Carbon dioxide emissions

One fourth of Helsinki’s greenhouse gas emissions

Transport and traffic cause about 25% of all carbon dioxide emissions in Helsinki. Cars cause about half of these emissions.

Carbon dioxide emissions from transport and traffic have remained largely unchanged in recent years or diminished somewhat, although traffic volumes have grown. The positive development is due to new automotive technologies and lower-emission vehicles.

The car tax reform that came into force in 2008 has increased the popularity of diesel cars and reduced the default emissions of new cars efficiently. The average carbon dioxide emissions of newly registered passenger cars in accordance with the WLTP measurement method was 122.6 g per kilometre in 2020 and 139.2 g per kilometre in 2019. Additionally, bio fuels added to fuels as well as the increasing registration numbers of rechargeable cars have helped reduce emissions.

• Read: Save money and the environment with low-emission driving (pdf)
  

Marked reductions in emissions targeted

According to the Helsinki Metropolitan Area climate strategy, per-capita emissions from transport and traffic should be cut by 20% from the 1990 level by 2030.

No carbon dioxide emissions from Helsinki rail transport

Helsinki City Transport shifted to zero-carbon hydropower in its rail transport in 2012.

Aircraft and ships use a great deal of energy

Air traffic produces a great deal of carbon dioxide, because emissions per aircraft are high and distances are long. One long flight can multiply a person’s annual energy consumption and emissions.

In sea transport, high-speed vessels use the most energy per passenger kilometre. However, journeys by sea are often shorter than flights, so their total energy consumption is lower than that of long flights.

The carbon dioxide emissions of ships have declined in recent years, but on a long term the overall emissions of shipping have increased.

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14.07.2021 13:04