Introduction

The aim of the project was to implement environmental policies in local urban planning by developing methods which create environmentally-sound local administration and government.
The main task was to demonstrate a series of measures supporting sustainable development in an area (30 000 inhabitants) of central Copenhagen, Denmark, through co-operation between the local district council and grassroots organisations. The project delivered a manual, which can be used to disseminate practical results and experience with recycling and reuse.

Objectives and target audience

The objective is an environmentally-sound approach to local administration through cooperation between the local authorities and the community.

Financial Resources and Partners involved

The total cost of the work was € 1204740 contribution with LIFE amounted to € 602,370.
The beneficiary is: District Council of Inner Nørrebro, Postboks 2238, Sjællandgade 38, DK-2200 Copenhagen N.

Process

The ECO-city 97–99 project was a demonstration model for the development of an environmental urban district. The project consisted of several eco-improvement actions and was based on new forms of cooperation between grass-roots organisations and the district council, increased involvement of the local community and a change in social behaviour. The goal was increased environmental awareness and shared responsibility for sustainable development in densely populated urban areas. The project involved collaboration between two local urban districts: Indre Nørrebro, Copenhagen, Denmark, and Lundby, Gothenburg, Sweden.
The eco-city project supported a wide variety of projects contributing to the environment and the quality of life in the district. For example, preparatory work and a number of pilot projects eventually led to the creation of recycling centres throughout the district. The district kept green accounts, and this concept found its way into institutions and housing associations. Environmental nature-playgrounds, an environmentally-friendly timber business, green jobs and many more environmentally-sound elements were established.
The project also tested ways of integrating environmental parameters into local planning and administration, and supporting the development of local environmentally-friendly production and activities.
Project results, innovations and resulting new knowledge have been summarised and synthesised in a green manual as a guide to building an eco-city.
The green manual has been made available to the public on the Internet, and at the same time functions as a link between the project, local users and the outside world.

Results

The steps taken by the eco-city project should make it more attractive to stay in the city. The project supported many environmentally-positive projects, which make the demonstration district greener than before. A number of visible, practical results were achieved, which can be divided into two main areas:
1.    The development of a model of cooperation between NGOs, citizens, and the district council, in which all parties have the opportunity to use their resources optimally in working for a sustainable district.
2.    Devising and implementing concrete demonstration projects, which provide much experience and can be used as tools in future comprehensive developments of sustainable urban districts in accordance with the new objectives.
Practical work on the project improved the dialogue between the district’s citizens and institutions. Close and constructive cooperation was established between the district, the NGOs and the people, which is a tool for achieving more effective environmental planning.
The eco-city project demonstrated the environmentally-friendly establishment of nature playgrounds/ outdoor areas, gave an overview of institutional resource consumption and enabled several institutions to achieve real savings.
The waste project proved that it is possible to increase waste sorting and recycling considerably. Waste production was reduced by 40 %, in line with the original target. The project also delivered a practical framework for increasing the amount of construction waste that is recycled.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

Green training/education programmes and new jobs and businesses were created under the project. This shows new scope for a green approach to production and business.