Vantaa retained its position on the A list of the world's leading climate cities
This year, too, Vantaa was classified as one of the world’s 119 leading climate cities. The list is maintained by the non-profit environmental organization CDP, which collects data on cities’ and businesses’ environmental acts.
In order to be included in the A class, a city must have, among other things, a comprehensive emission chart and goals to reduce emissions as well as to increase the use of renewable energy. The city must also assess the risks arising from climate change and systematically work to adapt to climate change.
Only 13 % of the cities participating in the reporting managed to get into the A class. In 2023, 939 cities all over the world participated in the classification. In addition to Vantaa, the Finnish cities Tampere and Turku managed to gain a place in the A class.
CDP's listing is planned to encourage and support cities to make their environmental acts more effective, and it is based on the environmental data notified by the cities.
Vantaa strives to be carbon neutral by 2030
Vantaa has been conducting systematical environmental work for a long time. In 2017, Vantaa set itself the goal of being carbon neutral by 2030, and the city has compiled a resource-smart roadmap to achieve the goal.
“Ambitious climate action benefits both Vantaa's residents and its businesses. We are implementing the measures of the resource-smart roadmap, and our goal is to be carbon neutral already in 2030. At the same time, the city’s pleasantness, attractiveness, and competitive edge increase. A sustainable city is a better city,” says mayor Pekka Timonen.
The desired outcome is carbon-neutral Vantaa where nature is versatile, resources are used in a sustainable manner, and residents, businesses and associations operate in a responsible manner.
Carbon neutrality entails that greenhouse gas emissions be reduced 80% by 2030 from the 1990 level, and the remaining emissions be compensated, for example, by increasing the number of carbon sinks. Calculations include emissions in Vantaa arising from electricity, heat, traffic, agriculture, industry, and waste processing.
Heating and traffic play a major role
At this point, most emissions arise from energy production and consumption as well as from mobility, which is why the city will focus on these sectors.
Vantaa works on a long-term basis to improve the energy efficiency of the city's real property. Vantaa is committed to the Municipalities’ energy-efficiency pact (KETS) that aims at 7.5% energy conservation from the 2015 level by 2025. Vantaa already achieved this goal in 2022.
Last year, heating caused 42 % of emissions. Approximately 90 % of Vantaa homes are heated by district heating. Vantaa Energy Ltd's goal of being carbon negative by 2030 constitutes a key part of emission reductions. Furthermore, it is important to move from oil heating to cleaner forms of heating. Taloyhtiöklubi-hanke (information in Finnish) and HSY’s (Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority) free-of charge energy counseling (information in Finnish) help private housing cooperatives and small-house dwellers in starting energy renovations.
The Neutralpath-hanke (information in Finnish) project—that was begun this year and that aims at an energy positive area, that is, an area that annually produces more renewable energy than consumes it—is sure to accelerate the city's energy- and carbon-neutrality goals.
Vantaa systematically promotes sustainable mobility. In 2023, the city, among other things, placed new signs along main cycling routes as well as installed new bicycle stands. The walk-promotion policy, approved this year, outlines how pedestrian environments will be developed in the next few years. Nevertheless, emissions from traffic have diminished slowly; further action is required to increase both muscle-powered mobility and electronic modes of transport.
In addition to emissions, the city will increasingly pay attention to the changing climate and extreme weather phenomena. The measures of Vantaa's storm-water program, updated this year, help to prepare for rainstorms. By accounting for the amount of vegetation, we can create more pleasant microclimates even during heat waves.
You can monitor the progress of Vantaa’s climate action on the city's websites and on the Ympäristövahti service.
Familiarize yourself with Vantaa's climate work and Ympäristövahti.
Check out all the A-list cities on the CDP’s website.
