VLR report part 5: Vantaa is ecologically sustainable

Climate change is progressing and the climate in the Nordic region has warmed significantly faster than the global average. Studies show that more extreme weather events are expected in Finland. In Southern Finland, summers are getting hotter and hot periods are getting longer. The impacts of climate change are diverse and extend across the globe. The change will cause adverse effects on ecosystems and economic sectors, in addition to health and well-being of humans. Buildings and other infrastructure will also be put to the test.

Climate change adaptation refers to ways to prepare for and prevent the impacts of climate change and reduce the vulnerability of society and the environment to them. Adaptation planning begins with identifying climate risks and assessing vulnerabilities. A study of the current state of adaptation has been launched in Vantaa.

As a means of adaptation, Vantaa is increasingly adopting so-called nature-based solutions, such as more green areas, which can curb the heat island effect and promote rainwater absorption, for example. It is also necessary to construct flood barriers and enhance flood protection. Changing weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall, heat waves and drought, must be taken into account in the design, construction and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure. Adaptation requires finding new solutions, which creates preconditions for developing new innovations.

It is Vantaa’s goal to become a carbon-neutral city by 2030. Vantaa’s regional greenhouse gas emissions have been decreasing since 2010. The exceptions are the years 2021 and 2022, during which emissions increased mainly due to district heating production.

The achievement of the carbon neutrality goal is monitored through HSY’s (Helsinki Region Environmental Services) calculation of greenhouse gas emissions, which is limited to emissions produced within the City of Vantaa and emissions from purchased electricity and heat. In Vantaa, greenhouse gas emissions from consumption have also been calculated twice. This calculation includes all emissions caused by the consumption of municipal residents, regardless of where the consumed goods were produced. This is an important perspective, as it highlights the challenges of overconsumption in Finnish society and the global environmental impacts.

To monitor the City of Vantaa’s carbon neutrality target for 2030, Vantaa has an emissions budget in place. An emissions budget means setting a maximum permissible emissions for a certain period of time. An emissions budget is a way to ensure that the path towards carbon neutrality is implemented as planned. A new scenario is currently being developed in Vantaa to assess greenhouse gas emissions for the future. In addition to the emissions budget, Vantaa is developing its environmental budgeting, which compiles the financial resources budgeted for climate and nature positivity measures and indicates their adequacy. The implementation of the pilot budget for 2024 will be presented in the Environmental Sustainability Report 2024–2025, which will be published soon.

Climate change and biodiversity loss reinforce each other, and both are caused by human activity. Urbanisation in Vantaa imposes its own challenges on biodiversity. As the city develops, habitats become fragmented and ecological connections may deteriorate. The increased recreational use is depleting the local nature. The condition of traditional biotopes is deteriorating as a result of overgrowth. Changes in the city’s plant and animal species are already visible, and the depletion of nature is being exacerbated by the encroaching invasive species.

Unsustainable consumption weakens biodiversity not only in Vantaa, but also outside the city. Even though biodiversity loss on the other side of the world is not easily measurable, we must try to reduce it by leveraging available means. The city’s procurement efforts aim to take biodiversity into account by promoting a more sustainable food culture and circular economy, for example. The intention is to work with other cities to find solutions for reducing the environmental impacts of procurement.

Vantaa wants to be a nature-positive city by the end of 2030. The goal is not only to stop nature loss, but also to improve the state of nature from what it currently is.

Environmental Planner Annina Vuorsalo, what does nature positivity mean in Vantaa? 

Nature positivity means that the city’s activities produce more benefits than harm to nature. The goal covers the operations of the entire city organisation. In Vantaa, nature positivity is made up of three key components: no net loss in land use, nature-related actions that increase diversity and the “nature heart print” i.e. the stronger role of nature in society and in people’s ways of thinking.

No net loss in land use means that the primary aim is to avoid and minimise harm to nature. If natural values ​​are lost, they will be fully compensated by restoring similar areas elsewhere, for example. 

Measures that improve natural biodiversity include concrete actions to improve the state of nature and adding nature to locations where there is little or no nature. In Vantaa, special emphasis is placed on the functionality of ecological networks, as they form the framework for safeguarding and strengthening biodiversity. 

Nature positivity is not only an ecological but also a social goal. As an example. increasing the nature heart print means strengthening communication, taking nature into account better in decision-making and developing new collaboration models with experts, companies, and residents.

How is nature positivity manifested in practice? 

A new operating model for ensuring no net loss in land use was introduced in Vantaa, and the city is the first in Finland to implement ecological compensation for environmental harm caused by construction.

