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Achievements and challenges of sustainable development
in Helsinki
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Contents:
Introduction p.3 Helsinkiinanutshell p.3 Thechallengeofsustainability p.5 Effortstowardssustainabilitysincethe1950s p.5
Sustainable development strategies and programmes p.6 Sustainabilitystrategyandactionplan2002–2010 p.6 ProgrammeforEcologicalSustainability2005–2008 p.7
Achievements and challenges p.9 Combinedproductionofheatandelectricitysaves theenvironment p.9 Efficientpublictransportandlow-emissionbuses p.10 High-qualitydrinkingwater p.11 Improvedwastewatertreatment p.11 Thestateofcoastalwatersisimproving p.12 TheentireBalticSeaasachallenge p.13 GreenHelsinki p.13 NuuksioNationalParkandhikingarea p.16 Overhalfofhouseholdwasteisreusedorrecycled p.16 Systematiceffortstoreducestreetdust p.17 Environmentaleducationtosupportsustainable development p.17 Strengtheningsocialcohesionandpreventingsegregation p.19 Enhancementofcitizenparticipationandpartnership p.21 Internationalco-operation p.22 Increasingeco-efficiencyakeychallenge p.22
Contact info p.24
Helsinki March 2007Cover: CityofHelsinkiPictureBank/KimmoKivirintaEditors:KariSilfverberg,CamillavonBonsdorffandTriinaKiviniemiDesigner: JenniinaRiekkiPrinters: Paintek-PihlajamäkiOy
Helsinki in a nutshell
Helsinki,thecapitalcityofFinland,islocatedonthesouthernBalticSeacoastofFinlandatlatitude60degreesnorth.Thelocalclimateisinfluencedbybothmaritimeandcontinentalclimaticpatterns.DuringwintermonthsofJanuarytoMarchthecityisusuallysnow-coveredandtheseafrozen,butsummertimefromJunetoAugustisratherwarmandsunny.
Thelandscapeofthesoutherncoastalregionisamosaicofmixedconiferousanddeciduousforest,steepgranitehills,smalllakesandfarmlanddevelopedonformerseabottomplains.ManylandformsintheregionareaproductoftheIceAge,whichendedabout12000yearsago.
ThecitiesofHelsinki,Espoo,VantaaandKauniainenformtheHelsinkiMetropoli-tanArea,whichisthehomeofaboutonemillionpeopleorone-fifthofFinland’spopulation.Theareahasabout600,000jobsandproducesaboutone-thirdofFinland’sGDP.
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Source:FactsaboutHelsinki2006(CityofHelsinkiUrbanFactsandHelsinkiMetropolitanAreaCouncil)
introduction
Geography and environment Helsinki Metropolitan Area Helsinki Region Totalareakm² 690 2370 5520Sea km² 500 1600 1680Land km² 190 770 3840Shoreline(mainland)km 110Population
Inhabitants 560905 988347 1274746Inhabitantsperkm²land 2970 1280 410
Nature
Greenareasm²perinhabitant 134Islands 315 Numberofvascularplants 1064Numberofnestingbirdspecies 165
Mean temperature 6.6°C
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Despiterapidurbangrowththereisstillmuchurbannatureandlargerecreationandgreenareasintheregion.Withregardtopopulation,employmentandpro-ductionthisisoneofthefastest-growingmetropolitanareasinEurope.
Helsinki MetropolitanArea Council (YTV) is a regional administration, estab-lishedin1974.It’stasksincluderegionaltransportsystemplanningandpublictransportcoordination,wastemanagement,regional land-useplanningandairqualitymonitoringfor itsfourmembermunicipalities. Italsomaintainsregionaldatabasesandconductsstudiesoneconomic,socialandenvironmentalissuesofregionalsignificance.
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AerialviewofcentralHelsinkiandSouthHarbour
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The challenge of sustainability
Theprincipleofsustainabledevelopment(SD)wasrecognisedasaguidingprin-cipleinmunicipaladministrationinHelsinkiandthemetropolitanareafollowingthe1992RioConference(UNCED).
Helsinkiparticipatedduring1992-93inanationalcampaigntostrengthenlocalsustainability,andsignedin1995theAalborgCharter–theCharterofEuropeanCitiesandTownstowardsSustainability.ThusHelsinkialsojoinedtheEuropeanSustainableCitiesCampaignandbecamecommitted toproducinga compre-hensivesustainabilityactionplan,asocalledLocalAgenda21programme.ThecitiesofEspooandVantaaalsosignedtheAalborgCharterin1995.Until2006morethan1600Europeancities,townsandmunicipalitieshavesignedtheAal-borgcharter.
Inadditiontothecityadministration,thechallengeofsustainabledevelopmentalsoconcernsallthecity’sresidents,neighbourhoodorganisations,NGO’sandeducationalinstitutionsaswellasbusinesses,stateandregionaladministrationetc.Wecannotachievesustainabilitytargetswithadministrativeguidanceandplanningalone.Co-operationandcommitmentisneededfromallconcernedac-torsandinterestgroups.
