The Swedish city of Gothenburg is developing the world’s first large-scale zero-emissions city zone. In collaboration with Volvo Cars, Gothenburg’s Green City Zone initiative will be open to economic activities, allowing people to participate in businesses while supporting a sustainable environment.

The developers hope to make the city one of the world’s largest-scale testing grounds for zero-emissiontechnologies. If the initiative works as proposed, Gothenburg Green City Zone will implement 100% emission-free transport modes by 2030.

Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city, houses a population of about 570,000 people. The city is a popular tourist destination and has been a leader in sustainability research and technology seeking to combat climate change. The initiative’s developers anticipate a steady increase in tourists arriving in the city by 2030 and have plans to develop transport infrastructure that will cater to the population without polluting the environment.

“In Gothenburg Green City Zone the city and the business and research communities will work together to make the transportation system emission-free in a very short time. With this collaboration we will take the lead on sustainability issues in Europe as well as show that we are serious about the city’s climate contract with the EU and about our ambitious sustainability goals for 2030,” said Axel Josefson, chair of Gothenburg’s City Executive Board.

According to Gothenburg city, the Green City Zone is not a place of restrictions and bans. Partners will look for innovative technologies that allow city residents the freedom to do business sustainably. “Being able to test new ideas will be decisive for reducing climate emissions at the rate required. Zero-emission zones are a brilliant example of how we can reduce climate emissions while at the same time pushing for sustainable business development,” said Emmyly Bönfors, chair of the City of Gothenburg’s Environmental and Climate Committee.

The initiative has already found collaborators across the world, including Volvo Cars and the Research Institute of Sweden. Other parties interested in the project include the Chalmers University of Technology, the University of Gothenburg, the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre, the City of Mölndal, and Johanneberg Science Park.

Gothenburg, Sweden develops world’s first zero-emissions zone [Inhabitat]