Editorial: Climate city Espoo and the mission in Europe
- City of Espoo
This article has originally been published in the Espoo Magazine 2/2022.
Read other articles in the Espoo Magazine 2/2022
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It was 50 years ago that Espoo became a city. Many things have changed in half a century, but some things have remained topical all these years. In the 1970s, the oil crisis revolutionised the world, and issues related to consumption, energy, nature and economy emerged as topics of discussion and as key issues associated with the growth of the city.
Today, our key goal in Espoo is to be the most sustainable city in Europe. As Finland’s fastest growing city, Espoo is a prime example of the fact that sustainable growth is possible. Our aim is to become carbon-neutral by 2030.
Espoo was recently selected to carry out the European Union’s Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. The one hundred European cities selected to participate in the Mission will act as centres of experimentation and innovation for solutions that will enable all European cities to achieve the same goals by 2050. This selection by the European Commission strengthens our position as one of the leading climate cities in Europe.
It is important for Finland to reduce the carbon footprint, but it is even more important to increase the carbon handprint. Knowledge- and competence-intensive companies and jobs, crucial for Finland’s future, and their location will be resolved in international competition between cities, particularly on the agenda of the green transition, digitalisation and sustainable development. After the recent crises, Finland and Espoo must provide an even more attractive operating environment for international talents and investments amidst intensifying global competition.
In this magazine, you can read about the action taken by the city and its partners to achieve carbon neutrality within the intended timeframe. It is important to note that the development of climate-friendly practices is very much a joint and collective effort. Everyone in Espoo can contribute to building a sustainable future through their individual actions.