UK NORDIC BALTIC SUMMIT: 19-20 JANUARY 2011 ESTONIA
DENMARK
ICELAND
FINLAND
LATVIA
UNITED KINGDOM
NORWAY
LITHUANIA
SWEDEN
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 general Finnish Environment Institute SYKE 20.1.2011 UK Nordic Baltic Summit (Green Economy / Sustainable Business)
Carbon Neutral Municipalities project – Let’s the impossible possible! Finnishmake municipalities act as laboratories by working to • Five
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
• 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 of the five municipalities
the economy
• 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)
Promoting green business • 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
Keys to success Commitment Commitment of of management management –– climate climate change change mitigation mitigation seen seen as as an an opportunity opportunity –– understanding understanding the the benefits benefits of of the the process process Different Different actors actors build build networks networks and and support support each each other other –– researchers researchers as as facilitators facilitators Practical Practical tools tools and and “face “face to to face” face” guidance guidance are are available available for for different different target target groups groups Project Project staff staff in in municipalities municipalities –– short short pay-back pay-back time time due due to to significant significant energy energy savings savings in in municipal municipal operations operations Active Active involvement involvement of of NGOs NGOs Online Online monitoring monitoring of of measurements measurements (reported (reported in in the the Internet) Internet) Efficient Efficient communication communication of of good good practices practices in in emission emission reductions reductions as as well well as as of of related related costs costs and and benefits benefits (( involvement involvement of of media) media)
Towards a carbon neutral society • 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