To create an inclusive and climate-neutral municipality through collaboration with the civic society

Through a Living Lab the municipality of Umeå will develop and test new forms of cooperation with civic associations to work on climate issues, based on previous experiences of partnership and cooperation with associations and networks of citizens.Umeå municipality has tested a form for collaborating with associations around climate issues: the Reference Group with civic society organizations in Umeå´s climate transition.

The experiences from the work with the reference group have resulted in two questions: 1) how the relationship between associations and the municipality can be organized in order to work innovatively with climate issues and 2) how inclusive dialogues about climate change can be created where associations feel committed and involved.

The project will be led by a steering group with civil servants from Umeå municipality as well as researchers from RISE and Umeå University. A project manager will be employed for 12 months for organising the Living Lab, with support from the steering group.

The results from the project will be communicated nationally and internationally through Umeå Municipality´s participation in Viable Cities. as well as through the communication channels at RISE and Umeå University.