15
2013
experience 
Sustainable Eco-Meals in Gothenburg’s editorial
City Council Services
Gothenburg, Sweden’s second most putting it in a privileged position to have a In 2012 there was a changeover at the helm of the 
largely populated city, is located on the positive influence on public health, as well as Association’s Secretariat, providing an occasion 
country’s west coast. It has a population on the environment. to take stock of our achievements to date and 
of approximately 500,000 inhabitants to establish lines of action for the future. 
and occupies an area of 450 km2, set in an The sustainable food project aims to 
extended green region of the country. encourage sustainability in the long term and Pilar Figueras’ legacy was knowing how 
reduce the environmental impact on all stages to pool the efforts of many to enhance an 
Since 2004, the city of Gothenburg has decided of the chain: production, transportation, Association that now knows no limits and 
to increase the amount of fresh, ecological handling and waste management. In addition continues to grow, showing the world a new 
products in the meals served in municipal to significant improvements on the quality of way of perceiving education in the city. This is 
services. The city serves about 19 million life, this project has managed to encourage a project that continues involving individuals 
meals a year in nearly 600 public canteens in sustainable farming and proximity economics. and political leaders from around the world, 
schools and social centres, in addition to those It is estimated that the food industry is who share a view of education that not only 
meals delivered to some homes. Given the the cause of one third of greenhouse gas justifies this Secretariat’s work but that of 
size of its purchase order, Gothenburg’s City emissions. many cities as well.
Council is a major consumer of food products,  
The broad scope of the project led the City In our farewell to Pilar, we would like to 
Council to set up a Local Support Group, express our gratitude by acknowledging her 
made up of civil servants from a range of accomplishments and wishing her success 
Gothenburg City Council areas (public health care, environment, in all of her future endeavours. Pilar’s 
is trying to improve the education, purchasing, customer service, passionate dedication to work and her 
etc.) and representatives from NGOs and ability to meet goals without falling into self-
eating habits of the city’s other groups, such as the Swedish Society complacent attitudes are just some of her 
inhabitants and contribute to for Nature Conservation and the Global Picnic virtues and among the valuable things we 
organisation, among others. have learned from her.
a more sustainable economy 
by serving sustainable food An innovative action plan to introduce To consolidate past efforts and take on the 
sustainable food in municipal cafeterias and new challenges facing us, we will continue to 
in the meals provided by its 
(continued on page 2) (continued on page 3) 
municipal services. 
experience
Sustainable Eco-Meals in Gothenburg’s 
City Council Services
required of their suppliers allows Gothenburg’s 
City Council to obtain quality products at a 
good price while reducing the negative effects 
on the environment. However, prohibiting 
the use of artificial fertilizers and chemical 
insecticides in ecological farming means 
that the crops are smaller. This, together 
with Sweden’s harsh winter, makes seasonal 
ecological production smaller and this results 
in an increase in prices, making it harder to 
meet the fixed goals. Nevertheless, ever since 
the start of this project, the percentage of 
sustainable eco-meals in municipal services 
has increased to 22% and the goal is to reach 
50% in 2013.
Improving citizen awareness is key in this 
process. This is why Gothenburg City Council 
change the population’s eating habits was In the case of schools, the number of curricular publicizes the evolution of the project in 
designed to implement this initiative. Some of activities encouraging better attitudes an annual report which is published on its 
the actions in the plan included the creation towards sustainable and healthy food were website. In addition, mass media have also 
of a communication strategy aimed at the increased and the use of community gardens covered the initiative. 
users of these services and their families, was fostered.   
menus with less meat and more vegetables, You can find more detailed information about this 
awareness campaigns, training programs for A centralized buying system and the experience at the website: www.edcities.org 
canteen staff and other municipal employees. environmental and social responsibility 
presented by: The City of Gothenburg, contact: Ms. Ulla Lundgren 
Department of Environment e-mail: ulla.lundgren@miljo.goteborg.se
cities networks
     Asia-Pacific Network Meeting the Network Coordinating Committee and the for the 2010-2012 period were evaluated. 
viability of new joint projects. Among the other topics discussed were the 
renewal of the Coordinating Committee and 
 Meeting at the Central European Region the operation of the thematic groups. Braga 
On October 1 and 2, the city of Katowice, was chosen as host city of the 5th Portuguese 
Headquarter of the Central  European Congress of Educating Cities to be held in May, 
Delegation, co-organised the International 2013. 
