Torbjörn Lahti is trained as an urban planner, and over the past thirty years has worked locally and globally in sustainable development. Initiator and former coordinator of Sweden’s national association of eco-municipalities (Sekom), he is author of the soon-to-be released book, My Journey with the Ecomunicipalities: How to Change the World through Local Action (Campus REDesign, 2012). Torbjörn also authored the theory booklet "Grounding the vision: The Eco-Municipality Education Guide" and co-authored with Sarah James The Natural Step for Communities - How Cities and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices (New Society
Publishers, 2004).
Today, Torbjörn works as a co-director of the Institute for Ecomunicipality Education & Assistance (IEMEA) and as the Founder and President of the Sustainable Sweden Association (SUS). He is the founder and partner of the environmental consulting firm and SUS member, Esam, Inc., based in Umeå. For more than a decade, SUS has conducted "Sustainable Sweden Tours" where visitors from around the world have immersed themselves in the Swedish eco-municipalities, and had opportunity to learn first-hand about the concept in practice. Expanding on Sweden’s eco-municipality outreach, Torbjörn is now engaged in building up a web-based global eco-municipalities capacity center called Ecomuna.
Torbjörn’s work with eco-municipalities has received international recognition and awards. He has worked extensively with the USA, Canada, Japan,
Kenya, Mexico, Chile, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Estonia, Finland, Norway, and Russia. Between 2001 and 2007, he developed an advanced approach to sustainable community development called "Eco-Municipality 5.0". This model is now being introduced in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Italy, Chile and the USA.
Torbjörn is married to Mona, and currently lives in Umeå, Sweden. Together Mona and Torbjörn have three children, Andreas (b.-79), Johan (b.-82) and Sara (b-90).
About Torbjörn’s Book Release Announcement:
My Journey with the Ecomunicipalities: How to Change the World through Local Action is the latest book by Swedish author and social change process leader Torbjörn Lahti. Originally written in Swedish, the book is now scheduled to be released in English in early 2014. The book takes readers on a 30-year journey of Lahti’s experience and reflection on how we can change our societies in a sustainable way. The voyage begins with the story of "Who is Torbjörn Lahti? ". The personal tale provides insight to Torbjörn’s ensuing drive to continue leading and participating within sustainable initiatives in a world of changes for the good and the bad.
The book illustrates how the ecomunicipality movement started during the 80s in Övertorneå, Sweden, a small Torne Valley municipality situated at the Arctic Circle - the homeland of Torbjörn Lahti. We see how Torbjörn’s experience as Övertorneå’s process leader, and the successful change process that took place and led to a life-long odyssey of social change in the direction of sustainability. The reader is shown how one small community’s courageous actions spurred a movement starting within Sweden and ultimately leading to change around the globe. Along the way, the reader is introduced to a variety of colorful actors who have been inspired to participate in the development of the ecomunicipality movement, The book then presents Torbjörn’s Ecomunicipality 5.0 concept which provides tools and methods for starting a participative sustainable community development program that combines the strengths of grass-roots bottom-up processes with the structure of top-down institutional support systems.
Step by step, the reader can follow the experiences of building eco-municipalities with the up and down of being an "eco-preneur". Through this
journey, newcomers and long-time sustainability practitioners alike who want to join in defining a new sustainable paradigm can find answers by using the book as a tool. The book concludes with an open invitation for joining a bourgeoning network of "fire souls" on the ecomunicipality path, including within a new online Global web campus that houses a virtual ecomunicipality "Capacity Center.. " There, the author invites the reader to explore endless possibilities for sharing, learning and collaborating as the ecomunicipality journey continues.
Publishers, 2004).
Today, Torbjörn works as a co-director of the Institute for Ecomunicipality Education & Assistance (IEMEA) and as the Founder and President of the Sustainable Sweden Association (SUS). He is the founder and partner of the environmental consulting firm and SUS member, Esam, Inc., based in Umeå. For more than a decade, SUS has conducted "Sustainable Sweden Tours" where visitors from around the world have immersed themselves in the Swedish eco-municipalities, and had opportunity to learn first-hand about the concept in practice. Expanding on Sweden’s eco-municipality outreach, Torbjörn is now engaged in building up a web-based global eco-municipalities capacity center called Ecomuna.
Torbjörn’s work with eco-municipalities has received international recognition and awards. He has worked extensively with the USA, Canada, Japan,
Kenya, Mexico, Chile, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Estonia, Finland, Norway, and Russia. Between 2001 and 2007, he developed an advanced approach to sustainable community development called "Eco-Municipality 5.0". This model is now being introduced in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Italy, Chile and the USA.
Torbjörn is married to Mona, and currently lives in Umeå, Sweden. Together Mona and Torbjörn have three children, Andreas (b.-79), Johan (b.-82) and Sara (b-90).
About Torbjörn’s Book Release Announcement:
My Journey with the Ecomunicipalities: How to Change the World through Local Action is the latest book by Swedish author and social change process leader Torbjörn Lahti. Originally written in Swedish, the book is now scheduled to be released in English in early 2014. The book takes readers on a 30-year journey of Lahti’s experience and reflection on how we can change our societies in a sustainable way. The voyage begins with the story of "Who is Torbjörn Lahti? ". The personal tale provides insight to Torbjörn’s ensuing drive to continue leading and participating within sustainable initiatives in a world of changes for the good and the bad.
The book illustrates how the ecomunicipality movement started during the 80s in Övertorneå, Sweden, a small Torne Valley municipality situated at the Arctic Circle - the homeland of Torbjörn Lahti. We see how Torbjörn’s experience as Övertorneå’s process leader, and the successful change process that took place and led to a life-long odyssey of social change in the direction of sustainability. The reader is shown how one small community’s courageous actions spurred a movement starting within Sweden and ultimately leading to change around the globe. Along the way, the reader is introduced to a variety of colorful actors who have been inspired to participate in the development of the ecomunicipality movement, The book then presents Torbjörn’s Ecomunicipality 5.0 concept which provides tools and methods for starting a participative sustainable community development program that combines the strengths of grass-roots bottom-up processes with the structure of top-down institutional support systems.
Step by step, the reader can follow the experiences of building eco-municipalities with the up and down of being an "eco-preneur". Through this
journey, newcomers and long-time sustainability practitioners alike who want to join in defining a new sustainable paradigm can find answers by using the book as a tool. The book concludes with an open invitation for joining a bourgeoning network of "fire souls" on the ecomunicipality path, including within a new online Global web campus that houses a virtual ecomunicipality "Capacity Center.. " There, the author invites the reader to explore endless possibilities for sharing, learning and collaborating as the ecomunicipality journey continues.