Malmö, linking social cohesion and green space: The Comprehensive Plan (approved by the municipal executive board) sets the goal for Malmö to have a compact and green urban structure in the future. Another important objective of the plan is to explore how green spaces can be used to bridge the gaps between the wealthier and the poorer parts of the city. While Malmö has been in the forefront of ecological sustainable urban development in Sweden for more than a decade, social sustainability has only recently been lifted towards the top of the agenda (Malmö stad, 2014).

Lisbon, Portugal: BIP / ZIP

The objective of the project is to improve social cohesion and active citizenship in the city of Lisbon. The approach was to identify the areas in the city that were lacking the minimal levels of cohesion and quality of life. Through gathering statistical information relating to the social, environmental and economic factors, the city was able to identify 67 target areas for interventions. The actions developed in these areas include the placing of local offices in the zones to as a symbolic and practical initiative. The areas have also become targeted for funding of small projects (up to €50,000 per project) through networks of local actors with conditions attached related to the actors involved and longevity of the proposal. There have been a range of successful projects that have achieved sustainability objectives. Some projects have directly enhanced ecosystem services in the area, particularly those targeting urban farming projects. However, perhaps the most valuable element of the initiative is the visualisation of lower socioeconomic areas of the city which would be a useful tool when considering urban regeneration and urban greening (https://cooperativecity.org/2017/05/07/bipzip/).