Cross-cutting themes

This review is structured according to the themes of the Vantaa City Strategy. The strategy divides the SDGs under each strategic theme. There are cross-cutting SDGs that should be reflected in all themes. These cross-cutting SDGs are Gender Equality, Climate Action, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Partnerships for the Goals.

Iloinen perhe Kivistön kerrostalon edessä. Keskellä oleva lapsi heittää pallon korkealla ilmaan.

Introduction

The city strategy of Vantaa has defined cross-cutting SDGs that should be reflected under all strategic themes and should therefore be taken into account in all development work. These cross-cutting SDGs are Gender Equality, Climate Action, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Partnerships for the Goals.

This section describes the basis for the equality work of the City of Vantaa, the carbon-neutral Vantaa 2030 targets, sustainable procurements and various forms of cooperation. These themes are not separate from the other sections of the review but are closely linked to all the themes.

Ensuring justice, non-discrimination and gender equality

The City of Vantaa’s commitment to promoting gender equality and the equality of all people is expressed in the City Strategy in connection with the values of Vantaa:

“Values are shared views on what is important and valuable to us. They guide local decision-making and the activities of the entire organisation. The city’s branches may also have ethical principles concerning their own activities in place. The City of Vantaa is committed to promoting fairness, equality and non-discrimination in its operating methods This requires efforts to ensure equality and non-discrimination in the context of all decision-making and services.”

Gender equality and non-discrimination work refers to conscious, systematic, long-term and continuous efforts to assess the realisation and promotion of equality and non-discrimination in different areas of activity and to implement the necessary changes. Vantaa’s equality and non-discrimination work is based on the requirements of the Act on Equality between Women and Men and the Non-Discrimination Act. Decision-making, planning, service operations and assessment must be conscious of the significance of gender and take into account other non-discrimination criteria, such as age, origin, beliefs and family relationships.

Equality and non-discrimination work in decision-making and services is guided by the City of Vantaa equality and non-discrimination plan 2022–2025. The plan contains objectives and measures derived from legislation, which departments and service areas put into practice in the framework of their operations. The priorities of the planning period include the ethical action of elected officials, the use of gender-aware budgeting, mitigating gender segregation in education and working life, developing equality and non-discrimination planning in schools and educational institutions, promoting an anti-racist operating culture, cooperating with interest organisations and developing digital accessibility.

Both legislation and the city strategy carry strong obligations to consider and integrate the gender and equality perspective and non-discrimination criteria (age, origin, disability, etc.).  Gender equality and non-discrimination work takes place in various contexts throughout the organisation, but it has not become part of the mainstream of the organisation’s operations. The gender perspective is missing even in obvious contexts. The promotion of gender equality is considered to be a voluntary matter, which is evidenced by the fact that the lack of equality and non-discrimination perspectives does not result in, for example, programmes, plans, projects or reports being returned to preparation during the approval process.

Carbon neutral Vantaa 2030

Vantaa has set itself the goal of being carbon neutral by 2030. Achieving this goal requires integrating climate work into all activities. The change requires commitment and action not only from the city organisation, but also from residents, companies and communities.

Although the direct emissions of the Vantaa city organisation make up only about 10% of the emissions generated in the city region, the indirect impact of the city organisation’s activities is many times greater, for example through companies belonging to the city group, such as Vantaa Energy Ltd, and through housing and land use control. It is estimated that the city, through its instruments and subsidiaries, can influence at least 40% of the emissions produced in the city region.

The development of the City of Vantaa’s environmental sustainability is guided by the city’s shared Roadmap to Resource Wisdom, the content of which is described in more detail in the ‘Vantaa is ecologically sustainable’ section of this report. The environmental perspective and climate action should be reflected in all activities throughout the organisation. The aim of the Roadmap to Resource Wisdom in 2030 is a carbon-neutral Vantaa where the city’s planning and implementation will be resource-wise, nature will be diverse, natural resources will be used sustainably and the practices of residents, companies and communities will be sustainable. If implemented, the roadmap’s goals will create sustainable wellbeing and strengthen the competitiveness of companies and the vitality of the city.

