The vision of Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is to become the most functional city in the world. A well-functioning city must also take into account the impacts and consequences of weather phenomena and climate change, and aim at reducing them. Helsinki has conducted a weather and climate risk assessment together with the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The assessment includes an analysis of the changing climatological conditions and analyses the exposure and vulnerability of the city and its people, infrastructure and the economy to the various climatological hazards.

Extreme winter conditions will require preparedness also in the future. Photo credit: Antonin Halas / Studio Halas

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As Helsinki climate experts present an action plan to render the city carbon neutral by 2035, the city compiles all energy-related data on its building stock into a 3D map application labeled Helsinki Energy and Climate Atlas. Executed on the CityGML data model, the semantic 3D city model of Helsinki is part of the city’s toolkit for climate action and climate change adaptation.

With data on each of the city’s buildings, Helsinki Energy and Climate Atlas can be used for advanced citywide energy analyses and simulations, as well as assessments of specific buildings.

The solar energy potential of Helsinki Olympic Stadium revealed by the solar irradiation analysis of Helsinki Energy and Climate Atlas

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The Helsinki City board has decided upon Carbon-neutral Helsinki 2035 Action Plan on 10 December 2018. The Action plan outlines how the city can be rendered carbon neutral by 2035. It details how to reduce energy consumption and how to increase on-site renewable energy generation in the city. Carbon Neutral Helsinki 2035 is a realistic action plan marked by detail. The plan will be implemented side by side with a program to render the city’s centralized energy production carbon neutral.

In September 2017, Helsinki reset the city’s target year for carbon neutrality to 2035, speeding up the goal by 15 years from the earlier target year 2050. An interim goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60 % from 1990 to 2030.

The Summary of the Carbon-neutral Helsinki 2035 Action Plan

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The urban development of Helsinki Kalasatama proceeds. As part of Smart Sustainable District Climate KIC program, Kalasatama has been selected to be the area where sustainable systemic change at district level is going to be introduced in Helsinki. By 2030s, it will offer a home for about 25,000 residents and jobs for 10,000 people. But how to turn Kalasatama into a smart sustainable district?

Smart Kalasatama

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A new brochure features 30 climate-smart solutions in Helsinki! Both a holistic view and case-by-case solutions are needed when planning the Helsinki of the future. This brochure provides examples of Helsinki’s efforts to successfully develop an urban, environmentally smart and climate-smart capital. The brochure is available online and in Laituri information and exhibition space (Narinkka 2, Helsinki).

Photo: Laituri, Pia Läspä.

Climate-smart Helsinki –Towards more sustainable city planning