The City of Espoo has approximately 300,000 inhabitants and is an integral part of the developing, networked metropolitan area of Southern Finland. Recently, Espoo was selected as Europe’s most sustainable city. Among the city’s most notable sustainable strategies, is the commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030.This target is challenging and cannot be achieved without a joint will to reduce emissions among the city, its citizens and companies, and the state. EU legislation requires Finland to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 39% by 2030 from the levels measured in 2005. At a national level, Finland is committed to reducing transport emissions by 50% by 2030. The City of Espoo has an important role in this national goal as both pioneer and facilitator. Commitment to carbon neutrality is, above all, a change in attitude and strategy for the city. It is expected that this attitude will become embedded into all city initiatives. A city structure leaning genuinely toward networked rail traffic will enable the city in its future economic, ecological, social and cultural development. Public transport and cycling will become more popular and the ecological footprint of Espoo residents will decrease. Espoo will truly be a pioneer in climate work.
Learning Objectives:
1. Discover why the City of Espoo was recently selected as Europe’s most sustainable city.
2. Examine the steps the City of Espoo is taking to achieve the goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.
3. Determine if your city can replicate some of the initiatives that the City of Espoo is undertaking.
Contributor/Source
Johanna Nyberg;Jyrki Paavilainen
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