Efforts towards sustainability since the 19�0s
EffortstoenhanceecologicalsustainabilitywereinitiatedinHelsinkialreadylongbefore the sustainability concept emerged into public awareness. Back in the1950sHelsinkibegantobuildadistrictheatingnetworkandplanthecombinedproductionofheatandelectricity.Nowadays95%ofbuildingsinHelsinkiarecon-nectedtothedistrictheatingsystem,whichensuresahighenergyefficiencyandimprovedurbanairquality.
Helsinki’scityscapeandinfrastructurehavesincelongagobeenplannedaccord-ingto theprinciplesofsustainabledevelopment.Duringthefasturbangrowthandstructuralchangeofthe1960sand1970s,thecitymadeeffortstopreventuncontrolledbuildinganddevelopmentofone-sidedandsimplesleeping-sub-urbs.Multifacetedanddynamicareacentresweredevelopedalongwithefficientpublictransportservices.Effortswerealsomadetopreserveasufficientlylargeandfunctionalnetworkofgreenareasandecologicalcorridors.
Inthe1980sthecitypreparedactionplansfordifferentaspectsofenvironmentalprotection,and in1990thefirstcomprehensiveEnvironmentalProtectionPro-grammewas prepared. Important cornerstones of Helsinki’s second Environ-mentalProtectionProgramme(1994-1998)weretheobjectivesapprovedbytheUnitedNationsRioConference(UNCED)in1992.
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Sustainability strategy and action plan 2002 – 2010
Helsinki’s participatory Local Agenda 21 (LA21) process started with a CityCouncildecision inMarch1997.Thecouncildecided, thatHelsinkiwill formu-lateacomprehensivesustainabilitystrategyandactionplaninaccordancewiththeprinciplesoftheAalborgCharterandinclosecooperationwithcitizensandinterestgroups.Fivemaintargetsfortheplanningprocessweredefinedinthecouncildecision.InSeptember1997thecounciladoptedanoverallsustainabilitystrategy.
TheLA21processculminatedinJune2002,whentheCityCouncilunanimouslyadoptedHelsinki’sSustainabilityActionPlan,makingHelsinkithefirstcapitalcityinEuropetohavecompletedafull-scaleSDactionplanningprocess.Theplancontainsstrategicgoalsandguidelinesforecological,economic,socialandcul-turalsustainabilityinHelsinkifortheperiod2002–2010,alongwith70concretemeasuresapprovedbytheCityCouncil.
The overall targets of the SD action plan are:
1) Reducinggreenhousegasemissions2) ProtectingandfosteringbiodiversityinHelsinki3) Strengtheningthecity’scompetitivenessandcommercialandindustrial structureinordertosafeguardstableeconomicdevelopment4) Includinglife-cyclethinkinginthecity’sphysicalplanning,purchasing practicesandconstruction5) Increasinginteractionandcitizens’participationandstrengthening partnership6) Preventingexclusionandsocialsegregation7) Fosteringculturaldiversityandthebuilt-upenvironment
Sustainable development strategies and programmes
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Thepreparationoftheactionplanwasalong-termparticipatoryprocess,whichinvolvedeverydepartmentofthecityadministrationaswellascitizens,neigh-bourhood associations, NGOs, professional associations, educational institu-tions,enterprisesandcommercial institutions,governmentalorganisations, re-ligiousinstitutionsetc.Over4000citizensparticipatedactivelyintheplanningprocess.ImportantstagesoftheworkincludedopenLA21conferences,semi-narsandworkshops,taskgroupsandtwoofficialcommentingrounds.
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Duringtheprocess,about160small-scaleSDprojectswerecarriedoutbyresi-dentsandNGOswitheconomicsupportfromthemunicipality.
Thecitymonitorsactionplanimplementationandprogresstowardssustainabilitywiththehelpofasetofcoreindicatorsforsustainability,periodicreviewreportsandannualenvironmentalreports.
Programme for ecological sustainability 200� – 2008
Helsinki’sLA21processcontinuedafterSDactionplanapprovalwiththedraftingofanewenvironmentalprotectionprogramme,e.g.ProgrammeforEcologicalSustainabilityfortheperiod2005–2008(HEKO).
ThisprogrammeisashortertermspecificationandconcretisationofecologicalsustainabilityobjectivesincludedintheSDactionplan.Itindicatesthecity’sfocalpointsofenvironmentalprotectionduringyears2005–2008.Itdrawsalsoonthefollow-upoftheimplementationofpreviousenvironmentalprogrammesandthe2003assessmentofthestateoftheenvironmentinHelsinki.
