We will reduce traffic emissions and make sure that public transport and other more sustainable modes of transportation appeal to everyone. We will promote the electrification of motor vehicle traffic, in particular by ensuring the construction of charging infrastructure together with private operators. We will ensure that the city’s ports make shore-side electricity available to vessels, and that the conditions are in place for the electrification of boat traffic. We will also electrify local water transport.
Non-combustion-based energy production plays a vital role in the city’s ability to reduce Helsinki’s carbon emissions and mitigate environmental impact. We are also preparing for the possible placement of a small-scale nuclear production plant in Helsinki, if regulatory changes allow.
In order to reduce indirect emissions, Helsinki will focus on reducing the emissions created by its construction of housing and infrastructure as well as its public procurement. Examples of the city’s pioneering measures in this area include the use of carbon-binding concrete and the rapid adaptation of other low-emission or circular economy building solutions. We are tightening the carbon footprint requirements we have set for construction. Promoting the circular economy in construction is one of the city’s top business policy priorities. As Finland’s largest public procurer, Helsinki is also working to reduce the indirect emissions and environmental impact of its procurements.
Helsinki is preparing for extreme weather phenomena caused by climate change in a proactive and risk-minimizing manner. We are compiling these measures in a separate preparedness plan. We are preparing for the effects of climate change by adapting our city infrastructure and site planning to meet the demands created by torrential rain, floods and heat waves. We are reducing heat islands in the city’s indoor and outdoor spaces with appropriate city planning and construction. We are ensuring that Helsinki is adequately prepared for stormwater, seawater and waterway flooding. We are adding more green infrastructure.
Protecting nature and its biodiversity is the foundation of Helsinki’s environmental policy. We will continue Helsinki’s long-term work to conserve the city’s one-of-a-kind urban nature. We will launch a new nature conservation area programme that will create a framework for establishing eight new protected nature areas each year. One of the goals of the partial master plan for the district of Östersundom is to conserve its most valued nature areas while also promoting its land use objectives. We will continue to work towards our climate and environment goals listed in the 2024 City Council-approved Environmental Protection Goals 2040, which ensures the preservation of Helsinki’s green areas, along with other measures.
We will safeguard the diversity of our region’s aquatic nature. We will devote special attention to protecting the Baltic Sea and its underwater marine environment. We will stop dumping snow into the sea. We will make sure that our winter maintenance practices do not endanger small waterways. We will rehabilitate and maintain streams, rapids and other waterways. We will compile each of the city’s activities that support the wellbeing of animals into one animal welfare programme.