There are a number of outstanding examples where European cities, despite the government of the day, put into action visions that have now made them leading sustainable cities.

One such city is Växjö, in Sweden, where the vision is to be a ‘fossil fuel free’ city. This vision has focused Växjö’s citizens’ thinking and innovation into achieving the goals that will make theirs a ‘fossil fuel free’ city. Another city is Freiburg. Known as the ‘eco city’ of Germany, it is a city that in 1975 fought against Nuclear Power plans. A vision was created that inspired them to be a ‘solar city’. This vision has literally put them on the map, as many visitors and tourists from around the world have visited Freiburg in the hope of replicating some of the ideas and innovations back in their own countries as the race towards 20% by 2020 takes hold.