Winni Grosbøll, Mayor of Bornholm

Bright Green Island

Bornholm in the past

- 1980’s: Traditional society with focus on agriculture, fishing and tourism (and related industries)

- 1990’s: A new reality – recession in the fishing industry, centralizing trend in agriculture and new markets in tourism

- 2000’s: A new identity – new answers to the question “What can we do with what we got?”

- 1980’s: Traditional society with focus on agriculture, fishing and tourism (and related industries)

- 1990’s: A new reality – recession in the fishing industry, centralizing trend in agriculture and new markets in tourism

- 2000’s: A new identity – new answers to the question “What can we do with what we got?”

Bornholm today

Three main focus areas:

-Self-sufficiency

-Sustainability

-Job creation

Three main focus areas:

-Self-sufficiency

-Sustainability

-Job creation

Bright Green Island

• In 2007 The Regional Municipality and the local Growth Forum started up a branding process of Bornholm

• Local citizens and companies were involved in different ways • Public meetings (different ages - both young, middle-aged

and elderly people)• Branding Camp (48 hours in a ferry sailing around Bornholm)• Photo competition

• The branding builds on what was the strongest aspect of Bornholm’s identity. All the answers centered on the islands nature.

• Bright Green Islands is incorporated in planning at both regional and municipal level

• In 2007 The Regional Municipality and the local Growth Forum started up a branding process of Bornholm

• Local citizens and companies were involved in different ways • Public meetings (different ages - both young, middle-aged

and elderly people)• Branding Camp (48 hours in a ferry sailing around Bornholm)• Photo competition

• The branding builds on what was the strongest aspect of Bornholm’s identity. All the answers centered on the islands nature.

• Bright Green Islands is incorporated in planning at both regional and municipal level

Bright Green Island

“Bright Green Island is a vision about people, the economy, values, knowledge and technology that together puts Bornholm on the worldmap as a 100% green and attractive island. It is the vision of an island that is based on 100 % sustainable energy.

An island where one acts responsibly both environmentally and ethically. An island where people can live healthier, richer lives with less hustle and bustle, because we invest in our nature and get high returns from our year-round sensory experiences.”

“Bright Green Island is a vision about people, the economy, values, knowledge and technology that together puts Bornholm on the worldmap as a 100% green and attractive island. It is the vision of an island that is based on 100 % sustainable energy.

An island where one acts responsibly both environmentally and ethically. An island where people can live healthier, richer lives with less hustle and bustle, because we invest in our nature and get high returns from our year-round sensory experiences.”

Bright Green Island

• Bright Green Island is the meta-brand working on many levels and different areas, but with emphasis on sustainability throughout the actions preformed by all parts of society

• Bright Green Island is the meta-brand working on many levels and different areas, but with emphasis on sustainability throughout the actions preformed by all parts of society

BRK

15. Green Energy in Innovative Netvworks

(2009 – 2012)

1. BRK-electrical vehicles (3 stk.)

(2009 – 2013)

3. New municipal buildings

(2012 – 2013)

4. New energy budget model

(2011 – 2013)

6. Energy management of municipal buildings

(2003 ->)

5. Energy refurbishment of municipal buildings

Including photovoltaic panels

(2012 - 2015)

8. Climate- and cleantech strategy for the region of

Øresund

(2011 – 2012)

10. Energy fairsOnce a year

(2003 ->)

7. Project on green buildingsIncluding education of craftsmen

(2011 – 2014)

9. Cluster development – Green Technology

Universe

(2012 – 2014)

11. EUrObservER

European dissemination project with Bornholm as a case

(2010 – 2013)

16. EcogridEU – electrical power system project

(2012 ->)

14. Local Planning and authority treatment

(2003 ->)

13. Project “DN Klimakommune”

Reports the municipal energy consumption once a year to the

organisation

(2009 ->)

Daycare/kindergarten in Aakirkeby and Nexø

Development plan of Bornholm

2012-15

Municipal plan strategy2012-15

Agenda 21 strategy2012-15

Local planning

Heatplan 2012

Solceller

Vindmøller

Building permits

Jordvarme

Solar power analysis

Planning for windmills

Geothermal heat

ChoosEV electrical to the citizens

Analysis of local biomass

Energy balance 2012

Revised energy strategy

Dissemination activities at “Folkemødet”

Energy Tours, Energy Map, COP15, Energy Strategy for the local Growth Forum etc

2. Streetlamps to LED

(2009 ->)

12. Set focus on industrial energy use

(2010 ->)

New project startup in 2013: Car-sharing between municipality and citizens

Care center for the elderly and housing for citizens with special needs

Bright Green Island - companies

The local Business Center has together with the local Growth Forum and municipality conducted several projects to motivate the local companies to make new innovative, bright green products etc. •Marketing – e.g. Energy Tours•Education – Courses for local craftsmen•Attract new courses on sustainability with visits of students from the universities

The local Business Center has together with the local Growth Forum and municipality conducted several projects to motivate the local companies to make new innovative, bright green products etc. •Marketing – e.g. Energy Tours•Education – Courses for local craftsmen•Attract new courses on sustainability with visits of students from the universities

Bright Green Island - cooperation

The main political achievement is the cooperative structure which has been strategically developed for about 10 years

The municipality early recognized, that a common vision for the island had to develop through both formal and informal networks.

