Where there is a will, there is a way!
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Mariestad is truly leading the way! Thanks💚
Mariestad Kommun
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New pre-school will power itself using a new energy innovation! We have just started building Kronoparkens pre-school. The pre-school will have capacity for 140 children and will be powered by an innovative systems solution. Mariestad is growing and to meet the need for future pre-school slots we are now starting the production of a new sustainable pre-school with eight sections. The design of the pre-school is guided by sustainability (both in education and environment), proximity and connections. The school is planned for use from January 1st 2022. The pre-school will be based on innovative energy solutions. Solar panels on the roof will produce the electricity for the pre-school. Any excess energy is stored as hydrogen gas, which can be used for power and heating during the winter months. - We are building this pre-school with consideration for our youngest citizens and the future of our children. Once again, Mariestad municipality is showing that we can go from words to action and drive development towards a fossil free tomorrow, through yet another innovative energy solution, says Johan Abrahamsson, local government commissioner in Mariestad municipality. Läs mer (svenska): https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/mariestads_kommun/pressreleases/inbjudan-till-presstraeff-och-foersta-spadtaget-foer-kronoparkens-nya-foerskola-3039828
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Wow. Truly great!
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I agree, this is how we should think when planning for new buildings!
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Great collaboration.
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Great to see cities taking the climate crisis seriously!
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Great to see them interested in combating climate change