Dovetail Partners requests your input on the draft of their latest report, A Tale of Green Cities: Exploring Opportunities for Minnesota through the Natural Step Process and Sustainable Communities in Sweden.
Comments are due by Tuesday, September 22nd and should be sent to Alison Lindburg (alison@dovetailinc.org, 612-333-0430).
Below is a report summary:
A Tale of Green Cities
Exploring Opportunities for Minnesota through the Natural Step Process and Sustainable
Communities in Sweden
Introduction
In 2009, a member of the Dovetail Partners team traveled to Sweden for five weeks to examine
sustainability initiatives in Swedish communities, including the Natural Step process. Based on
similarities in climate, population density, and environmental challenges, it is conceivable that
many of the observed practices could be implemented in Minnesota and other Great Lakes
communities as well. This report provides background on Swedish communities visited on the tour and highlights strategies employed by communities, companies, and various organizations to move toward sustainability goals. The report covers areas pertaining to waste management practices, renewable energy production and consumption, utilization of local resources, sustainable forestry, water quality, and environmental education, and offers some suggestions for implementation in Minnesota and other North American communities.
Trip Background
The communities and businesses represented in this report were visited as part of the Rotary
Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program. The trip, sponsored by Rotary District 5960
of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and hosted by Rotary District 2360 of Sweden, occurred in March and
April of 2009 over a period of five weeks, and involved travel throughout Western Sweden. GSE
tour participants visited over 80 different businesses and organizations, and stayed with host
families in eight different Swedish communities.