A lot of political effort has gone into establishing and facilitating these networks, since the actions that takes us towards Bright Green Island has to be taken by a wide range of stakeholders

Partnerships with central stakeholders are essential in order to be succesful

The main political achievement is the cooperative structure which has been strategically developed for about 10 years

The municipality early recognized, that a common vision for the island had to develop through both formal and informal networks.

A lot of political effort has gone into establishing and facilitating these networks, since the actions that takes us towards Bright Green Island has to be taken by a wide range of stakeholders

Partnerships with central stakeholders are essential in order to be succesful

The benefits of a common vision

The common vision gave the political level as well as “corporate Bornholm” the opportunity to utilize different angels on how to move forward

Both national and local sources of funding was presented to a united Bornholm determined to go green

The fact that the brand now is so widespread means that the common bornholmer starts relating political decisions and new projects to the master brand.

The common vision gave the political level as well as “corporate Bornholm” the opportunity to utilize different angels on how to move forward

Both national and local sources of funding was presented to a united Bornholm determined to go green

The fact that the brand now is so widespread means that the common bornholmer starts relating political decisions and new projects to the master brand.

Bright Green Island - future

The future is bright green!

We see a rising interest and awareness but we also know it will take a lot of hard work and large financial investments in energy production, energy refurbishment, electrical vehicles, infrastructure etc.

We also see a large potential on focusing on our local food production and Bornholm as an adventure zone because of the diverse nature on the island – Bright Green also means how to respectfully use nature in new ways

We also see the need to be realistic: Change will not come overnight, and we will have to make compromises in order to remain competitive in todays society

The future is bright green!

We see a rising interest and awareness but we also know it will take a lot of hard work and large financial investments in energy production, energy refurbishment, electrical vehicles, infrastructure etc.

We also see a large potential on focusing on our local food production and Bornholm as an adventure zone because of the diverse nature on the island – Bright Green also means how to respectfully use nature in new ways

We also see the need to be realistic: Change will not come overnight, and we will have to make compromises in order to remain competitive in todays society

4 recommendations

• When you define your vision for your sustainable society, you have to take a good look at how you are going to get there: What are your ressources (economy, infrastructure, competences and other framework conditions). And you have to stick to your vision, because getting there is also tough decisions and the ability to keep focus in difficult times.

• You need leadership at both political and official level in order to shape the future. Again that means

to be able to make the right decisions at the right time, even if these prove to be unpopular (e.g. windmills). Dialogue and support from national level is essential in order to be able to pull it through on a municipal level

• You need to engage people in the vision, and use their interest to spread the word about sustainability. This process can be supported at a municipal level by establishing networks of various kinds.

• You have to think green! Rethink the local communities’ infrastructure and the way they work: How about access to green transportation; bicycles, electrical cars and so on, how about easy access to nature for recreational purposes? But to think green on a larger scale, you have to have funding from a national level. E.g. the national government support we have on Bornholm for our bike-road project and the Green Circle around Rønne.

• When you define your vision for your sustainable society, you have to take a good look at how you are going to get there: What are your ressources (economy, infrastructure, competences and other framework conditions). And you have to stick to your vision, because getting there is also tough decisions and the ability to keep focus in difficult times.

• You need leadership at both political and official level in order to shape the future. Again that means

to be able to make the right decisions at the right time, even if these prove to be unpopular (e.g. windmills). Dialogue and support from national level is essential in order to be able to pull it through on a municipal level

• You need to engage people in the vision, and use their interest to spread the word about sustainability. This process can be supported at a municipal level by establishing networks of various kinds.

• You have to think green! Rethink the local communities’ infrastructure and the way they work: How about access to green transportation; bicycles, electrical cars and so on, how about easy access to nature for recreational purposes? But to think green on a larger scale, you have to have funding from a national level. E.g. the national government support we have on Bornholm for our bike-road project and the Green Circle around Rønne.

… and 4 more

• What’s in it for us? The national government has to help municipalities gaining trust and acceptance amongst regular people for example through national scale initiatives and campaigns. You have to create ownership at the lowest level, and ensure that even the smallest results are visible to the public. Not neccesarily on a personal level, but maybe in the sense that the public service level increases.

• The changes you make must support further development of local businesses. Local jobs and local development are keys to making lasting changes.

• National government actions: contribute with advisory boards, funding, national networks and sharing knowledge between different levels of government

• National goverments should focus on adjusting legislation in a way that supports future needs instead of the needs of now-a-day or yesterday. In order to become a Bright Green Society the goverment have to rethink the distribution of investments as well as the taxing system. Not an easy task, but it can be done: Think solar-parks, think surplus heating from the industry as examples of how government can regulate or deregulate benefitting the visions of green change.

• What’s in it for us? The national government has to help municipalities gaining trust and acceptance amongst regular people for example through national scale initiatives and campaigns. You have to create ownership at the lowest level, and ensure that even the smallest results are visible to the public. Not neccesarily on a personal level, but maybe in the sense that the public service level increases.

• The changes you make must support further development of local businesses. Local jobs and local development are keys to making lasting changes.

• National government actions: contribute with advisory boards, funding, national networks and sharing knowledge between different levels of government

• National goverments should focus on adjusting legislation in a way that supports future needs instead of the needs of now-a-day or yesterday. In order to become a Bright Green Society the goverment have to rethink the distribution of investments as well as the taxing system. Not an easy task, but it can be done: Think solar-parks, think surplus heating from the industry as examples of how government can regulate or deregulate benefitting the visions of green change.

Thank you for your attention!

Thank you for your attention!