UK NORDIC BALTIC SUMMIT: 19-20 JANUARY 2011

DENMARK FINLAND UNITED

KINGDOMLITHUANIA SWEDEN

ESTONIA ICELAND LATVIA NORWAY

THEME: Green Economy/Sustainable Business

TITLE OF PRESENTATION: TOWARDS CARBON NEUTRAL MUNICIPALITIES – AN INNOVATIVE FINNISH APPROACH

Synopsis: Two years ago, on the initiative of a few business leaders five municipalities in Finland promised to decrease their GHG emissions at least 80 per cent, by 2030. The concrete actions were chosen in an innovative collaboration process between researchers and practitioners. Now the process is expanding to several other municipalities.

Presenter: Lea Kauppi/ Finnish Environment Institute SYKE

Short Biography: Prof Lea Kauppi is the Director General of the Finnish Environment Institute. She is a member of the International Resource Panel and various other international expert groups. She has published widely on environmental and sustainability issues.

Towards carbon neutral municipalities - An innovative Finnish approach

Lea Kauppi, Director generalFinnish Environment Institute SYKE

20.1.2011 UK Nordic Baltic Summit (Green Economy / Sustainable Business)

• Five Finnish municipalities act as laboratories by working to curb their greenhouse gas emissions ahead the schedule (a minimum of 80 % by 2020-2030)

• The project was initiated by seven business managers and is coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)

• Five municipalities: Kuhmoinen, Mynämäki, Padasjoki, Parikkala, Uusikaupunki

• Actors: Municipal governments, local companies, residents, over 50 companies offering climate-friendly products and services, research institutions, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, support group in the Parliament

• Financial support from the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation

Carbon Neutral Municipalities project

– Let’s make the impossible possible!

• Small municipalities (3000 -16000 inhabitants) have a minor contribution to Finland’s GHG emissions but can have a strong impact on climate change mitigation as pilots providing concrete solutions (stories that media loves)

• new innovative ways to reduce GHGs within each target group: administration, residents, companies

• surveys on energy efficiency and on potential for renewable energy, manufacturing of electric cars, district heating based on forest biomass, LED street lights , video conferencing, sustainable development programmes for schools, online car sharing service…

• “win-win-win” situations giving full consideration to economic, environmental and social aspects

• climate change mitigation is now an essential part of the economy of the five municipalities

• Uusikaupunki as a forerunner: • 14 % reduction of GHG emissions in two years (without Yara), 50 %

reduction by 2013 (investments already decided)• Yara fertilizer factory: N20 emission reduction by 90 % (1% of the

total GHG emissions in Finland)

• Pilots on integrated management of energy and material flows

• Providing tools and guidelines for companies to decrease their carbon footprint

• Creating demand for climate-friendly technologies and services by green public procurement

• Example: Case Sybimar

Promoting green business

Keys to success

Commitment of management – climate change mitigation seen as an opportunity – understanding the benefits of the process

Active involvement of NGOs

Practical tools and “face to face” guidance are available for different target groups

Project staff in municipalities – short pay-back time due to significant energy savings in municipal operations

Different actors build networks and support each other – researchers as facilitators

Efficient communication of good practices in emission reductions as well as of related costs and benefits ( involvement of media)

Online monitoring of measurements (reported in the Internet)

• HINKU has created an alliance between players having a strong focus on climate change mitigation

• municipalities, companies, research organisations, ”ecovillages” and individual forerunners

• The bottom-up approach has been valuable for providing new practices and research ideas

• several related projects ongoing, e.g. developing a new investment model for renewable energy

• Strengthening international cooperation

• HINKU is expanding to several new municipalities• 5-7 neighbouring municipalities• expression of interest by 5 other municipalities including the city of Lahti with

about 100 000 inhabitants

Visit: www.environment.fi/canemu

Towards a carbon neutral society