{Seminar "NORDIC GREEN: Urban Development Strategies. Innovative Solutions of Nordic Countries", 2014}
On October 2, 2014 seminar “Nordic Green: Urban Development Strategies. Innovative Solutions by Nordic Countries”, organized by Nordic Countries Consulates General, Nordic Council of Ministers Information Office and Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg, was held under St. Petersburg International Innovation Forum in the context of Nordic Week.
The main theme of the seminar is relevant for the majority of the fast growing cities in the world: creating comfortable environment for the citizens’ life by "green" solutions.
Seminar started in a very unusual way: Consulates General of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, as well as representatives of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg arrived at LenExpo on bicycles. All St. Petersburg citizens are familiar with the problem of traffic jams and air pollution. Northern Europe countries has begun to think about it several years ago, and now in these countries bicycle is mode of transport rather than a sports passion. It is possible to ride a bike not only in a sportswear, but also in a business suit, that was shown by the participants of the cycle ride. That way Consulates General wanted to support efforts of the St. Petersburg authorities.
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The participants shared experience in "green" urban development of their countries. Bo Asmus Kjeldgaard, Copenhagen's mayor for technical issues from 1998 to 2011, Director General, Greennovation (Denmark), made a report on the successful transformation of Copenhagen in the best city in the world for cyclists. Paul Yeltason, Chairman of the Committee on Urban Planning and Environment, Reykjavik (Iceland), spoke of the decision-making process to develop the city in its existing borders, despite the steady increase in population. At the same time in Reykjavik will be improved public transport system and saved all the historical monuments and green plants.
Satu Paihia, Representative of the Technical Research Centre of Finland VTT, presented an interesting project dedicated to the study of energy efficiency opportunities while renovating typical residential buildings in Russia on the example of research areas in Zelenograd.
Eivind Hartmann, Representative of Norway, Director of Planning, HAV Eiendom, presented one of the most ambitious urban development projects in Oslo: development of the coastal area in the heart of the Norwegian capital, where previously had been located port facilities and road junction. According to the plans, it will be a new urban area where it will be residential and office space, as well as several buildings of cultural significance.
Daniel Firth, Transport Committee of the Administration of the City of Stockholm, Sweden, shared an interesting fact: despite significant population growth in the Swedish capital, the intensity of traffic is not increased. It is because of deliberate work of city government, who pay attention to urban, infrastructure and street planning.
Moderators of the first panel discussion Inge Aarhus, Director, Lillehammer Miljø (Norway), and Mikhail Petrovich, Director, Laboratory of Urban Planning (St. Petersburg), came to an interesting conclusion: success of "green" urban development always begins with a political solution. And, of course, it depends on the active position of citizens.
Text is prepared by: Consulate General of Norway in St. Petersburg, Ekaterina Lavrinaytis
