Front-runner in sustainability

Why Gothenburg is a front-runner in sustainability

Sustainability offers a clear business edge – and ecological, economic and social sustainability is a central theme in everything Gothenburg stands for. Sustainability permeates the entire development of our city and is an integral part of our future-oriented business plans. When it comes to reducing negative impact on climate and environment, we have moved from words to action. 

Partnering this, several wide-ranging research projects into sustainable solutions for the future are racing ahead. In many areas, Gothenburg is attracting enterprises to capitalise on the solutions we offer and to become involved in new initiatives themselves.

Did you know this about Gothenburg?

• A well-proven and far-reaching district heating system

The city of Gothenburg has one of the most well-developed district heating systems in the world and is using innovative energy solutions to develop future energy systems with optimal sustainability. The district heating network heats 90 per cent of the apartment buildings in Gothenburg, some 10,000 houses and countless factories, offices, shops and other public buildings. The district heating system enables us to utilise a large amount of energy that would otherwise dissipate into the atmosphere or the sea.

• A smart district cooling system powered by the river 

In recent years, a district cooling network has been developed for offices, hospitals, factories and other buildings. The technology is simple, quiet and resource-efficient, with the cooling coming from recovered energy and the cold water of the river Gota Älv river in Gothenburg.

• Businesses and the city are building stronger communities

Handslag för Framtiden (Handshake for the future) is a collaborative initiative between the business community, the city and property owners to jointly contribute to positive neighbourhood development in a number of areas with lower socioeconomic status. Balder, DFDS, Saab, the Volvo Group and Volvo Cars, are among the private companies involved. The goal is to transform these areas into communities shaped by hope, opportunity, and a spirit of entrepreneurship.

• Charging possibilities for electric vehicles are growing quickly

A quarter of the Swedish charging points are in Västra Götaland, Gothenburg’s county, and one in eight in the City of Gothenburg. In March 2025, there were 5,800 charging points in the city of Gothenburg and this expansion will continue. In collaboration with the city and other partners, Volvo Cars is testing wireless, inductive charging of cars in a real urban environment. The Port of Gothenburg has charging stations for electric lorries of up to 360 kW, and also a filling station for green hydrogen.

• #1 in electric buses in the Nordics 

Since 2020, Gothenburg’s county, Västra Götaland, has had the most electric buses in the Nordics. Two out of three city buses run on electricity and by 2030 all city buses will run on electricity. 100% of public transport in the county runs on renewable energy and fuels. 

• Leading the way as a city destination

Gothenburg has been recognised seven times as the most sustainable city destination, in the Global Destination Sustainability Index. The GDS movement benchmarks cities around the world on environmental, social and economic sustainability. 

• Raising the bar for ports around the world

The Port of Gothenburg plans to reduce carbon emissions by 70% by 2030 including emissions from vessels sailing in and out of the port traffic area. Among other things, it is making large investments in infrastructure, electrification, digitization and energy transition. Projects include deepening fairways to receive the largest vessels, shoreside power for tankers and a technically advanced quay facility, Coastal quay 2.0. 

• A smart solution for cooling industry 

Purified wastewater from Gothenburg residents will soon be used to, among other things, cool the production process for electric car batteries in Novo Energy’s new gigafactory. The heated water from the factory will then be used to heat homes and offices in the region. The new energy efficient and sustainable solution was created through a collaboration between the city’s water, energy and city planning offices, as well as the public companies that manage water and wastewater, electricity and wastewater treatment.

Driving progress through collaboration and innovation

Here are some examples of how we are working together to accelerate the green transition, strengthen competitiveness, and create scalable solutions with the potential to make a global impact.

Platform for climate neutral construction

Over 150 forward-thinking construction and property companies have joined Gothenburg’s platform for climate neutral construction. The entire value chain, as well as public actors and academia, work together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable construction industry. 

Learn more about the platform for climate neutral-construction

Mission 0 House

This initiative brings together scientists and engineers from academia and industry to tackle a critical challenge: eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from material and product manufacturing. Based at Lindholmen Science Park, it involves several leading companies, including Polestar, SSAB, Sekab, SKF, Stora Enso and Volvo Cars, and five Swedish colleges and universities. 

The aim is to develop groundbreaking technologies and methods that enable sustainable material production without compromising on technical quality or efficiency.

Learn about Mission 0 House

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