Espoo’s climate goals

Espoo is rapidly reducing emissions on its way towards climate neutrality together with partners and the entire community. Climate solutions ensure that Espoo is a safe, pleasant and sustainable city – a good place to live.

Espoo’s climate work is steered by the Climate-neutral Espoo 2030 roadmap that describes the city’s concrete measures and collaboration with partners and residents to achieve the climate neutrality goal. The roadmap is updated once during the council term. The Espoo Climate Watch allows you to follow the progress of the city’s climate action.

Espoo is a European leader in climate action in the EU Mission for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030. The cities selected by the European Commission act as experimentation and innovation hubs to put all European cities in a position to achieve the same goals by 2050.

Espoo’s climate neutrality goal applies to territorial emissions, i.e. emissions generated within city boundaries from sources such as energy use, transport and waste management. Espoo’s climate emissions have decreased sharply – by 33 per cent from 1990 to 2024, while the city’s population has almost doubled. Emissions per capita have decreased by 64 per cent and were the lowest in the capital region for the eighth consecutive year.

Most climate emissions in Espoo are generated by building heating and transport. In 2024, heating and transport accounted for 41 and 39 per cent of all emissions, respectively. The share of emissions from transport is expected to grow in the coming years and account for about half of Espoo’s emissions in 2030. Household electricity consumption will be the second largest source of emissions, accounting for about a third of all emissions in 2030. Emissions from building heating are expected to decrease significantly in the coming years. As the electrification of district heating and transport continues, the share of household electricity consumption in Espoo’s emissions will increase.

Check out the latest information about Espoo’s climate emissions. 

The territorial emissions calculation and Espoo’s climate neutrality goal do not take account of the indirect emissions from consumption, such as food, goods or construction products. For instance, emissions from construction materials are not included in the emissions generated within Espoo, as the production of these materials takes place outside the city’s boundaries. Espoo’s aim is to reduce both territorial and consumption-based emissions.

Espoo has been a Finnish and European pioneer in measuring consumption-based emissions. Since 2020, the city has participated in the Kulma emissions calculation, carried out by Sitowise Oy and the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), which tracks municipal consumption-based emissions. The emissions calculation model has been improved with each round to achieve increasingly accurate results. The aim is to help Espoo target its actions effectively in order to also reduce consumption-based emissions.

Read more about consumption-based emissions in Espoo.

Espoo has set the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2030. The city’s strategy, known as the Espoo Story, was updated in 2025, and it includes the following goals:

• “In line with the Climate-neutral Espoo 2030 roadmap, we are aiming for climate neutrality by 2030 and will make decisions on the necessary additional measures.”
• “Espoo’s per-capita climate emissions are the lowest in the capital region.”
• “The popularity of electric vehicles, public transport, walking and cycling will increase.”
• “We will reduce emissions generated outside Espoo by supporting the circular economy of construction, increasing the use of low-carbon materials and promoting sustainable lifestyles among Espoo residents.”
• “We will pay attention to responsible procurements and reduce emissions in the city’s catering services through sustainable food choices.”

Read more about the Espoo Story for the council term 2025–2029.