Conclusion 2024: Part 1 – Morning Inspiration
The network’s morning meetings keep the discussion going on current themes in Nordic urban development and are meant to inspire through examples from research, policy and practice. It is also a forum to show and share what is going on in the member cities, something that this year has proven to be some of the most appreciated entries, where we have seen a particular interest in projects where new forms of collaborations have opened new doors and shown positive results.
With the combination of examples where it is allowed to get technical with planning terms with thought-provoking new research, the idea is that not only the morning meetings can inspire and give new perspectives, but also contribute to starting conversations and collaborations across the member cities. Next year, we hope to get even more politicians involved in the conversation and get closer to decision-making and policy change as a tool.
The theme Vibrant Cities – how to develop attractive and sustainable urban environments? unfolded a wide spectrum of topics in the three morning meetings this spring – from data tools for climate adaptation to retail, tourism, child-friendly cities, food systems, sustainable transportation and joint regional plans across municipality borders. Looking in retrospect across all topics discussed, some burning platforms start to emerge: No surprise, climate is high on the agenda for all member cities, and it is shown in most entries either directly, through examples of knowledge and tools for adaptation, or indirectly through how planning and policy can spark behavioral change to reduce emissions.
The newer topic on the agenda is loneliness, and a growing need for community. Frequently discussed topics such as inclusivity, care and local neighborhood life shows the importance of taking seriously how the way we plan our cities must create spontaneous meeting and caring neighborhoods. Thirdly, to find solutions for complex burning challenges such as climate change and loneliness, we need to invent new collaborations. We simply cannot tackle many of the challenges we are facing on our own. To a larger extent than today we need to collaborate across municipalities, across private and public sectors, across departments and with the citizens of our cities.
These are realizations we bring with us when starting a new year of Nordic City Network discussions. With the anniversary coming up in 2025, even more focus will be on highlighting projects from you, the members, where we are sure we will find inspiration for how to collaborate in new ways, how to adapt to new climates and reduce our footprint, and how to create thriving communities, where people don’t feel lonely.