The List Magazine - UN Sustainable Development Goals Special

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the LIST trondheim UN SDG SPECIAL 2021

MOBILITY

ACCESSING TRONDHEIM

INSIDE*

MAPPING SUSTAINABILITY

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THE LIST

THE UN SUSTAINABILITY CENTRE

ADVERTORIAL

The UN Sustainability Centre in Trondheim – a Geneva UN Charter of Exellence – was established in 2019 to provide a global model for how the public, private and knowledge sectors can work collaborativrely to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals and increase citizen engagement.

Launching the Sustainable Development Clinic The Sustainable Development Goals Clinic (SDG Clinic) is a student-designed and operated initiative aiming to include students in planning and devising solution concepts for proactive businesses, who are interested in making an impact.

“The SDG Clinic is a starting point for a sustainable future for businesses to get in the loop and learn how they can continue the cycle” shares Project coordinator, Kelly Kay Riedsel.

As part of the Centre for Sustainable Development in Trondheim, the SDG clinic is a service to local businesses looking to become more sustainable. Throughout the process students are provided the chance to work with businesses and hone their professional skills, while also developing valuable networks they will need as they enter the business sector.

Riedsel believes that “the clinic gave the student the opportunity to improve their consulting skills while the businesses learned what the future holds, circularity and opportunities they never imagined.” She further elaborates that the clinic ‘patients’, or companies, learned how to improve ‘symptoms’ in their quest to become healthier and more sustainable businesses.

In the latest version, the Clinic has focused on circularity, namely ways to reduce waste and reuse natural resources. Most businesses do not have experts on circular business models. At the same time, engaging with practitioners creates an opportunity to rethink theoretical models.

Keep updated on their activities at: trondheimkommune.no

In 2019 The United Nations identified Trondheim as a pioneer municipality in sustainable development, and awarded the city’s collaborative hub with the title: “Geneva UN Charter Centre of Excellence”. This action was heavily anchored in the Municipality’s progressive strategies and development work, together with the region’s knowledge sector. The status has catapulted Trondheim into a role as active changemaker.

In 2020 the Municipal Director of Trondheim established a governing institution, the Sustainability Centre, which further develops cooperation in the region by harnassing opportunities provided by the UN status.

The Sustainability Centre is a collaboration between Trondheim Municipality, Trøndelag County, The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, SINTEF, The Chamber of Commerce in the Greater Region of Trondheim, and Trøndelag European Office in Brussels.

In collaboration with the UN, the sustainability of almost 30 municipalities is currently being evaluated, where findings from this evaluation are then used to link local needs and opportunities to available solutions and resources.

To make the transition from data to solutions, partners develop and test new tools methodologies. The results from this trial are shared with both the UN and other regions in Norway through the National Sustainability Network.

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THE LIST

Jarle Hvidsten / Visit Trondheim

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Jaya Thomlison, Editor-in-chief

It’s a strange neo-society time following the Covid-19 pandemic, where people are treading lightly and just starting to open their doors. The List has meanwhile kept busy reinventing our contributor model, by expanding from the physical magazine and launching a blog-like site to share what’s going on in Trondheim. Share your thoughts at thelist.no We’ve also forged new collaborations. The List is happy to announce our partnership in a global project with the UN Sustainability Centre in Trondheim, where we’re set to collect and share stories of how everyday people do their part to make our cities and villages better places 2021 / UN SDG SPECIAL

to live. We do this by changing behaviours, patterns, and cultures to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Trondheim is one of a few cities in the world that has been invited into a nine-year UN project to ‘self-report’ on progress. The aim is to provide examples of change and storytelling, where small, everyday actions like using an electric bike, reducing your digital archives, or ensuring that you include younger women into places of decision-making – like board of directors – all contribute to meeting SDGs. This mini-issue explores and defines concepts like mobility and Sustainable 4

Value Creation. We’ve interviewed Kari Aina Eik, one of the city’s good partners, who is currently helping Trondheim improve how we improve programs and company policies.

We’ve also reached out to a number of ‘circular economy’ and zero emission transportation providers to hear about why they want to operate in Trondheim. We’ve mapped some ways you can get around by boat, bike, scooter, and (electric) car-sharing.

Mobility means creating access, both socially and physically. We hope that we can inspire you to get out there and be part of shaping solutions!