Congress for the Inclusion of the Deaf and 
Hard of Hearing.
 11th Spanish Network Meeting    
The 11 th Spanish Meeting,  “Education: 
A Constant in Life,” wil l  be held from 
Representatives from 15 cities met in Gwangju October 16-18 in Gandia. In the early weeks 
on October 16 and 17 on the occasion of the 4th of 2013, information will be available at: 
Asia-Pacific Network Meeting. Debates were www.ciudadeseducadorasgandia.org
held on the theme “Buildingn of a Sustainable 
Educating City.” Of particular interest was the  Portuguese Network Meeting  
presentation made by a representative from Évora was the venue for a new Portuguese 
the Korean National Commission for UNESCO. Network Meeting held on October 19th. During 
Other issues addressed were the renovation of the course of the day, the network’s activities More information at www.edcities.org
02 Educating Cities
interview
Ms. Somjai Suwansupana
Mayor of Phuket, Thailand
editorial
The first goal is to give students basic skills 
and knowledge and a positive attitude work in a responsible, proactive way, open to 
towards lifelong learning so that they can dialogue, in order to continue to learn from 
become active citizens in our country’s our differences and maintain a balance within 
constitutional democratic monarchy. the Association. Our awareness and vocation 
as a public service will serve as our navigation 
Secondly, the City Council is working together chart. We will also work realistically and 
with citizens to reduce solid waste in order calmly to give the projects we support within 
to keep the local incineration disposal plant the framework of our general action plan 
from reaching a saturation point. enough time to take root and develop.  
Finally, the main goal of Phuket’s 5-year We invite you to work with us as a team to 
Development Plan is to foster the emergence continue to create a common legacy with 
of a creative city through development, social your expertise, programs and policies, as we 
cohesion and a higher quality of life, the consider this to be an asset that multiplies as 
promotion of good governance and security it is shared, helping each city progress both 
and the preservation of our identity. individually and together as a network. 
How does  Phuket  promote  c i t izen We will continue working to reinforce the 
participation? capacities of local governments by opening 
multi-directional communication channels, 
We are committed to citizen empowerment providing opportunities for exchange and 
and participation. In this regard, we have reflection and offering forums to display and 
encouraged civil society to take part in a share best practices.
number of municipal activities, such as the 
How has your city benefited from belonging drafting of Phuket’s 5-year Development Plan. During this transition period, many of you 
to the IAEC? Feedback from social actors will be taken have sent us your personal expressions of 
into account during the implementation, support and commitment which we much 
Being member of the Association has given monitoring and evaluation stages. In addition, appreciate. Sharing with you the conviction 
us a unique opportunity to exchange best a public hearing will be held before the 5-year that Education is a driving force for change, 
practices with cities around the world and Development Plan is concluded. is a source of stimulus for us. 
promote networking and future cooperation  
between loca l  governments  and  the We strongly believe that this participative 
academic world. approach can better serve local needs and The Secretariat of the IAEC
th
strengthen ties with community. c/ Avinyó 15, 4  floor
What  have  you  learned  f rom your 08002 Barcelona (Spain)
participation in the 12th International Can you explain how the city promotes Ph. + 34 93 342 77 20
Congress of Educating Cities on “Green the protection of its cultural heritage and Fax. +34 93 342 77 29
Environment, Creative Education”? describe what actions have been taken E-mail: bidce@bcn.cat
to increase the feeling of belonging, of 
We came back from the 2012 IAEC Congress citizenship?
with the idea of encouraging students and 
civil society to help preserve our cultural The City Council is working together with Phuket Town Festival held every February 
heritage and protect the environment, and citizens to revitalize the city’s old town, since 1998. During the Festival, the old town 
of the need to foster a public mindset that renovate its Sino-Portuguese historical is closed to traffic. Citizens and tourists can 
is more open to a sustainable, healthy and buildings and preserve our traditional stroll up and down the streets, enjoying 
creative city. cultural heritage in order to make Phuket a traditional costume parades, concerts, 
cultural venue. performances by children and young people, 
What are Phuket’s priorities at the light shows, tasting local food and buying 
moment? To achieve this we aim to empower community handicrafts. 
