Background Climate change is one of the four priority areas in the Sixth Environmental Action Programme of the European Community 2002-2012 (6th EAP). The EU has set challenging targets for 2020 to combat climate change and introduce adaptation measures. EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions correspond to 4.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents. In 2006, Sweden accounted for 51 million tonnes. Since 1990, industrialised countries have reduced emissions by 2%. However, this limited reduction is exceeded by increasing emissions in developing countries, which doubled in quantity between 1990 and 2005, to 13.6 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalents (UN MDG report). Together, housing, transport, and food and consumer goods are responsible for 70-80% of life-cycle environmental impacts in Sweden. In general, however, efforts to reduce carbon emissions target these sectors separately. Objectives The project, Climate Living in Cities Concept (CLICC), aimed to demonstrate a concept for targeting citizens, as household occupants, to reduce their carbon footprint in the areas of housing, transport, and food and consumer goods. It sought to reduce the carbon footprint of the city’s inhabitants by 50% and thus contribute to the wider EU objective of combating climate change. CLICC was planned to operate through a combination of technical measures and behavioural incentives: technical measures in buildings would reduce total CO2 emissions by 15%; the project would reduce energy consumption for heating and hot water usage by 15%; renewable energy from solar collectors was expected to reduce consumption of external energy by 1%; and a demonstration green facade and green roof were to be introduced on a demonstration building. The project should have secured a 30% reduction in water consumption, reduced car transport for short journeys, and eliminated household waste going to landfill. It also planned to introduce a storm-water system that could reduce water run-off in the streets and pavement. In addition, the project hoped to significantly reduce household bills and increase the attractiveness and market value of the city’s real estate. The project aimed to demonstrate that local governments are important actors when it comes to combating climate change and that, together with residents, they can achieve a significant reduction of GHG emissions. The project expected to engage the active participation of 70% of Malmo’s households. Results The project focused its climate change mitigation actions on the large amount of post-war, multi-family buildings that needed to be renovated in Malmo. In the project, climate renovations and investments in the buildings were combined with an awareness raising campaign to increase inhabitants’ understanding about possibilities to reduce their impact on the environment. The project was able to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide equivalents by 38% (the target was 50%). Some of the proposed measures were not carried out and final adjustments of the installations were also not achieved. Project results from the residential area Hilda reduced energy demand through a number of measures. Installing a more efficient ventilation system, individual water metering and new washing equipment had the highest impact on the energy reduction. The installation of photo-voltaic panels and the exchange of diesel-powered machinery with an electric alternative have not reduced the energy use. However these project actions result in a shift towards more sustainable energy sources, and hence less GHG emissions. Without EU funding the renovation at Hilda would likely have been a standard renovation. Thanks to LIFE’s funding, it was possible to introduce electrical bikes, photovoltaic panels and test innovative ideas for washing equipment and rainwater collection. At the residential area MKB Augustenborg, the individual water metering, new washing equipment and better control of indoor temperature were measures that had the highest direct environmental impact – by reducing energy use and GHG emissions. A web-based tool (the CLICC monitor) was introduced to help reduce households’ individual carbon footprints. This CLICC monitor was used to link consumption and resource use per household concerning water, energy, waste, etc. as well as transport, food and consumer goods. A database was planned to be connected to the CLICC monitor so that statistics and reports on the overall results of all the households could be extracted. This however did not occur due to continuous technical problems with the maintenance of the web-tool and a very low participation from the households. Nevertheless, activities throughout the project sites were organised through the CLICC development process and focused on better use of resources. The organisations Cykelköket, ReToy and Återskapa were engaged here to help people recycle either their own things, or what would otherwise be considered waste.