TheprogrammeincludesHelsinki’senvironmentalpolicy,approvedbytheCityCouncil in 2005 (see below),which emphasisesmore efficient environmentalmanagement in municipal organisations. Environmental management tools atthewholecitylevelincludetheSustainabilityActionPlan,commonpremisesforplanningandbudgetaryguidelinesapprovedbytheCityBoard,environmentaltargetssetinthebudget,andannualenvironmentalreporting.
EnvironmentalmanagementintheCityofHelsinki
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HELSINKI’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN 200� - 2008
Helsinki’sgoalistoactinanecologicallysustainablewaytoensureahealthy,pleasantanddiverselivingenvironment.Helsinkiisawareofitsglobalresponsibilityandisstrivingtoreduceitsshareoftheloadontheenvironment.Thecityisworkingtopreventadverseenvironmentalimpactsandrepairalreadyoccurreddamages.Thecity’sdepartments,unitsandsubsidiaryorganisationsareworking tomakeenvironmentalmanagementmoreeffective.Department-specificplans to imple-menttheSustainabilityActionPlanandtheEcologicalSustainabilityProgrammeshallbesubmittedtothecity’spoliticalcommitteesforapproval.Theseplansin-cludeacommitmenttocontinuouslyimprovethestateoftheenvironment.
The city is committed in it’s decision-making and activities to:
• preventclimatechangeparticularlybyreducingenergyconsumption aswellasgreenhousegasemissionsfromenergyproduction,waste managementandtransport • useit’senvironmentalresourcesinsuchawaythatlivinganddiverse urbannaturewillbepreservedalongwithitsspecialfeatures • promoteformsoftransportwithlowemissionsandlownoiseandan eco-efficientandsociallysustainableurbanstructure • buildinawaythatsavesenergyandmaterials,eco-efficientlyand healthily • improveenvironmentalexpertiseinprocurementsandpaymore attentiontoenvironmentalimpactsinprocurementofgoodsandservices • improvecityemployees’andresidents’environmentalknowledgeand possibilitiestoinfluencedecision-makingconcerningtheenvironment
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Combined production of heat and electricity savesthe environment
OneofHelsinki’smostsignificantstrengthswithregardtosustainabledevelop-mentisthedistrictheatingsystemandco-generationofelectricity,heatingandcooling.Thesehavebeendevelopedsystematicallysincethe1950s.HelsinkiEnergyhasbecomealeadingactorincombinedenergyproductiontechnology.
TheintroductionofdistrictheatinghasconsiderablyimprovedairqualityinHel-sinki,sinceseparatesmokestacksofindividualbuildingsandhousingblockshavedisappeared,andpollutioncontrolatallmunicipalenergyplantshasbeenconsiderablyimprovedsincethe1970’s.
By1990districtheatingwaspro-videdto88%ofthebuildingstockinthecity,andin2005itservedabout95%.Energyefficiencyisnowover90%offuelenergy.
ThemainfuelusedtodayinenergyproductioninHelsinkiisnaturalgas.AmajorfuturechallengeistoincreasetheshareofrenewableenergysourcesinHelsinki’sownenergyproduction.
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Achievements and challenges
The efforts of systematic environmental protection of the City of Helsinki have been recognised internationally.
•In1990theCityofHelsinkiwaspresentedanawardbytheInternational CouncilforLocalEnvironmentalInitiatives(ICLEI)fordevelopingdistrict heatingandworkingsystematicallytoimproveairqualityinHelsinki. •HelsinkireceivedacertificateofdistinctionintheEuropeanSustainable CityAward2003competition.Specialrecognitionwasgiventothe successfuldevelopmentofpublictransportanddistrictheating, preparationoftheSustainabilityActionPlanasaparticipatoryprocess andcitizen-orientedsustainabilityworkaimedatpreventing marginalisation.
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Efficient public transport and low-emission buses
PublictransporthasbeenapriorityissueinthetransportsysteminHelsinkiandthemetropolitanareasincetheearly1990’s.In1991theCityCounciladoptedatransportpolicy,whichemphasiseddevelopmentofpublictransportandparticu-larlyrailtransport,e.g.localtrains,metroandcitytrams.
ThepublictransportsystemofHelsinkihasbeengiventhehighestscoreinmanyconsecutiveassessmentsoftransportsystemsinEuropeancities.Theshareofcommuterjourneystotheinnercityusingpublictransporthasduringyears2004-2006been62%.
Amajorfuturesustainabilitychallengeisimprovementofpublictransportserv-icesinthewholeHelsinkiregion.Importantlarge-scaleprojectsintheplanningstagearef.ex.theextensionofthemetro-linewestwardstothecityofEspooandconstructionofarailwayconnectiontoHelsinki-Vantaaairport.
AnewissueintheimprovementofHelsinki’senergyefficiencyisthedevelopmentofdistrictcoolingduringthewarmmonthsoftheyear.Thisreducesenergywastingandelectricityconsumptionincoolingofbuildingsduringthewarmseason.