THE LIST

CONTRIBUTORS

COLOPHON The LIST thelist.no a division of The List Media AS Contacts and information Located at DIGS, Krambugata 2 7011 Trondheim, Norway Business/Publishing: +47 47370153 Editorial: editorial@thelist.no Circulation (ave.): 8,500 thelist.no

Jéleena del Prado

Photo editor at The List and media student at the Norwegian School of Photography, making crazy ideas go visual.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CO-FOUNDER Jaya Thomlison jaya@thelist.no STRATEGY DIRECTOR Cathrine Vik-Pedersen cathrine@thelist.no DEPUTY EDITOR Gwen Elliott gwen@thelist.no MARKETING COORDINATOR David Skarbø david@thelist.no

Gwen Elliott

Deputy editor at The List and library enthusiast, bringing a bit of Austin-Texas-weird to Trondheim and supporting literature-lovers.

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Jéleena del Prado jeleena@thelist.no For more information about distribution please contact editorial@thelist.no DESIGN Lewis McGuffie

David Skarbø

Content marketing coordinator at The List and final year student at BI, helping culture and business partners communicate in unexpectedly fun ways.

Rolf Dyrnes Svendsen

Media strategist at The List and Communications director at NorwAI, helping media adapt and transform with the use of new technologies.

CONTRIBUTORS Samah Elsaadi Kristian Mjøen THE BOARD Rolf Dyrnes Svendsen COVER Photography by Jéleena del Prado Printing Soporset 100g Skipnes, Travbaneveien 6, 7044 Trondheim Tel: 73 82 63 00 www.skipnes.no

PARTNERS

Samah Elsaadi

Evidence-based policy advisor at the Centre for Sustainable Development in Trondheim, sharing knowledge and smarter solutions to connect the Nordics and Lebanon.

Kristian Mjøen

Head of the Centre for Sustainable Development in Trondheim — a UN Centre of Excellence since 2019, supporting local doers and connecting good initiatives everywhere in the global arena.

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THE LIST

SDGs in the everyday

WHAT’S ALL THIS TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS?

Kari Aina Eik leads the United for Smart and Sustainable Cities

Implementation Program, U4SSC, a UN program supported by 17 UN organisations. Eik was recognised by Forbes as a “bridge builder” in 2018. Eik works as a consultant at the UN Centre of Excellence in Trondheim and will join Sparebank1 SMN in holding workshops to define Trondheim’s corporate social responsibility policies. These activities will help spread funding to good, sustainable projects kick-started by the local residents.

The List met with Eik to discuss the Smart Cities Program and how Trondheim implements bottom-up ideas that contribute to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on mobility.

So, what exactly is Sustainable Value Creation, or SVC, and how does this affect citizens?

SVC is an approach to implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, developed by the Centre for Sustainable Development in Trondheim. Here we emphasise the future potential to create local business opportunities and jobs, offering larger scale benefits for the region.

What is the link between sustainable development and SVC? Sustainable development is framed by 17 global goals and 169 targets anchored in value creation, including: no poverty; quality education; affordable clean energy; decent work and economic growth; reduced inequalities; and partnerships for the goals, amongst others. Realising these targets means implementing short-term activities that can build long-term results.

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SAMAH ELSAADI

Interview The List & Kristian Mjøen Photography The List, Jéleena del Prado

What kinds of collaborations are necessary to make an impact?

The SVC process connects three types of spaces / actors: The policy space (government), knowledge space (research, learning, and academia), and entrepreneurial space (startups and companies).

This translates into partnerships between policymakers, civil society, academia, and businesses.

This sounds like activities that are typically the basis for government policy, why is it important for citizens to engage in self-reporting?

Self-reporting is important in the identification of relevant opportunities and action, to show how the small-scale actions of residents, local business and knowledge sectors, along with municipalities, can demonstrate progress. This provides examples and models for other cities.

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What is the role of the UN Centre of Excellence in Trondheim?

The UN Centre is an extension of the UNs Smart and Sustainable Cities program, U4SSC, with an emphasis on data and their implications for local policy. We help to make connections and support the interactivity between policies, the knowledge sector, businesses, and citizens.

We often like to refer to ‘The Trondheim model’... is there any goal that we are particularly good at?

