Stockholm, the first city to be named European Green Capital in 2010, was represented by Erik Freudenthal, Head of Communications for Hammarby Sjöstad, and Gunnar Sjöholm, Director of the Environmental Administration. Göteborg, future home of the Center of Excellence for Sustainable Urban Futures, was represented by Dr. Henriette Söderberg. Växjö, named the “Greenest City in Europe” by CNN, was represented by Project Manager Julia Ahlrot.
The Tokyo International Conference on Local Renewables, 1-3 October, was hosted by Professor Iida Tetsunari from the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies (ISEP). Other participating cities included Oxford, Beijing, and Samsø (Denmark). Debates and seminars were held on the first two days, ending with an seminar open to the public on the third day.
The delegations took part in an Eco-tour of Yokohama on the Sunday. Stops included an electric car charging station, as well as a climate-friendly school, home, and office building.
On the Monday the International Conference on Promoting Low-Carbon Cities, was held in Yokohama. The cities of Stockholm, Dalian, Portland, Copenhagen, Hamburg, as well as the French Government were represented at the main session. Simultaneously a bilateral Sweden- Japan seminar was held where Hammarby Sjöstad, Göteborg, Växjö, Fujisawa, and Nagoya participated. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions was the predominant subject, where the transport sector emerged as the greatest common challenge for all cities.
http://www.hammarbysjostad.se/http://www.vaxjo.se/http://www.goteborg.se/http://www.symbiocity.org/