Helsinki’sfirstheatpumpplantwascompletedin2006.Theplanttransfersheatfromprocessedwastewateranddistrictcoolingreturnwatertodistrictheatingandalsoproducesdistrictcooling.ThenewheatpumpplantsignificantlyreducesHel-sinki’scarbondioxideemissions.
Inprocuringbusservicesthecitypaysattentiontonoiseandemissions.In2002theEuropeanCourtofJusticeissuedarulingthatissignificantfortheprocurementofenvironmentallyfriendlyproducts.TheCourtofJusticesaidthatHelsinkihadtherighttoawardacontracttoanoperatorwhosebusesproducedloweremissions,evenif itdidnotsubmitthecheapestbid.Helsinki’sdecisionwasconsideredtocomplywithpublicprocurementregulationsbecauseitfollowedtheenvironmentalpolicyapprovedbythecity.
Helsinkibustransportbeganusingsulphur-freecity-dieselfuelin1994.Thefirstnaturalgas-drivenbuseswentintoservice4yearslater.Naturalgasbusesnowaccountforabout15%ofHelsinki’sinternalbustraffic.
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High-quality drinking water
CleanrawwaterfortheCityofHelsinkiandnearbymunicipalitiesisprovidedbya120kmlongrock tunnel fromLakePäijänne.The supply tunnel, which is the longestcontinuousrocktunnelinEurope,becameoperational in1982.Drinkingwaterqual-ity inHelsinkihasimprovedconsiderablysince the 1980s due to good raw waterqualityandefficienttreatmentprocesses,e.g.ozonisationandactive-coalfiltration.
Improved wastewater treatment
Helsinki has systematically invested inwastewatertreatment.AllwastewaterfromHelsinkiandnearbymunicipalitiesispuri-fied inamoderncentral treatmentplant,builtundergroundinthegranitebedrockinViikinmäki.Theplantbecameoperationalin1994.
Viikinmäki treatment plant is one of themostsignificantenvironmentalprojectsinFinland. It will ensure wastewater treat-ment for nearly a million inhabitants aswellasindustryinHelsinkiregionfarintothefuture.Theplantremoves95%ofsol-id and oxygen-consuming materials andphosphorus from wastewater. Removalof nitrogen is about 89%.The treatmentprocess produces most of the electricityandheatneededbytheplant.
DuringthelasttenyearsHelsinkihasre-duced considerably it’s emissions to theBalticsea.Thephosphorusloadhasbeenreducedtoone-thirdandtheorganicandnitrogenloadtolessthanhalf.
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ThewaterqualityoftheseaareasofHelsinkiandEspooin1974-1976and1998-2000
The state of coastal waters is improving
EutrophicationinHelsinki’scoastalwatershasbeenreducedandthestateofcoastalwatershasimproved.Thishasbeeninfluencedbymoreefficientwastewatertreatment,theclosingofsmalltreatmentplantswiththeopeningofthecentraltreatmentplantinViikinmäkiandthepumpingoftreatedwaste-watertotheopenseasince1987.
Becauseofpast loads,baysarestill eutrophicbecausenutrients in sedi-mentsarebeingreleasedowingtooxygendepletion.InordertoimprovethealarmingstateoftheGulfofFinlandandtheentireBalticSea,Helsinkiispar-ticipatingactivelyininternationalco-operationprojectssuchaswastewatertreatmentinSt.Petersburg.
InthemiddleofdowntownHelsinki isagreenoasis,TöölöBay.Itsrecreationaluseislimitedbythepollutionofthebaysincethe18thcentury.In2005anhistoricclean-upprojectbegan.Thisinvolvespumpingseawaterthroughatunnelfromanearbycleanerseaarea.Thegoaloftheprojectistorestorethebaytoanaturalstateandmakeitapleasantplaceforrecreation.
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The entire Baltic Sea as a challenge
Helsinki strives to treat its ownwastewatercarefullyandisactivelyparticipating in international coop-eration for Baltic Sea protection.ForyearsHelsinkihasparticipatedinwastewatertreatmentprojectsinTallinnandSt.Petersburg, for ex-ample.Theimprovementofthewa-tersoffthecoastofTallinnisagoodindicationofthis.Thebiggestcon-cern remains thestateof theGulfofFinland,however.Althoughalothasbeendone,eutrophicationhasstillnotbeenbroughtundercontrol.Even though the nutrient load intheGulfofFinlandwasreducedbynearly40%inthe1990s,theGulfofFinlandisstilloneofthemostpol-lutedpartsoftheBalticSea.
Green Helsinki
Helsinkiisacoastalcitywithanar-chipelago and sea area coveringover500km².Thisdiversecoastalzone includes over 300 islands.TheCityofHelsinkiownsoverhalfofthese.