Vantaa has committed to increasing the area of ​​nature reserves from 6.7 per cent to 10 per cent by 2030. In 2024, a decision was made to protect a total of 50 hectares of new nature reverse area by the City Council’s anniversary decision. In the future, the goal is to designate five new nature reserves a year. Restoration efforts have also been carried out and are planned in various parts of the city.

Every year, Vantaa’s stream caretakers take care of streams and the spawning grounds of migratory fish, and local nature guides and the Vantaa Nature School enrich education by taking groups into local nature. In addition to this, local nature is systematically used as a learning environment for day care centres and schools. Participatory methods are used to combat invasive species, and the municipality’s knowledge of nature is increased through various activities. 

As the first city to make a Baltic Sea commitment, Vantaa has committed to promoting renewable farming and its multiple benefits on its owned and leased fields. 

As such, plenty of environmental work is under way, and new measures and solutions are constantly being planned!

What are the biggest challenges in nature positivity work? 

The goal of nature positivity is ambitious and requires significant resources. Even though the resources for nature work have already been increased, additional efforts are still needed. This can be partially addressed through project funding, but it is also important to secure the city’s own resources. 

One of the major challenges is reconciling land use and natural values. Vantaa is growing rapidly, which creates pressure on the development of nature and green areas. The recently introduced no net loss model takes into account new plans and areas under construction, but efforts should still be directed towards the nature debt formed by previous, already built-up areas and repaying this debt. 

Measuring nature positivity is also a significant challenge. Biodiversity is a broad concept that includes, among other things, the abundance of species, the state of ecosystems and the connectivity of natural areas. As of yet, there are no clear and established metrics, but a great deal of development work is under way. It should be possible to better monitor the state of ecological networks, and it is also important to find ways to measure changes in people and society. 

Collaboration with other cities is key, as many other cities are considering the same questions. Together, we can develop better solutions.

A sustainable community structure ensures functional day-to-day life with as few harmful environmental impacts as possible. The development of Vantaa's urban structure is steered by Master Plan 2020, which entered into force on 11 January 2023. The starting point for the master plan is the city’s sustainable growth. The master plan fits together the city’s growth opportunities with the preservation of nature, the cultural environment and recreational areas on a city-wide scale. Construction opportunities lay the foundation for economic and social sustainability.  

The cornerstone of sustainability is ecological sustainability, which is achieved by a strengthened ecological network and a denser community structure accessible by rail transport. In 2024, a planning-related economic study of the master plan was completed, which also included a carbon footprint calculation for selected new and changing areas. Based on the study, it was determined which of the construction areas enabled by the master plan could be put into use first.

Vantaa is focusing construction particularly in the sustainable growth zone, i.e. the station areas and the area affected by the upcoming Vantaa tram. Land use solutions can significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by influencing the energy consumption of buildings, the use of renewable energy and transport solutions, for example.

A carbon neutrality process has been developed to support station planning. It helps to outline the measures to support carbon neutrality at different stages of the process. Climate impacts are assessed in every new local detailed plan. A dense community structure in the vicinity of good public transport services reduces the need to travel and makes everyday life easier, even when services are located nearby. 

The master plan protects large areas and significant connections in the city’s green space network. These areas are not only important for the preservation of biodiversity, but they also support the health and well-being of residents as recreational areas. At the same time, they contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

As the city grows, it will still be necessary to build in areas with vegetation. In connection with the station planning, the value of different areas will be assessed in more detail than in the master plan, and solutions that are good for both the urban structure and nature will be sought.

Along with emissions caused by district heating, traffic emissions are the most significant in Vantaa. A sustainable city requires developing public transport, improving conditions for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and developing energy-efficient and low-emission mobility. In addition to ecological considerations, effective traffic planning creates well-being in a growing city. The transport system has a significant impact on both an individual’s freedom of mobility and the quality and safety of the living environment. 

The City of Vantaa strives to ensure that traffic in the city is smooth for everyone. Vantaa is constantly developing the city’s traffic conditions – safer pedestrian and bicycle paths, in particular. Public transport is being developed in cooperation with Helsinki Region Transport (HSL).

The most significant investment in terms of developing public transport in the coming years will be the construction of the Vantaa tram, which will begin in 2025. Sustainable mobility is also promoted by the fact that more and more of vehicles used by the city organisation are fully electric and charging points have been systematically built at numerous facilities. To increase cycling to work, a plan has been drawn up to promote cycling at the offices of the Urban Environment Department. Cycling education and opportunities for walking and cycling are also promoted in daycare centres and schools, and parents are encouraged to give their children the opportunity to walk or cycle on their daily routes. In 2024, Vantaa celebrated its 50th anniversary as a city. To celebrate the occasion, residents and visitors of Vantaa were offered the 2024 city bike season free of charge. 

