Case Study: using complementary currency to drive volunteering and collaboration
PLACE: County of Uppland, Sweden
SITUATION: Despite best efforts, rural areas – even some close to large cities – are experiencing a decline in population, investment and or services. As unemployment is rising, and the production of services is moving away from the area, the ability of the area to handle challenges such as economic downturn, food shortages, freak climate, power failure etc. is decreasing.
When disaster strikes, the authorities and corporations cannot alone be relied upon, it is up to citizens to meet these challenges.
SECONDARY SITUATION: The above applies too, to the task forming the sustainable society. The challenges are similar but the time-frames differ. Firm public engagement, and collaboration between authorities and businesses is needed to meet the nation’s ambitious environmental goals.
FRAMING QUESTION: Are there tools available that can be used to encourage citizens to take part in developing the sustainable society, tools and approaches that can encourage them to contribute their time and skills to developing a local resilient capability? Is so, how can these tools be implemented? How can corporations and authorities be involved? Read More…
Case Study: investigating fees on phosphorus to usher in the circular economy
PLACE: Baltic Islands, Sweden
SITUATION: The Baltic sea is close to a tipping point, where phosphorous trapped in sediment may well start to be released. Regardless of whether emissions stop completely, there is a risk that the living eco-system will be threatened by this influx of nutrients. It may completely destroy all food chains through a massive algal blooming, for example. Read More…
Case Study: Walking maps
PLACE: Huddinge Municipality, part of Greater Stockholm, Sweden
SITUATION: The Municipality had decided to set up a circular “walk for your heart trail”. The problem is that the municipality is so large, and has so many places that make fine walks it looked like the trail would not have the impact intended, as too few would use it, either because it was too far away or because the options were better and so many. Read More…