31.8.2011

The mayors of the six largest cities:

Cities must rise to the challenge of climate policy

The city leaders of Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Vantaa, Turku and Oulu, issued a joint declaration at a meeting to discuss urban climate policy in Helsinki’s Vanha Raatihuone. The statement emphasizes the responsibility of cities in fighting climate change and sets out six well-founded climate initiatives, which they will co-promote.

The initiatives are related to construction, supporting the actions of urban dwellers to improve the climate and supporting activity that develops cities.

The city leaders decided to jointly pursue the following climate action plan: 

• the contruction of an energy-wise road map is to be drawn up for each city,
• the development of construction supervision and quality control towards giving advice on energy
• the development of climate change advice and supporting urban residents in their actions to combat climate change with the aid of community projects,
• having designated eco support officers in the workplace,
• reducing the need to travel by increasing video conferencing
• budgeting for climate impact assessment.

Forming a City Mayor’s Climate Network

The mayors and leaders of Finland’s six largest cities initiated the Mayor’s Climate Network last spring. The initiative for the network came from Sitra, and it is included in the Ministry of Environment, Tekes and Sitra’s ERA17 programme. The network’s purpose is to promote the realisation of the EU's energy and climate policy aims, and eco-efficient urban development. The network will help to highlight new initiatives, increase cooperation and disseminate best practices throughout the major cities. 

The Mayor’s Climate network is made up of the city leaders of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Turku and Oulu and the Mayor of Tampere. The network is chaired by the Mayor of Tampere, Timo P. Nieminen. 

Read more (articles in Finnish):

• Kaupunginjohtajien ilmastokannanotto (pdf, 15 kt)
• Lisätietoa aloitteista (pdf, 28 kt)