The determined efforts have also borne fruit. According to Vantaa’s traffic barometer for 2024, local residents are satisfied with the functionality of the transport systems of their home town. Satisfaction with the smoothness of movement increased for all forms of transport. Satisfaction with public transport increased the most, up to 10 percentage points compared to the 2020 survey. There is also strong support from residents for the traffic planning goals. Improving cycling conditions was supported by 85 per cent of survey respondents support, and promoting public transport was supported by 90 per cent of the respondents.

Vantaan Energia Oy is a subsidiary partly owned by the City of Vantaa. The company’s new vision is to be the leading recycled energy company in the Nordic countries by 2035.

SVP of Communications and Public Affairs Juha Luomala, how is sustainability work visible at Vantaa Energia?

Responsibility is an essential part of everything we do. Our strategy is based on gradually moving to completely emission-free energy production. We will move away from fossil fuels as early as next year, and after that, emissions from thermal waste treatment will still need to be addressed. The main driver of our strategy is emission reductions, and we plan and make large and innovative investments to achieve our goals. While the energy transition is under way, it is important to ensure that the price of energy remains affordable and that security of supply is maintained.

Our responsibility policy is updated annually, and we monitor the implementation of our responsibility goals. Essential identified areas of responsibility include work against climate change, promoting the circular economy, and environmental and nature impacts. In terms of social responsibility, we pay attention to both the well-being of our own personnel and the rights of employees related to value chains. We want to be a responsible partner to our customers and other stakeholders.

What plans do you have to reach carbon neutrality goals?

A major leap has already been made in the green transition of energy production over the past ten years. We will reach a major milestone in 2026 when we are able to completely transition away from fossil fuels. As recently as 2014, district heating in Vantaa was produced solely with fossil fuels, so a great deal has already happened in a short time. Yet, there is still much to be done, and we are striving for new and innovative breakthroughs to achieve carbon neutrality goals. The most significant of these are the recovery of carbon dioxide generated from the thermal treatment of waste and the seasonal thermal energy storage facility “Varanto”.

A key element of heat production in Vantaa is the thermal treatment of waste, i.e. burning to produce energy. Waste must be processed in any case, and heat can be produced in a resource-efficient manner simultaneously. However, this also results in carbon dioxide emissions, and waste processing cannot be stopped. The only option to reduce emissions from waste incineration is to recover the carbon dioxide. This is what we are developing now and, if everything goes according to plan and we receive sufficient support for the project, the recovery arrangement could be operational by 2035, at the latest. This is our most significant goal in terms of emission reductions, because when carbon dioxide emissions are captured, the result is almost carbon-neutral district heat production. At the same time, we are creating a carbon-neutral chain for waste treatment in Southern Finland. In this regard, we are also developing ways to increase the recycling rate and planning a new sorting centre.

Another major project that is about to be started is the seasonal thermal energy storage facility “Varanto”. The challenge of district heat production is that heat is needed many times more in winter than in summer. In winter, backup plants based on fossil fuels must normally be used to meet needs even at extremely cold temperatures. We are building the world’s largest remote thermal energy storage facility in Vantaa, which will allow us to store heat in a sensible and affordable way and use it from the storage facility in winter. This innovative project is unique in its scale in the entire world.

The City of Vantaa strives for low emissions and energy efficiency in its own operations. Renewable energy production has been increased in almost all of the city’s new and renovated properties. In addition to this, all of the city’s most significant properties have abandoned oil heating. The city also aims to find solutions to accelerate the energy transition in cities through project development work. The five-year Neutralpath project develops climate-positive areas. The three-year Energy Service Model for Neighbourhoods (ENPA) project develops regional energy service models.

The Housing Company Club (Taloyhtiöklubi) model operating in Vantaa brings together the boards of housing companies in the neighbourhood, establishes a cooperation forum and initiates guided, goal-oriented and active cooperation to develop properties and the area. The focus of the activities has been on improving energy efficiency and promoting energy-related renovations. The Housing Company Club activities were also selected for the city’s Regional Programme of Positive Action (MEK) due to the community development (see the chapter Socially Sustainable Vantaa in this report), and the club neighbourhoods are from areas of positive action. Other themes used to develop areas include the promotion of additional and infill construction, joint procurement and the circular economy, for example. The key idea is the power of collaboration and the benefits it can bring.