Over 70%ofHelsinki’smore than200kilometresofshorelineispres-entlyopentothepublicforrecrea-tional use. The shoreline includesseaside parks, beaches, mari-nas, fishing spots, natural shores,smoothgraniterocksandwetlands.In summer the inhabitants of Hel-sinki can go walking, camping,boating,swimming,fishing,bird
Winterswimminginicyseawater
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watchingandcanoeingat theseashore. Inwinter theycangowalking,skiing,skatingorfishingontheiceandeventakeadipinanicepool.TheCityofHelsinkiownsnearly30publicbeaches.WaterqualityatbeachesinHelsinkiisgood.Withmodernwastewaterpurification,theaveragemicrobiologi-calqualityhasbeenmaintainedatgoodlevelsatallbeachesinthecitysince1995.
Although Helsinki is the most densely populated part of Finland, it has manygreenareas.Some6700hectaresofparks,forests,naturereservesandrec-reationalareascoveringoverone-thirdofthecity’slandterritorygiveresidentsabout134squaremetresofgreenareapercapita.
MostofHelsinki’sgreenareasdonotlookliketheparksbuiltinotherEuropeancitiesbutaremorelikeforests.Ourmostimportantgreenzone,theCentralPark,beginsdowntownandstretchesover10kilometrestothenorthinacontinuousgreenandrecreationarea.TheoldestforestsareinthenorthernpartofHelsinki,wheretheyhavenotbeentouchedforoverhalfacentury.
Helsinkihasnearly40protectednatureareascoveringatotalofover460hec-tares.Mostof themarequitesmall, lessthanonehectare.Theaimof there-servesistosafeguardbiodiversityandthenaturalheritage.Theyarealsoimpor-tantforresearchandeducation,andforvisitors.
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Ourmostsignificantnaturereserve,theViikki-Vanhankaupunginlahtiwetland,islocatedinthegeographicalcentreofHelsinkiandcoversover250hectares.ThisisanimportantnestingareaforwaterbirdsandispartoftheNaturanetworkoftheEuropeanUnion.ItisalsolistedintheinternationalRamsarConventiononWetlands.Thenaturereserveismainlyreedsandopenwater.Italsoincludescoastalwoodsaswellasbuiltpathsandbirdwatchingtowers.HelsinkihasthreeNaturaareasinall.
TheislandfortressofSuomenlinnaisapopularrecreationareaandhistoricalsiteaswellasaresidentialarea.ItwasplacedonUNESCO’sWorldHeritageListin1991asauniqueexampleofEuropeanmilitaryarchitecturefromthe18thand19thcenturies.
OvertheyearsSuomenlinnahasbecomeoneofthemostbiodiverseareasinFinlandwithregardtoflora.Ithasover400speciesofplantsincludingmorethan100cultivatedplants.ItisalsoanexcellentplacetowatchthemassmigrationofwaterbirdsandwadersnorthwardattheendofMay.
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ArchipelagoinHelsinki
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Nuuksio National Park and hiking area
Helsinkiowns6,700hectaresof recreationalareasoutside itsborders.The largestoftheseisinNuuksioforestareawhichissituatedlessthan30kmfromthecitycentre.
NuuksioNationalParkisanalmostuntouchednaturereserveof39squarekm.TheareaisfromtimetotimeextendedaspartoftheNaturaProgramme.NuuksioNationalParkliesonaforest-coveredlakeupland.Itsbiodiversityisbasedonthecombinationofasouth-ernlocationinFinlandandavariedtopographicprofile.Granitecliffsandhillsroundedbytheiceagesalternatewithravinesandvalleys,whichconcealverdantgroves.Thereare43smalllakesandpondsinthearea.Thenationalparkishometo70endangeredorspeciallymonitoredspeciesofanimals,plantsandfungi.
FinlandandEstoniaaretheonlycountriesintheEuropeanUnionwhereflyingsquirrelsarefound.Flyingsquirrelsfacetheproblemofshrinkingforesthabitats.Theywereclas-sifiedasanendangeredspeciesinFinlandin2000andtheyareoneofthemoststrictlyprotectedspeciesinFinnishandEUlegislation.NuuksiohasoneofthedensestflyingsquirrelpopulationsinFinland.
Over half of household waste is reused or recycled
TheHelsinkiMetropolitanAreaCouncil(YTV)isresponsibleforarrangingwastemanagementandcollectinghazardouswastefromhouseholds.Italsocollectsrecyclablewastesuchasmetal,glassandwoodat localcollectionpointsandrecyclingcentresandwiththehelpofcollectionvehicles.
TheÄmmässuowastetreatmentcentreinEspooreceivesunsortedwasteandseparatelycollectedbiowastefromoveramillioninhabitantsand50,000firmsin
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WinterlandscapeinNuuksio
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theHelsinkimetropolitanarea.YTValsoprovidesadvisetocitizens,firmsandotherorganisationsonpreventing,sortingandrecyclingwaste.
TheRecyclingCentreofHelsinkimetropolitanarea,alsohasnumerousservicepointsthatreceiverecyclableitemsandmaterials.
