For many years, ICLEI Member Malmö (Sweden) has been working to become a leader in district regeneration by transforming neighbourhoods facing challenges and decline into vibrant new hubs.

Malmö experienced severe unemployment during the oil crisis in the 1970s. The former successful industrial city found many of its districts being vacated and facing decline. In the district of Augustenborg, poor storm water management systems led to flooding that further marginalised the residual population.

Beginning in the 1990s, Malmö began regenerating districts, with the aim of forging more socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable neighbourhoods through empowering residents to lead the project and by valuing them as the experts.

In Augustenborg, the multi-year project has resulted in improved storm water management, increased green space, new green roofs, re-insulation of buildings for energy efficiency, implementation of renewable energy production, and improved mobility options spanning better public transport, bicycle promotion, and a new carpooling system.

Today, Augustenborg has a lower environmental impact, increased biodiversity, decreased unemployment rate (down from 30 to 6 percent!), and increased energy efficiency. In addition, the district has not flooded since a storm water management system was installed.

In recognition of its success, Malmö is a “reference case” for the SMARTEES project that seeks to support the energy transition and improve policy design by developing policy pathways that foster citizen inclusion and take local contexts into account. In June, the project brought representatives from five cities spanning Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Germany, Latvia, and the United Kingdom to Malmö to learn from their experiences.

Read more about Malmö’s work in district regeneration by clicking here.