Vantaa wants to promote the circular economy in all its operations. Vantaa is a growing city in which plenty of buildings are being built and torn down. The built environment plays a crucial role in climate change mitigation, since buildings cause a third of Finland’s climate emissions. Vantaa strives to develop construction processes so that materials and value remain within the framework of the economy for as long as possible and are utilised efficiently. Attention is also paid to the spatial efficiency, flexibility of conversion and multipurpose nature of buildings. This will help mitigate climate change, conserve natural resources and promote the preservation of biodiversity. 

Developing a circular economy can also influence people’s preconditions for living a good life as well as their lifestyles. Vantaa aims to develop the possibilities of the sharing economy, in which lending and sharing increase the efficiency of using products and services. 

The City of Vantaa is developing the Kiila circular economy area in the Tuusula and Vantaa areas as a joint project. The aim is for the area to become a regionally significant, modern and innovative circular economy hub that creates new kind of green transition business in the Helsinki region and helps meet the region’s carbon neutrality goals, promote work aimed at slowing down nature loss and reduce the consumption of natural resources. By finding carbon-neutral solutions for circular economy operations, it is possible to develop the business operations of companies and create sustainable growth.

The area’s potential as a circular economy area is particularly notable, as its location is logistically excellent and the area is large. The area is located near main roads north of Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. The site is unique in Finland in terms of its location and size, and Uusimaa has a significant shortage of workplace plots that would enable the circular economy.

So far, the area has not been planned systematically. Instead, it has developed organically on the border of two municipalities. The planning area is largely an existing built-up industrial environment. The current transport network in the planning area is inadequate and hinders the faster development of the area.

The immediate surroundings of the Kiila circular economy area are relatively sparsely populated by the standards of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, but the operations still impact the residents. For example, noise, dust and vibration are negative impacts that should be considered. As such, the needs of housing and business operators conflict in some places. In 2025, a study will be prepared for the area, developing a comprehensive assessment of the combined impacts. The project will develop a model for the continuous updating of the assessment of joint impacts and pilot a common information sharing and interaction platform for stakeholders in the area.

Developing a sustainable city and responding to environmental challenges requires, alongside the city organisation, concerted effort from everyone, including residents, businesses and communities. The city organisation can serve as an example, enabler and messenger, and it can highlight new ways of operating. The city must find ways to utilise the knowledge and expertise of individuals and communities, enable voluntary action and create equal opportunities for participation. The themes can include mobility, waste, energy consumption, and food and other consumption choices, for example.

In Vantaa, residents are educated and supported towards a sustainable lifestyle and environmental responsibility. In 2022–2024, the Education and Learning sector created a model for sustainable future competence from early childhood education to secondary education. The environmental education work cards used in early childhood education create the foundation for the environmental knowledge of Vantaa residents. The themes of the cards were compiled from the resource wisdom roadmap and the basics of the early childhood education plan. Competence goals for a sustainable future were developed for basic education in the Vilke project funded by the Finnish National Board of Education. The learning outcomes are based on the curriculum, Vantaa’s environmental work and the European Commission’s Greencomp framework.

At Vantaa Vocational College Varia, environmental responsibility was systematically introduced into the teaching of vocational upper secondary qualifications by adding an environmental responsibility section to the implementation plans. The section examines environmental responsibility from the perspective of each professional field. Upper secondary schools focused on developing courses that increase environmental competence. 

The day care and school meals offered by Vantaa have direct environmental impacts, but they also have indirect impacts as a driver of meal habits that are sustainable and promote well-being. Work has been under way in Vantaa for years to ensure the sustainability of meals. On Influential Day 2019, children and young people demanded more information about food as well as tastier and more sustainable school meals. Since then, the city has been developing meal arrangements more systematically and based on collaboration between various actors. The Knowhow and involvement – children and the young to participate in making more sustainable food culture  project (2022–2023) deepened this work and produced climate-themed food education materials from early childhood education to secondary education, in addition to developing climate-friendly recipes together with children, young people and catering service providers.

The development of school meals in Vantaa will continue in 2024–2025 with the MUMS project, the main goal of which is to increase the participation of children and young people in school meal arrangements. The goal is being promoted by focusing on the taste of food, involving children and young people (food groups, school food influencers, recipe workshops), and influencing attitudes with students, staff, and guardians. The goal is also promoted by a more frequent rotation of popular vegetarian dishes on the menu and the product development of hybrid recipes.

The City of Vantaa is implementing eco-support activities, and eco-support personnel are appointed and trained in work communities to promote environmentally sustainable practices. Eco-support activities are everyday environmental work that helps increase environmental awareness and implement the organisation’s strategies and environmental policies into grass roots actions and practices.