TheaverageinhabitantintheHelsinkimetropolitanareaproduces300kilosofwasteayear.About55%ofwasteisrecycledorreusedwiththehelpofsorting.Compostmade frombiowaste is used in landscaping.Biogasesarealso col-lectedatwastetreatmentplants.
In2005thetotalamountofwasteproducedintheHelsinkimetropolitanareawasabout1.3milliontons.Thisincludedabout600,000tonsofsolidmunicipalwaste.Ofthisabout300,000tonsofburnablewasteendedupattheÄmmässuowastetreatmentcentre.In2006YTVdecidedtochangethewastehandlingstrategyinthemetropolitanarea.Itresolvedthatsource-separatedmixedwasteshouldinfuturebeusedtoproduceenergy.Anewincinerationplantisbeingplanned.
InrecentyearsFinlandhasbegunapplyingtheprincipleofproducerresponsi-bility inwastemanagement.Thisobliges theproduceror importer toorganisewastemanagementforproducts.Theprinciplealreadyappliestoelectricalandelectronicappliances,tyres,paper,motorvehiclesandtosomeextentpackagesandpackagingwaste.
Systematic efforts to reduce street dust
AirqualityinHelsinki isgenerallyfairlygoodbyinternationalstandards.Streetdustinthespringisakeyprobleminthisrespect,however.Helsinkihassystem-aticallydevelopedmeanstoreducestreetdustsincetheearly1990s.Thankstolong-termwork,streetdustlevelshavefallenbyaboutone-thirdcomparedwiththelate1980s.
Aplantoreducestreetdustthatwasapprovedin2003containspreventivemeas-uresandanoperatingmodelinepisodesituations.Atpresentacomprehensiveactionplantoimproveurbanairqualityisunderpreparation.
Environmental education to support sustainable development
TheNatureCentreoftheHelsinkiEnvironmentalCentreoperatesontheislandofHarakka.TheNatureCentreoffersalotofdifferentprogramme:exhibitions,
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NatureSchool,FairyTaleadventuresforchildrenandnatureobservationtoursandseasonaleventsinthebeautifulnatureandvarioushistoricalbuildings.
TheCityofHelsinkiEducationDepartmentplaysamajorroleinpromotingsus-tainabledevelopment,asteachingandeducationaretheprimemeansofimpact-ingtheknowledge,abilitiesandattitudesoffuturegenerations.
Environmentaleducationandactivitiestoadvancesustainabledevelopmentarecarriedoutinallcomprehensiveschools,uppersecondaryschoolsforteenagersand foradults,and invocational institutions.Theseeffortsseek to raiseenvi-ronmentallyawarecitizenswhoarepreparedtoassumeresponsibilityfortheirenvironment.
TheCityofHelsinkiEducationDepartmentrequireseachschoolandcollegetodrawupanenvironmentalprogrammeforitself.
TheCityofHelsinkirunstwo“natureschools”,oneinthegardeningandenviron-mentaleducationcentreGardeniaintheViikkidistrictofHelsinkiandtheotherontheislandofHarakkaoffthecoastofHelsinki.Theobjectiveistogiveeveryschool pupil in Helsinki an opportunity to take part in nature school activitiesduringcomprehensiveschool.Helsinkialsohasazooschool,anaturecentreforyoungpeopleandanenvironmentalschool.TheFallkullapettingzooalsoprovidesenvironmentaleducation.
A successfull environmental education project is theGreen Flag programme,whichisaimedatday-carecentres,schoolsandyouthcentres.TheGreenFlagispartoftheinternationalEco-Schoolsprogramme.
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TheCityofHelsinkiparticipatedintheECOmassprojecttodevelopthefirsten-vironmentalprogrammefortheWorldChampionshipinAthletics,whichwasheldinHelsinkiinAugust2005.
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TheEKOARKIproject(EcologicallySafeEveryday)wasimplementedintheHel-sinkimetropolitanareain2006withpartialfundingfromtheEUUrbanIICom-munity InitiativeProgramme. It’spurposewas toproduceanddisseminate in-formationaboutecologicallysustainablelivingpatterns,supportenvironmentaleducationworkandofferpossibilitiesforpracticalenvironmentalactivities.Theprojectprovidedarecyclingvehicle,environmentaladvice,joint-useservicesandsupportforenvironmentaleducationtoinhabitantsandbusinessesinparticipat-ingneighbourhoods.Excursions,coursesandtrainingwerealsoarranged.
Strengthening social cohesion and preventing segregation
Helsinki’sstrategytopreventsocialexclusionandsegregationhasafocusonemploymentasabasictoolagainstsocialexclusion.Specialattentionispaidtopreventingsocialexclusionamongchildrenandyoungpeopleand tocreatingnetworkswithinthecityadministrationregardingthefightagainstsocialexclu-sionandsegregation.
