More detailed information on the carbon footprint of consumption in municipalities – “New information on the climate impacts of construction and free-time residences”
The carbon footprint of Espoo resident’s consumption in 2022 has been calculated using the Kulma model.
In order to mitigate climate change, it is essential to replace fossil fuels with renewable forms of energy and to invest in energy efficiency and energy conservation. However, the focus should now also be on emissions from consumption. When examining the trend in emissions across municipalities and cities, emissions have been declining in recent years. Unfortunately, no similar trend has been observed with regard to emissions from consumption. Reliable and comparable information on emissions caused by consumption has, of course, also been available in a considerably more limited manner.
Espoo has now analysed the greenhouse gas emissions, or the carbon footprint, caused by the consumption of Espoo residents for the second time. The calculation was carried out as part of the Kulma project, in which consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions were calculated for the year 2022. In addition to Espoo, 19 other municipalities participated in the project.
The carbon footprint of consumption consists of energy consumption, construction, mobility, food and the purchase of goods and services. The calculation model developed for the calculation was further specified when emissions caused by the construction of new streets, roads and bridges, among other things, were included in the emissions from construction. The impacts of free-time residences on consumption emissions were also examined in the calculation.
“Greenhouse gas emissions from consumption have been calculated once before using the Kulma model. Now in the second calculation round, we were able to develop the calculation, and it provides more comprehensive information on construction regarding roads, streets and bridges as well as on mobility regarding domestic air traffic and leisure crafts. As an interesting detail, the impacts of free-time residences on consumption emissions have also been examined,” says Project Manager Emma Liljeström from Sitowise.
In 2022, the greenhouse gas emissions from Espoo’s consumption totalled 9.07 t CO2e per capita. In 2020, emissions from consumption were 8.78 t CO2e. The most significant sources of consumption emissions for several municipalities included food and energy consumption. Of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are included in the calculation.
There is huge potential for reducing emissions from consumption, but it requires socio-cultural changes in human behaviour. Municipalities have the opportunity to support their residents in sustainable choices by investing in public transport and the provision of meals and by providing low-emission district heating. Municipalities can also make an impact through their communications.
“There is a significant emission reduction potential in consumer’s food choices. The assessment of the emission impacts of food was made possible by the excellent cooperation with S Group. Municipalities’ opportunity to make an impact is in the provision of plant-based meals at day-care centres, schools and workplaces, as plant-based options have a lesser impact on the climate,” explains Senior Scientist Juha-Matti Katajajuuri from the Natural Resources Institute Finland.
Monitoring emissions from consumption and the pursuit of even more accurate calculation results will continue in the future. Municipalities have significant opportunities to make an impact on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from consumption, as they have overall in climate work, so continuous monitoring data is absolutely necessary.
“Twenty municipalities participated in the calculation, and the expert network that participated in the development of the method included nearly 60 experts from the field! I am very pleased with the additions and adjustments made to the calculation and look forward to continuing,” says Liljeström cheerfully.
The project was implemented by Sitowise Oy together with the Natural Resources Institute Finland. The development of the calculation method was supported by the project’s expert network, which involved not only representatives of the pioneering municipalities but also experts from several expert organisations in the field. The calculation of emissions from food consumption was made possible by cooperation with S Group.
More information on the project and its results (in Finnish)(external link, opens in a new window).