The Royal Djurgården Society (Kungliga Djurgårdens Intressenter) gathered for a membership meeting at Skånska Gruvan for a day focused on collective sustainability efforts.
On November 15, 2022, more than 85 representatives from 41 members of the Royal Djurgården Stakeholders came together to review the jointly set goals and look forward. The large turnout reflects the broad and genuine commitment to the shared vision of leading in sustainable experiences and the promise to welcome, inspire, and engage visitors now and in the future. By combining tradition with modern sustainable thinking, new steps for making Djurgården even more sustainable were taken.
Oh, What a Morning
The meeting began traditionally with a carefully chosen song. This morning, it was Lill Lindfors’ “Oh, What a Morning”. The song set the tone for a day filled with celebration, reviews, responsibility, and dedication.
Oh, what a morning, oh, what a wonderful day
I feel so fresh and strong, and so fantastically glad
Oh, what a feeling when the dream was over
To wake up in the everyday world, full of will and grit
Knowing that I can, I will, and I dare
One Year Later
A year has passed since the last membership meeting and a lot has happened since then. In April, the members of the Royal Djurgården Society adopted the collaboratively developed sustainability goals. Shortly after, a Traffic Study was presented and discussed with the Regional Council and Traffic Commissioner, followed by the traffic-smart test week in early June. In September, Djurgården was awarded the Green Destinations Platinum Award, recognizing its comprehensive sustainability efforts. All of this, and more, brings us closer to our set goals.
To ensure that the goal document remains well-anchored and doesn’t become a desk product, we need to meet and discuss what works, what’s challenging, and what we should focus on together. This was the purpose of the day.
Congratulations from the City of Stockholm
Olle Burell, Chair of the Stockholm City Council, attended the meeting. He extended warm congratulations on the international award and the work being done at Djurgården. In his presentation, he emphasized the importance of the tourism industry for the city’s attractiveness and position in global competition. Djurgården was highlighted as a leader who creates strength, builds knowledge, and contributes to positioning Stockholm as a sustainable, innovative, and creative destination.
An International Perspective
For many years, Djurgården has worked systematically toward a more sustainable tourism industry. Through a process of inventory, structure, action, control, and certification, we ensure that we’re doing the right things. The recognition through the Green Destinations Platinum Award is proof that the approach works and brings international attention. The award is based on Green Destinations’ standards for destinations, aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria for sustainable tourism.
Djurgården – A Place for Sustainable Tourism
In a pre-recorded message, GSTC CEO Randy Durband announced that the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has decided to hold its world congress in Sweden, Stockholm, and Royal Djurgården in April 2024. This follows a joint invitation from Visit Sweden, Visit Stockholm, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, and Royal Djurgården Stakeholders.
Randy Durban, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, brought good news.
A prerequisite for being able to host the congress is that the venue must have an award or certification based on GSTC criteria. Djurgården’s Green Destinations Platinum Award has therefore been crucial.
Visit Sweden’s CEO Susanne Andersson, Visit Stockholm’s CEO Caroline Strand, and Helena Nyberg Brehnfors from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth were all delighted by the news and agreed that the time leading up to the congress is just as important. They emphasized that it is a time to strengthen sustainability efforts across the industry, as discussed in a conversation led by Royal Djurgården Stakeholders’ CEO Camilla Zedendahl.
Discussions in Small Groups
When those who define what sustainable tourism is come to Djurgården in 2024—where will we stand then? What will Djurgården look like? For a few minutes, there was a buzz of activity in Skånska Gruvan as we worked in small groups, looking ahead and considering what we want participants to experience when they visit.
Sustainability Goals as a Tool
Royal Djurgården Society has over 60 members with operations on Djurgården and in the tourism industry. The size and type of operations vary greatly, and we are at different stages in our sustainability work. The conditions differ as well.
We have set our sustainability goals together and adopted them collectively. How can we use them in our own strategies and business plans? Some have well-developed strategies in place, while others are just getting started. Our goals are ambitious and long-term, and it can feel overwhelming. But as Magnus Andersson, bailiff at the Royal Djurgården Administration, said, “If you’re going to eat an elephant, you have to do it a bite at a time.” A key purpose of the day was to learn from one another, share experiences, and realize that it doesn’t have to be difficult to contribute toward achieving the goals.
Sustainability Efforts at Our Institution
Peter Skogh, Museum Director, and Annika Brantingsson, Head of Sustainability at the Swedish National Museum of Science and Technology, showcased how they have integrated the collective Royal Djurgården Society’s goals with their selected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the museum’s overarching operational plan. In doing so, the common goals become a part of their own strategy. By incorporating the broader common goals into their strategy, they demonstrate that they are part of a larger initiative. With such goals, they may not act directly within their operations but still contribute through the collective work on Djurgården.
A Challenging Future
In a panel discussion, representatives from The Swedish National Maritime and Transport Museums, Parks & Resorts, Skansen, and ABBA The Museum shared experiences from their operations. They agreed that not everyone needs to do everything. Each organization must assess where and how to start, identifying the most relevant areas and where the greatest impact can be made.
Where Do We Stand?
The second part of the day featured a workshop led by the sustainability team. After a well-deserved break, participants were divided into four groups, one for each focus area (Fossil-Free and Smart Transport Djurgården, Sustainable Food Culture, Open, Accessible, and Welcoming, and A World Exhibition for Sustainability). The discussions revolved around two questions: Where do we stand in terms of the 2022 goals? And what should we focus on collectively in 2023 to reach the 2025 goals? Experiences and insights were shared over 45 intense minutes, and lively discussions took place.
Common Ground and Next Steps
All groups felt aligned with the established goals, and several, including “Sustainable Food Culture,” had successfully achieved all set targets for 2022. The workshop concluded with a discussion on how to best communicate sustainability togehter. The focus was on how Djurgården’s ongoing efforts can positively influence all its visitors towards a more sustainable mindset.
Concluding International Outlook
The meeting concluded with an international perspective as we welcomed Jeremy Smith from The Travel Foundation. He attended the moment when the Royal Djurgården Stakeholders’ Board officially signed The Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. This declaration, created during COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, is a global initiative focused on addressing climate issues in tourism. Its purpose is to accelerate efforts to reduce the tourism sector’s climate impact, and Royal Djurgården Stakeholders’ endorsement of the declaration represents their commitment to long-term, strategic sustainability efforts.