InhousingconstructioninHelsinki,theaimistoavoidcreatinganunbalanced
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populationstructureandabuild-upofsocialproblems.Toachieveamixinthepopulationstructureofnewhousingdevelopments,sitesareallocatedtodiffer-ent typesofdevelopment. In large-scaledevelopmentareas, theproportionofrental flatsbuiltwithstate-subsidized loanmaynotexceed40%of thearea’stotalhousingstock.Differenttypesoftenureandformsoffinancingaremixedtogetherinthesameblock.
Significantnewresidentialareaswithbothowner-occupiedandrentedhousingwillbedevelopedalonggoodpublic transport routesandparticularlyrailtrans-port.
Inareaswithhighunemployment,havingajobhasbeenseenasanadvantage.Incertaincases,applicantsforflatsinareaslabelledasproblematichavebeenacceptedfasterifthishasbeenlikelytohaveafavourableeffectonthearea’spopulationstructure.
Theintegrationofcertainpopulationgroupsispromotedbymeansofconstruc-tiongroundallotment.Theproductionofowner-occupiedhousinghasbeenstim-ulatedinareaslabelledasproblematic.
TheCityofHelsinkiisthebiggestlandownerinthecityarea.Themunicipalityalsoleaseslandforhousingpurposesforowner-occupiedhousingwithindexedhousingunitresaleprices.
Housingspaceperinhabitantiscurrently34squaremetresinHelsinki.
In resourceallocation,neighbourhoodswhichareclearly threatenedbysocialexclusionarefavoured.ForexampletheEducationDepartmenthasappliedtheprincipleofpositivediscriminationtofavourschoolsindeprivedneighbourhoods.Acalculationmodelwitheightvariableswasapplied.Thebudgetofallmunici-palschoolswascutby0.7percent,andthefundsthussavedweredistributedamong20percentoftheschoolsindeprivedareas.
TheYoungPeople’sVoiceProjectisdesignedtopromoteparticipation.Thegoalistogivechildrenandyoungpeoplegoodexperiencesinparticipatingindeci-sion-makingsothattheeffectswillalsobevisibleintheirlivingenvironment.
Schoolsplayakeyrole in theprojectsince theyreachallchildrenandyoungpeople.Thegoal is forall theschoolsandvocationalschools inthecity tobeincludedintheproject.
Thecityhasalsoco-operatedwiththemedia.Amongotherthingsarticleswrittenbyyoungpeoplehavebeenpublishedanddiscussionprogrammesonthemesthatareimportantforyoungpeoplehavebeenbroadcast.
EachyeartheprojectarrangesOpenForumsindifferentpartsofthecitywhereyoungpeoplecantalkwithdecision-makersandpoliticians.
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Enhancement of citizen participation and partnership
• Helsinki’sLocalAgenda21processandthepreparationofthe SustainabilityActionPlan1998-2002
• TheHelsinkiMetropolitanAreaCouncil(YTV)conducteda participatoryplanningprocessin1997aspartofthepreparation oftheregionallong-term(-2020)landuseandtransportsystem scenariosandstrategies.
• Thepreparationofanewmasterplanforland-useand transportationincludednumerousopenthematicand neighbourhood-levelworkshopsandseminarsaswellastwo large-scalepubliccommentingrounds.Theparticipatoryprocesses oftheSustainabilityActionPlanandHelsinkiMasterPlan2002had coordinatedtimeschedules.
• Athoroughparticipatoryprocesswasalsoconductedduringthe preparationofHelsinki’sGreenAreaProgrammefor1998-2008. ThepreparationofHelsinki’sthirdEnvironmentalProtection Programmefor1999-2003hasalsoincludedparticipatoryprocesses.
• TheYouthDepartmentofthecitydevelopedinthe1990svarious procedurestoactivateyoungcitizenstoparticipateinmunicipal planninganddecision-making.ThisincludedthesocalledVoices oftheYoungproject.
• Newpossibilitiestoenhancepublicconsultation,discussion andparticipationhavebeenopenedthroughcommunication throughtheInternet.TheCityOfficeInformationDepartmentas welltheCityPlanningDepartment,theEnvironmentCentre,the PublicWorksDepartment,theCityLibrary,theYouthDepartment andmanyothermunicipalorganisationshaverecentlyestablished networksforpubliccommunicationanddiscussionontheInternet.
• Athoroughstudyoncitizenparticipationanddialoguebetween citizensandthemunicipaladministrationwascompletedin2006.
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International co-operation
• TheCityofHelsinkihasbeeninvolvedininternationalco-operation forsustainabilitysince1990,whenthecityjoinedICLEI,the InternationalCouncilforLocalEnvironmentalInitiatives.Helsinkiwas oneoftheorganisation’sfoundingmembers.
• In1995HelsinkibecameamemberofEurocitiesandhassincethen participatedintheactivitiesoftheEnvironmentForumofEurocities.
