Reflection meeting with Nordic guests
Reykjavík's Climate City Contract creates valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, seek guidance, and learn from challenges other European cities have successfully navigated. The week after Easter, teams from two cities visited Reykjavík to participate in Twinning projects.
Because the two initiatives share common ground, the groups dedicated one of their two days in town to joint presentations and discussions. In total, the visits and meetings spanned three days.
Representatives traveled from Bærum, a municipality bordering Oslo that formerly housed the capital's international airport, Fornebu, before operations relocated to Gardermoen. Building on this history, Bærum and the Norwegian government are codeveloping a sprawling new district equipped with a modern metro line to improve accessibility and cultivate a more vibrant community.
Discussions with the Bærum delegation focused primarily on public transit and bicycle infrastructure. The first day featured morning presentations, followed by an afternoon city tour to observe ongoing construction projects and urban design solutions in action.
The combined session with officials from Bærum and Jakobstad centered on public transit, highlighted by a midday visit to Hlemmur. Salóme Rósa Þorkellsdóttir from the Office of Transportation and Urban Design outlined the Hlemmur development project, explaining its role in the City's broader transformation efforts. Two delegates arrived from Jakobstad, a city in northern Finland where their project prioritizes active transportation, waste management, and sustainable construction practices.
The final day catered exclusively to the Jakobstad delegation. That morning, the group toured a seven-story circular economy building at Frakkastígur 1, where the building's architect, Arnhildur Pálmadóttir, delivered a presentation before discussions transitioned into an afternoon workshop.
Staff from various City Environment and Planning Services departments attended the meetings alongside representatives from Strætó, Transport for the Capital Area, the University of Iceland's Sustainability Institute, and VSÓ Consulting Engineers. We sincerely thank everyone who participated in these meetings.
Hrönn Hrafnsdóttir, Ásdís Karen Waltersdóttir, and Böðvar Þórisson from the Master Planning and Climate Affairs division received and hosted the guests.