Trondheim has activities linked to all 17 global goals. From a SVC perspective, SDG 11 — focusing on sustainable cities and communities — are particularly important for some of the major projects. This works to helps cities and residents feel more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Where do we stand in terms of meeting SDGs as of 2021?

Trondheim, as a tech hub, is achieving a lot. This stands to benefit from a growing global demand for smart solutions. We also know that Trondheim, like most cities in Norway, needs to become more “circular” to save resources. There are a number of examples for this such as transport-sharing.

What is our greater societal impact?

Trondheim was recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the UN in 2019. The status was in part awarded because of the way the city opened itself up as a living lab for the Norwegian University of Technology and Science (NTNU) as part of the University City 3.0 program. This offered more options for researchers, developers, and students to test out their ideas throughout the region.

What is the importance of mobility?

Transportation systems have a major impact on climate gas emissions. Getting it right leads to less pollution, better use of public spaces, and better public services.

Modern mobility systems also drive social mobility as more people have access to affordable transportation services and access their region.

What can we all do, as inhabitants, to help meet the SDGs? Realisation of the SDGs is predicated on engagement and participation. Technical innovation is important, but it needs to be followed up by social innovations to have an impact.

While the SDGs are a reflection of serious challenges facing people and planet, they also represent a tremendous opportunity for value creation for anyone eager to be part of the solution.

THE LIST

I GET AROUND

In three years, Trondheim's Co2 transport output has fallen

3.9%

Mapping four circular economy ways to travel more sustainably in Trondheim: Bike, scooter, boat and car-sharing.

Sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products -- just a few words to describe what we mean by ‘circular economy’. This concept of business modelling creates both value in society and contributes to more sustainable, climate-friendly products and services. Naturally, this also strengthens the economy and provides jobs. Today circular economy examples can be visibly seen on streets the streets used by residents, everyday.

Trondheim has launched many sustainable passenger transport options, to name a few: autonomous-driving electric ferry prototypes, electric-powered Metro busses, refurbed Viking boats, electric bike startups, car sharing services, and of course the much discussed electric scooters. Today the majority of residents in the greater region of Trondheim make their everyday commute by sustainable means.

You can explore Trondheim and reduce your carbon-footprint.

Check out The List’s map of ways to get around Trondheim by land and sea.

Ane Furu Møller Mobility Group/Hyre —One car-share replaces seven to fifteen private cars on the road, which means a reduction in Co2 emissions. Car sharing also frees up space for people, housing and green areas throughout the city.

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Giedre Løvdal Trondheim Kajakk —Our tour goes down Nidelva from Tempe to Skansen. You are surrounded by nature and you can see the city from the river side. Many are surprised by how beautiful the city is from the view of the kayak and how relaxing it is

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4th Every

child in Trondheim bikes to elementary school, twice as many from 2015

Håvard Herjuan Trondheim City Bikes —The bike sharing system helps reduce vehicle emissions, congestion and fuel consumption. Trondheim City Bike is a fast, fun, flexible and environmentally friendly way to get around the city!

THE LIST

9.8% (SSB)

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There are circular economy and ride-sharing transport operators in Trondheim

McKenna Starck Visit Trondheim

72% go by foot if the distance is less than a km (Greener Trondheim, 2019)

Hyre Car Sharing City Bike Bicycle

—As both a foreigner and new resident in Trondheim, I’m of the mindset that access to quick and easy transportation is not just a luxury, but necessary for a better experience of the city and improved quality of life. If you are new to the city, you are essentially a tourist – so sustainable, accessible transportation with user-friendly navigation is a critical factor in connecting visitors and local to attractions and neighbourhoods worth visiting.

Trondheim Kajakk Kayak/boat el-Scooter Scooter

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Kjersti Hansen Eggen

Since 2015 Passenger water transport use has increased

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THE LIST

Glen Musk. Bikes and busses powered on renewable energy, populate the streets of Trondheim more than ever before

ADVERTORIAL

GREENER TRONDHEIM

‘Vær så god!’ Here are some fun-facts about mobility in Trondheim • The majority of residents living in Trondheim support road tolls: 53% positive and 20% negative. This distinguishes Trondheim from other towns, who are pressured by political parties against tolls.

• 10% of all trips in Trondheim are made by bike. This is the highest percentage of bicyclists in all of the major cities in Norway, despite the fact that Trondheim has a lot of hills and a frosty winter climate.

