European Green City Index - Siemens

European Green City Index | Lessons from the leaders
CO2 emissions
It would be easy to be complacent about
greenhouse gas emissions in Oslo. The city’s
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per head, at 2.2
tonnes, are less than one-half of the 30-city
average of about 5 tonnes — itself lower than
the overall EU27 average of 8.46 tonnes. The
city benefits from its local natural resources:
high levels of rainfall, along with a mountainous
countryside, provide significant opportunity for
clean hydroelectric power. This is a boon in
Oslo’s efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. As a
result, Oslo’s emissions per unit of GDP, at 20.2
tonnes per million euros, are paltry compared
with the average across the study of around 356
tonnes or the broader European figure of more
than 339 tonnes. Simply put, if Europe as a
whole were to perform as well as Oslo, it would
surpass its overall carbon reduction targets.
Nevertheless, Oslo is at the top of the CO2
emissions category because it has not been satisfied
with its natural advantages, but has
instead drawn on leadership initiatives and a
range of sticks and carrots to increase its suc-
cess. To begin with, Oslo has set itself one of the
most ambitious carbon reduction targets in the
index: aiming to reduce emissions by 50% from
1990 levels by 2030, or a further 37.5% from
today. Guttorm Grundt, the environmental
affairs co-ordinator in Oslo’s Department of
Transport, Environment and Business, remarks
that such long-term goals are very helpful in
keeping progress on track.
The city administration has also tried to put
its own house in order. “To be credible we have
to act as a good example: 60 % of the city’s own
car fleet, for example, has no or very low (greenhouse
gas) emissions,” says Mr Grundt. The city
is even planning to use of biofuels derived from
human waste in its buses in 2012.
To spur residents to reduce their CO2 emissions,
Oslo provides both penalties and incentives.
It has promoted district heating, use of
which expanded by 36% between 2000 and
2006, and which relies largely on biofuels and
the city’s carbon-free electricity. Progress was
initially the result of regulatory fiat: Oslo gave a
monopoly to a district heating company, which
it largely owned, to provide all heat to any new
or thoroughly renovated buildings by refusing
permits to any construction plan that had other
sources of supply. At the same time, it required
municipal buildings to convert to district heating
and exerted strong moral pressure on other public
institutions such as hospitals and universities.
Mr Grundt says that others are now seeking the
service for commercial reasons. “More and more
private owners and developers are joining,” he
notes. “The prices are not much cheaper, but district
heating involves a lot less maintenance.”
The city has also taken an active role in reducing
transport-related CO2 emissions. Here, the
stick — in the form of Oslo’s congestion charge
— has had some effect, cutting existing traffic
by between 4% and 7% since its introduction.
Moreover, the charge has stopped private vehicle
travel from increasing in line with the city’s
fast growing population.
For those residents who wish to continue driving,
despite Oslo’s good public transport,
another emission-reduction strategy is the
switching of fuels. The city is encouraging the
use of electric and hybrid cars through various
inducements, including the waiving of city tolls
and parking charges, as well as the establishment
of electric charging points. “It started with
the enthusiasts,” notes Mr Grundt. “They formed
an association and put pressure on the politicians
to change the rules.” One key step was
allowing commuters with electric or hybrid vehicles
to drive in the city's dedicated public transport
lanes. As a result, the Oslo region now has
about 1,700 electric-only vehicles, excluding
hybrid cars.
Other strategies have also made judicious
use of taxes and inducements. The city’s €100
million Climate and Energy Fund, for example,
was funded by a tax on local electricity. Among
other things, it now provides a 50% grant for the
conversion of oil heaters to ones powered by
biofuels. With similar national grants in place,
Mr Grundt argues that there is “no excuse left
not to change.”
Ideas from
other cities
Berlin’s renewable energy focus is on solar
power. Among the city’s many initiatives is
Europe’s largest photovoltaic system on a residential
building, which produces 25,000
kwh annually.
Helsinki now has the world’s largest heat
pump, under centrally located Katri Vala Park.
It uses heat from wastewater and seawater to
provide district heating and cooling.
In January 2008, Madrid approved a €14
million Ecobarrio project to revitalise several
run-down neighbourhoods. These will include
a thermoelectric plant using biogas
from urban waste treatment and buildings
that capture solar power.
In Paris, Aéroports de Paris has launched an
intra-company car-sharing network. If just 5%
of airport employees use the network regularly,
it will save around 4,000 tonnes of CO2
emissions.
Copenhagen has set an ambitious goal of
becoming carbon neutral by 2025, building
on its existing climate plan which targets 50
specific initiatives in energy production,
transport, buildings and consumption.
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