Örebro for the nature and people

The urban environments, the green areas alongside the River Svartån, the areas of nature surrounding the city, and the shoreline of Lake Hjälmaren have all undergone major changes in terms of the ecological and social aspects of sustainable development over twenty years. The city and its surroundings should be accessible to everyone. They make Örebro an attractive place to either settle down in or just to visit. During twenty years, the population of Örebro has increased by 25,000 to 135,000 today, placing tough demands on infrastructure and sustainability planning. The participation in various EU-projects within the UBC framework has given important support in fulfilling these demands.

In June 2010 Örebro designed its Climate Plan with intermediate objectives and measures looking as far ahead as the year 2020. The vision is that the burden on the climate produced by each person in Örebro should be at a level that, if applied globally, would not endangerthe overall climate of the Earth.

In the early 1990s, there were areas next to the waterways that were derelict and badly polluted. An area by Lake Hjälmaren was the worst of all, with an old rubbish dump, polluted industrial sites, a disused oil terminal, and completely overgrown woodlands.

A huge change began. Where the ground was the most polluted there are now rolling hills, meadows where livestock can graze, a water park, a nature school, and a restaurant that is open all year round. The new footpaths and cycle paths also act as dykes through which lake water can flow during the spring and autumn. The subsequent bird life is very rich. Fourteen new nature and cultural reserves were founded in 2010, forming a ring around the city. The areas on both sides of the mouth of the riverare now nature reserves, linked by an ingenious bascule bridge for pedestrians and cyclists, under which boats can sail. It is possible to walk or cycle alongside the river, past the marina, the lock, the beautiful city park, and Örebro Castle. During the past year, streets and squares in the city have been given a facelift and made more accessible to anyone walking or cycling into the city.