Rich decadent chocolate; Brawny and Fearless Vikings; Towering and Perilous Mountain Ranges. These are a few things that spring to mind when discussing the gloriously beautiful country of Sweden. But the dark chocolate isn’t the only thing on the menu.
After a recession nearly obliterated Sweden’s most industrial city Malmo in the 1980s, the city (soon followed by the rest of the country) was given a clean slate on which to start things anew. Come the dawn of a new decade, Malmo had transformed from an industrial powerhouse bogged down with pollution and litter, to an eco-friendly front-runner that is making waves amongst its nosey european neighbors.
The transformation was a long and arduous one, but one of necessity. Malmo created green neighborhoods out of old dilapidated tenements and ancient shipyards. Furthermore, most of the Western Harbour now runs solely on renewable energy, including wind and solar, while organic waste from the area is recycled into biogas.
In Augustenborg, roof gardens reduce runoff and insulate homes, while the carpool system and pedestrian and bike-friendly paths help cut down on vehicle use. Moreover, the city hopes to reduce its CO2 emissions by 25% between now and 2012, blowing the Kyoto Protocol’s 5% target out of the water!
Although considered a relatively smaller country amongst its excessively larger neighbors, Sweden is setting and obtaining colossal goals that are grasping world-wide attention. From it’s eco-friendly neighborhoods, to recycled biogas, Sweden is creating a new green lifestyle which is slowly and steadily gaining notoriety on a world-wide front. Have YOU helped saved the world today?
For more information, visit: fastcompany.com
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