Vastuulliset hankinnat

More than half of the city’s budget is made up of procurements, so the nature of the procurements really matters. Municipalities are also bound by international conventions and objectives: The UN’s Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, EU-level legislation and agreements, national legislation, such as the Local Government Act, the Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts, the labour code and special legislation in various fields, as well as the national procurement strategy all require that sustainable development is taken into account in procurements. Citizens’ opinions also support sustainability; according to a consumer survey conducted in 2021 (carried out by Kantar TNS agri), 80% of Finns believe that municipalities should set an example with their sustainable procurement.

Vantaa’s City Strategy, the Roadmap to Resource Wisdom, the Roadmap to Strategic Procurement and Vantaa’s own procurement guidelines also steer procurement in a sustainable direction. The strategic focus areas identified for procurement are

1. carbon neutrality,

2. circular economy,

3. innovations,

4. human rights and rights at work in procurement,

5. social perspective of corporate social sustainability,

6. inclusion, and

7. lawfulness and efficiency.

The procurement service unit has developed a process for sustainable procurement, where procurements to be put out to tender are submitted to an evaluation group, which uses an electronic tool to review which aspects related to sustainable development should be taken into account in the procurement. Tender competitions can take sustainable development aspects into account in a variety of ways: as selection criteria, minimum requirements or contract terms. Procurement can promote, for example, the purchase of low-carbon vehicles, reduction of harmful chemicals in toys or improvement of workers’ rights. Vantaa requires suppliers whose company size exceeds 30 people to have statutory equality and non-discrimination plans. When the procurement is deemed suitable, an employment condition is attached to the contract, meaning that the supplier must employ people who are in a difficult labour market position.

Fair Vantaa

Vantaa has been a Fairtrade City since 2015. In accordance with the title, Vantaa is committed to promoting ethical consumption, sustainable development and fair global trade through its operations. In its procurements, Vantaa strives to minimise the risk of child labour use in production, other violations of the rights of employees or damage to the environment. Fairtrade enables farmers and workers in developing countries to improve their livelihoods and decide their own future.

There is a Fairtrade advocacy group operating in Vantaa that promotes the implementation of Fairtrade principles in Vantaa. Fair Vantaa is built through cooperation – Vantaa-based companies, associations and parishes participate in the activities. Vantaa also actively communicates about Fairtrade activities, and Vantaa Info centres serve as Fair Vantaa information points. In 2021 and 2022, a poster exhibition was held at Vantaa Info centres during Fairtrade Week to share information on the impacts of Fairtrade and working conditions in producer countries.

Partnerships for the goals

The City of Vantaa, both at the city level and in the different departments, is involved in numerous international, national and local commitments, networks and cooperation bodies that strengthen sustainable development in its various areas. Cooperation with Vantaa city operators, educational establishments, parishes, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations as well as companies is also important. Achieving the SDGs requires extensive cooperation between different actors both regionally and more widely, and cooperation leads to new kinds of solutions to complex challenges when different perspectives are brought together.

Vantaa has many projects that are carried out in networked cooperation with educational establishments, companies, NGOs and other cities, for example. The projects develop new operating models and solutions. However, not all departments and units have the resources to implement projects, as they have not been allocated the self-financed shares that may be required to apply for project funding. City-business collaboration is mainly carried out in business services, and its importance is emphasised under the ‘Vantaa is vital and brimming with expertise’ strategic theme in this review. However, it is also important to recognise the potential of city-business collaboration in contexts other than employment and industry.

Cooperation with NGOs is a significant channel for the inclusion of the residents of the municipality, and it is carried out in departments and projects. The Joint Services unit, which serves all departments, coordinates the city’s cooperation with NGOs and organises events where NGOs can communicate their needs and wishes to the city. Many NGOs provide significant services to the residents of the municipality, and they have a role to play in increasing wellbeing and a sense of community. NGOs often need support, for example in terms of resources and premises, and efforts are made to improve the operating conditions of NGOs.

In this review, international cooperation is particularly emphasised under the theme of ‘Vantaa is international’, and it is actively developed. However, resources for cooperation are limited, so the potential of cooperation cannot be fully exploited.

Examples of networks and commitments in which Vantaa is involved

More information

Lotta Alajoki

Sustainability Specialist
lotta.alajoki@vantaa.fi

Keywords

ResponsibilityStrategy