• Biking has increased by 70% since 2009. At the same time, use of collective passenger transport has increased by approximately 70%.

• Every fourth child in Trondheim bikes to elementary school, twice as many as in 2015.

• We’ve reached 30,000 new residents In Trondheim since 2009 without increasing our use of cars.

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...and here is one reason why our city is changing Greener Trondheim (Miljøpakken) was launched in 2009 as a collaboration between the municipality, county and state. This task force was established to meet ambitious climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and commuting.

Since 2009 Greener Trondheim has built 45 km of bike paths, infrastructure for large scale collective passenger transport and busses, created shortcuts for travel by foot, and helped increase safe school routes for children at 17 different schools. Greener Trondheim also subsidises the improvement and operation of collective transport, so that prices remain affordable for all of its passengers while services improve.

The majority of funding (50%) for Greener Trondheim is provided by the federal government through rewards and incentives. About 40% of funding comes from motorists in the form of 10

road tolls.

Greener Trondheim has invested over 1 billion euros into improvements since 2009, and is slated to invest another 1.6 billion until 2030. This means that Trondheims neighbourhoods and surrounding municipalities will become a little bit greener, with every year.

The transformation continues.

THE LIST

SOME WORK DOESN’T STOP ONCE YOU’VE RETIRED

‘Sustainability Berit,’ former Head of The Trondheim Public Library and a long-time politician now coordinates citizendriven dialogue and pop-ups in Trondheim’s colourful neighbourhoods and city-campus.

Berit Skillingsaas Nygård continues to be one of Trondheim’s highly politically active citizens, though she wouldn’t necessarily claim that accolade. Nygård currently collaborates with the UN Centre for Excellence in Trondheim as a consultant who fosters dialogue around sustainability, as well as coordinates local startups looking to test out new circular economy ideas. Nygård is involved in numerous social and civic projects at the municipal level, having previously worked as a teacher for over twenty years and employed as school principal for nearly as long. It is here that she developed her passion for citizen-driven learning and discourse.

Nygård has always had the drive to spread as much knowledge as possible, which motivated her to expand services at the Public Library beyond offering books to include interactive literary events and hands-on workshops and maker activities.

This enhanced social mobility, inclusion, and diversity in the city. She officially retired in 2020 but continues to work in her favourite arena of disseminating knowledge through the Trondheim Centre for Sustainable Development.

Pop-ups are short lived, experimental and often free events held in unique people-centred venues, ranging from temporary open public spaces to unused buildings or commercial retail spaces.

Lately, Nygård has been busy organising a pop-up to be held this summer at

Abels gate in the Elgeseter city-campus district, as part of the Living City Streets project. This pop-up teams up with IKEA who will place a container of lightly blemished, but very usable furniture for sale for the neighbourhoods’ residents and students. Activities could range from info sharing, to resale, to refurbishing.

“So much information comes to us all the time, which is why it is important that we create these temporary spaces to engage people where they are living their everyday lives. This is why we chose the Elgeseter neighbourhood as a pilot, where we will try to be accessible for people where they live and work.”

Nygård is also currently working on a YouTube series in collaboration with the Trondheim Public Library called

Visit the sustainability pop-up with Ikea @Living City Streets June 18th – September 12th, 2021 Abels gate, 7030 Trondheim Free Sustainable Berit

Words Gwen Elliott Photography Trondheim 2030 Magazine, Trondheim Municipality

Sustainability in Trondheim. These are published monthly and showcase businesses and public organisations that use the SDGs as their own strategic goals. She hosts community actors such as politicians, business owners, stakeholders, and various government workers.

As a recent retiree, Nygård insists though people may have had a more defined role in society prior to retiring, they can and should contribute in society in other ways to share their accumulated experience. In her role as Head Librarian, Nygård organised a different type of popup: a language café for immigrants wishing to advance their Norwegian language skills and meet locals. Most of the Norwegian participants were retired volunteers.

In response to how regular citizens, from children to grand-parents, could themselves realise the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Nygård shares that: “People ought to find the area that they can participate in. These SDGs are connected, so it could be that your contribution is helping older folks across the street, or even buying secondhand clothing. The most important thing is to start with your own life and see what you can do. Not everyone can buy a Tesla, but everyone can do a little.”

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Trondheim’s population has increased by

30,000 PEOPLE SINCE 2009

without any increase of cars on the streets.