Dr. Dieringer recently traveled to Sweden to learn about eco-municipalities, a topic she wants to bring back to enhance her dialectics class, Hon 240: Florida’s Future — Climate Change at Home. Here is what she wrote:
Sweden is so much more than meatballs, Ikea, and red, fish-shaped gummy candy. Unlike the U.S., Sweden embraces climate change and is determined to be more sustainable for its future. I was fortunate to participate in the Sustainable Sweden Association study tour during May 2024. Sweden has almost one-third of its 290 geographic areas designated as eco-municipalities. Eco-municipalities are communities dedicated to a sustainable way of life. I learned the theory and framework for developing eco-municipalities in large and small areas, even on our UT campus.
Sustainability is everywhere in Sweden. A clean water sign greeted me upon my arrival in Stockholm. I was skeptical, but the water was delicious. I filled my “Stanley” from the tap every day! I noticed wooden utensils in fast food places, and I was surprised to learn the cap from my Coke bottle was designed to remain part of the bottle. What a clever idea to protect our marine life from those pesky bottle caps.
Bottle Designed to Retain Cap
Clean Water Sign at Stokholm Airport
Eco-municipalities have three overlapping efforts. The first is environmental sustainability which preserves the environment for future generations. The second is economic sustainability which concentrates on individual human needs, and the third is social sustainability which responds to the long-term needs of society, e.g., health care. Just like a canoe, all efforts must be equally balanced to create a truly sustainable future.
The highlight of the tour was our visit to three eco-municipalities in the remote, rural area of northern Sweden, near the Arctic Circle. Our first stop was Kalix where the National Association of Swedish Eco-Municipalities (SEKOM) conference was being held. The annual conference brought representatives of successful eco-municipalities from all over Sweden. I was fortunate to network with many of them during fikas, the Swedish version of coffee breaks accompanied with delicious, sweet treats. They gave me great advice on starting a new eco-municipality at UT. One participant told me to, “Make things easy for people to do the right thing.”
SEKOM measurable indicators
I also toured the House of Care. This agency primarily serves home-bound elderly in the community. Their extensive fleet of electric cars allows clean and green transportation while providing this service. The next stop on the tour was Overtornea where I visited the village of Juoksengi, with a population of 300. I was delighted to converse about climate change and sustainability with the residents while enjoying locally grown food. Cucumber, tomatoes, and other vegetables are grown year-round in greenhouses. The entrée consisted of reindeer meat with a side of their famous potatoes.
Sustainable food production
Overtornea, and Sweden, are serious about recycling. There are no landfills in Sweden! Everything is recycled, reused, repurposed, burned cleanly for heat, or converted to biofuel. I soon realized I needed new luggage to transport my many souvenirs. My clunky, old, worn-out suitcase just wouldn’t do. Having purchased a set of two new suitcases, I needed to dispose of my old one. I adopted the Swedish mentality and proudly walked one mile, dragging my empty suitcase, to properly deposit it at a recycling center.
Electronic recycling center in Overtornea
My last stop before returning to Stockholm was Hudiksvall. It has been an eco-municipality since 2002. There I met with business representatives and economic development leaders. I learned how sustainability (environmental, economic, and social) is considered in all aspects of government decision making. Businesses report annual sustainability measures to help monitor the city’s progress meeting sustainability goals.
Sweden electricity generation is fossil free. This created a determination to produce more with electricity. Hiab is a sustainable business in Hudiksvall that produces fully electric cranes. Electronic cranes are incredibly quiet which is better for the operators and allows for nighttime use. Hiab’s website calculates the dollar value of savings as well as the carbon reduction from implementing their electric canes.
Hiab fully electric truck and crane
Operating the electric crane by remote control
I am grateful for this opportunity to travel to Sweden. I expected to learn about eco- municipality theory and experience practical sustainability strategies to incorporate in my HON 240 climate change class. I left educated and encouraged by the seemingly small actions that became the momentum for big changes. My spirit was renewed and filled with confidence for a sustainable future.
Workshop presenter slide “Seeing the present and the vision of a sustainable future”