How we work for climate neutral destinations
What is the project about?
Climate Neutral Destinations (CliNeDest) is a three-year international collaboration aimed at promoting more sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea region. The project is funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme and began in March 2025.
The purpose is to develop practical tools for creating new and greener tourism opportunities and more sustainable destinations.
How do we work together in the project?
The project is based on close cooperation between municipalities, tourism organisations, and businesses in the participating countries. Through joint development and testing, new solutions will be established that make it easier for the tourism industry to reduce emissions and adapt to the requirements of the future. A particularly important aspect of the project is close collaboration with businesses in each destination. These companies play a key role in determining which activities will be tested in practice.
During the project period, a toolbox will be developed and tested in real-life settings by tourism companies in the various destinations. The toolbox will include the following elements:
- Various tools for measuring emissions for businesses
- A model for exploring and co-creating low-emission experiences
- A knowledge management model for developing sustainable (climate-neutral) destinations
- A training programme for using the toolbox
The tools will support both strategic and operational work, and help the industry meet requirements from, among others, the EU’s Green Claims Directive. Participants in the project will also join a network of destinations, cities, and municipalities working toward the same goals.
What is the City of Stavanger doing?
The City of Stavanger is participating as the Norwegian partner together with actors from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland. The project is coordinated by Visit Tampere in Finland.
The City of Stavanger leads the Norwegian contribution to the project and collaborates with tourism stakeholders in the region. Locally, the municipality will work with tourism businesses to test the toolbox during 2026. The businesses will receive practical guidance and access to resources that support green transition and long-term competitiveness.
The project also supports the City of Stavanger’s climate and environmental plan and its business strategy.
What does this mean for the business community?
Local businesses in the Stavanger region play an important role in this project. The project is particularly aimed at suppliers of goods and services related to tourism and experiences in the region.
Participating companies will have the opportunity to:
- Calculate their own climate emissions and identify improvement measures
- Plan and test low-emission products and experiences
- Contribute to knowledge sharing and strategic work at the destination level
- Take part in an international network for exchanging experiences
Participation is free of charge and well suited for companies that want to strengthen their sustainability efforts and explore new business models.
Would you like to learn more about the project or express interest in participating? Please contact the project team (contact information further down the page).
International cooperation
CliNeDest is an example of how international collaboration can contribute to practical solutions for shared climate challenges. Experiences and results from the project will be shared across the Baltic Sea region and support the development of more sustainable destinations even after the project concludes.
By sharing best practices and methodologies, the project aims to create a foundation for continued cooperation, both regionally and internationally.