leaders and work hand-in-hand with them in 
The most important challenges facing the city a “win-win” initiative in accordance with the In just 14 years, the festival has become one 
of Phuket right now are to improve student sufficient economy philosophy of the King of of the city’s major events, widely supported 
achievement, integrate the management Thailand, Rama the 9th. by the local people.
of solid waste and implement a 5-year 
Development Plan. An example of this cooperation is the Old More information at www.edcities.org
03 Educating Cities
In order to better serve 
the population’s needs 
the City of  Lisbon is 
experience developing a pilot project 
for Police action with 
Community Police Action: A Safer ‘Alta’ Community Input.
Area of Lisbon
One of the main challenges facing the The Alta of Lisbon Community Group (GCAL 
Municipal Police Department of Lisbon —the in its Portuguese acronym), comprising 
Portuguese capital with nearly 500,000 representatives from NGOs, neighbourhood 
inhabitants— is the need to develop a more associations, businesses, schools, healthcare 
open model for police intervention with centres, etc., is characterised by the strong 
greater community participation. ties and the diversity of its members. This 
makes it possible to implement integrated 
The project is based on the premise that strategies that reinforce the existing 
responsibility for security should not be resources in this neighbourhood of nearly 
exclusively in the hands of the police and that 34,000 people, 67% of whom live in state 
community input is important in both identifying subsidised housing and are in low socio-
the problems and planning, implementing and economic groups. in the area, and conflict-solving techniques 
finally evaluating the actions taken. The idea is were addressed in these training modules. 
to use preventive measures to respond more In 2010, the GCAL created a work group to 
efficiently to the population’s needs, create a deal specifically with the security issue. Once the training course was completed, 
greater sense of security among citizens and Focus groups were set up to identify the community police began patrolling the 
maintain public order. the population’s primary problems and neighbourhood on foot, creating a closer 
concerns, focus on the critical areas and cooperation with local agents in the territory 
The “Alta” area of Lisbon, literally translated design intervention strategies. Neighbours, and progressively a greater sense of trust 
as the “Uptown,” was chosen as the district technicians, coordinators and community within the community.
for this innovative project because it is a leaders took part in these groups. 
relatively new community in which problems  Given the success of this initiative, Lisbon 
of security and a lack of civic-mindedness The findings were used to design a training City Council plans to introduce it in other city 
have surfaced and, at the same time, it has program for community agents. Questions neighbourhoods.
a strong local association network willing to including community police models, 
work with the city police force to confront interpersonal relationships, knowledge of You can find more detailed information about this 
these problems. the territory, awareness of cultural diversity experience at the website www.edcities.org 
presented by: The City of Lisbon, contact: Ms. Mónica Diniz                                         
Municipal Police - Strategic Development Unit e-mail: monica.diniz@cm-lisboa.pt                                              
did you 
know that... the voices of the cities
 The Organising and Scientific Committees 1.  Cozumel (Mexico)  has created the people can choose to work on community 
for the 13th International Congress of Educating programme Agentes 00 Bullying aimed at projects in exchange for discounts on leisure 
Cities to be held in Barcelona in 2014 have now providing teachers, families and students activities and in stores.
been established. themselves with the incentive and tools to 
 The 2nd stage of the Travelling Exhibition prevent violence in schools.
“Educating Cities: Local Actions, Global 
Values” has already been presented in 
Paysandú and Rosario. 
 The Association’s fourth monographic 
volume untitled “City, Environment and 
Education” has been published.
 The  IAEC par t i c ipated  in  the  2 nd 
Euro-Mediterranean Regional Conference, 
“The City: A Live Heritage,” held in Salé 
(Morocco) and in a study conference on the 3.  Several departments of Santiago’s 
role of the educating city in cultural tourism in (Brazil) City Hall contribute to promoting 
Kairouan (Tunisia). 2. The Romans-sur-Isère (France) City the principles of the Educating Cities Charter 
 The next General Assembly will take place Council is encouraging young people to take among the cities’ student and adult population 
in Katowice on March 15, 2013, coinciding with an active part in city life through the Pop through the Smequinho project. 
the Executive Committee meeting. Card, a citizens’ contract whereby young 
04 Educating Cities
D.L.: B-31.664-2007 / ISSN: 1887-9640