“In town without my car” is an another event which was organised in the city centre by the Department of Environment, showing all the different ways of travelling within the city without using a car. The event was held as a part of the European mobility week between 16 and 22 September 2006. The event included a music show, fashion shows with extreme weather clothing, skateboard shows, bike competitions for children, bike promoting activities, information about car pools and “pimp my bike” with free minor bike repairs.
As part of the local media campaign, movie commercials were made showing simple things that the citizens can do to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide.
In addition, webpage on climate change was launched www.malmo.se/klimat with information about what climate change is and what you can do as a citizen. There is a film about climate change, a quiz, a test where you can measure your own emissions, an interactive home where you can learn more about energy-saving measures at home, etc.
Also three seminars were organised on climate change. One was about climate communication, another about climate and lifestyle and the third one about local adaptation. All of these activities can be used by other cities, perhaps not directly but with some adjustments.
So far, we have not seen any response by the citizens, but we had not expected that either. We have been doing a survey before we started the project and we will do another one in the spring 2007 to see if there is any difference. Among other things we asked a number of inhabitants if they knew what climate change is, if they thought they could do anything about it and if they thought that the city was doing anything. Within the SECURE project we are seeking to share our experiences from different cities and hope that new ideas can add value to the existing ones.
Johanna Ekne,
Environmental Department
The City of Malmö