• TheUnionofBalticCities(UBC)hasbeenanotherforumfor co-operationonenvironmentalissues.Co-operationwithinthe BalticSearegionhasalsoincludedsmall-scaletwinningprojects withthecitiesofTallinn,RigaandSt.Petersburgsincetheearly 1990s.Theseprojectshavefocusedonenvironmentalstrategies andmanagement,airqualitymonitoring,solidwastemanagement, wastewatertreatment,sustainabilityindicators,transportplanningand increasingenvironmentalawareness.
• AgroupoflargerNordiccities(Copenhagen,Gothenburg, Helsinki,Malmö,Oslo,ReykjavikandStockholm)hasalongtradition ofco-operationandannualmeetingsofenvironmentalandhealth committeesanddepartments.Since2002theNordicgrouphasbeen involvedindevelopingjointenvironmentalindicators.
• AnewpageinHelsinki’sinternationalco-operationwasturnedin 2004,whenHelsinkibecameatwinningpartnerwithmunicipalitiesin thestateofPerakinMalaysiainthecontextofanenvironmentaland urbanmanagementprojectfinancedbytheAsiaUrbsprogrammeof theEuropeanUnion.CitytwinningactivitiesinAsiahavealso includedco-operationwiththecityofSendaiinJapan.
Increasing eco-efficiency a key challenge
High-standardtechnology,efficiencyandregionalco-operationarecornerstonesofenvironmentalprotectionworkinHelsinki,suchaswaterprotectionandwastemanagement.Considerableinvestmentsarealsomadeinnatureconservationandmanaginggreenareas.
ReducinggreenhousegasemissionsisstillamajorchallengeforHelsinki,Thischallengeisbeingtakenintoconsiderationinmanydevelopmentplansandpro-grammesunderpreparationinHelsinkiandthemetropolitanarea.Itaffectsbothenergyproductionandconsumption,industrialactivities,trafficsystem,cityplan-
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ningandconstruction,wastemanagement,socialservicesandeducationetc.Acomprehensiveregionalclimatestrategyispresentlybeingformulated.
Increasingtheuseofrenewableenergysourcesisanothersignificantchallenge.TheshareofrenewableenergysourcesinenergyproductioninHelsinkiisstillverylow.HelsinkiEnergyisincreasingit’sinvolvementinwindpowerproductionelsewhere in Finland. Hydropower is generated in small scale and heat fromwaste water utilised using heat pump technology.The possibilities of utilizingwindpower,solarenergy,thermalenergyfromthegroundandsea-water,bio-fuelsandrecycledfuelmaterialsarestillwaitingtobefullydeveloped.
Other special challenges for Helsinki:
1. reducingtrafficvolumesaswellastrafficnoiseandemissions2. savingtheBalticSeaisthebiggestchallengeinwaterprotection3. reducingstreetdustresultingfromthesandingofstreetsinthewinter4. reducingthevolumeofwaste5. needtomaintainawellplannedandfunctionalurbanstructure6. significantgrowthintheneedtocleanupcontaminatedland7. reducingtheuseofnon-renewablenaturalresources
Fromaglobalviewpoint,particularlywithregardtotheuseofnaturalresources,Helsinkifacesamultitudeofchallenges.IfeveryoneintheworldwouldconsumeasmuchastheaveragepersoninHelsinki,wewouldneedmorethantwoplan-ets’worthofecologicallyproductivelandornaturalresources.Helsinki’sgoalistoreduceourecologicalfootprintoverthelongtermandbringitwithinthelimitsofglobalsustainability.
Helsinkiwillcontinuetoworksystematicallytoenhanceenvironmentalprotectionandsustainabledevelopment,withoutforgettingourresponsibilitytotakecareofglobalenvironmentalproblemsaswell.
CONTACT INFO
City of Helsinki, Environment Centre, Finland:
MrPekkaKansanen(DirectorGeneral)Tel.+358-9-31032000E-mailaddress:[email protected]
Ms.PäiviKippo-Edlund(DirectorofEnvironmentalProtectionandResearch)Tel.+358-9-31031540E-mailaddress:[email protected]
Ms.Camillav.Bonsdorff(HeadofEnvironmentalProtection)Tel.+358-9-31031583E-mailaddress:[email protected](EnvironmentalPlanner/ProjectCoordinator)Tel.+358-9-31031582E-mailaddress:[email protected]
LinksHelsinkiUrbanFacts:http://www.hel2.fi/tietokeskusHelsinkiMetropolitanAreaCouncil(YTV):http://www.ytv.fiHelsinkiEnergy:http://www.helsinginenergia.fiHelsinkiWater:http://www.helsinginvesi.fiCityofHelsinkiEnvironmentCentre:http://www.hel.fi/ymkCityPlanningDepartment:http://www.hel.fi/ksvPublicWorksDepartment:http://www.hel.fi/hkrSocialServicesDepartment:http://www.hel.fi/sosv
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