Sustainable urban living programme

The Sustainable Urban Living Programme is an extensive regional programme that complements the climate and resource wisdom plans of the cities in the Helsinki metropolitan area. It is based on HSY’s 2025 strategic vision “Together we will make the most sustainable urban area in the world”.

The programme aims to support the achievement of the climate goals of the cities in the Helsinki metropolitan area, both in terms of mitigation and adaptation, to include emissions from consumption and their reduction more prominently in the urban area’s sustainable development work, and to accelerate the transition to solutions that comply with the principles of the circular economy. The programme has been drawn up taking into account the cities’ carbon neutrality, circular economy and adaptation plans. The programme work has been carried out simultaneously with the definition of the measures of The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Climate Roadmap 2035. National and EU-level strategy work also provides important guidelines for the programme work.

The need for regional measures to promote the circular economy was identified in connection with the review of the implementation of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Climate Strategy. The Sustainable Urban Living Programme also proposes new measures for adaptation to climate change, as the measures in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Climate Change Adaptation Strategy had been defined for 2012–2020.

The Sustainable Urban Living Programme sets out 68 measures under six priority areas. These priorities are: consumption, food, waste and water, urban planning, construction, and well-being. The implementation of the measures will require regional cooperation with public organisations, companies, research institutes and residents over the next ten years. The timeframe for implementing the Sustainable Urban Living Programme extends to 2030.  The programme does not include measures related to energy production or transport, as the climate goals for these are implemented through other channels (emission reduction programmes of cities and energy utilities, as well as regional land use, housing and transport planning work).

The programme introduces a new dimension to the urban area’s sustainability review: the assessment of consumption-related emissions and influencing them. These indirect emissions caused by residents – which result from the manufacture of construction products and consumer goods, food production and tourism, for example – account for about half of the total carbon footprint of Finns, but little information has been produced about them so far (Kuivalainen 2020). The Sustainable Urban Living Programme proposes that the assessment of these indirect emissions from consumption be started in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The programme also proposes measures to reduce emissions from consumption, in particular by promoting the means of the circular economy.

The Sustainable Urban Living Programme presents measures related to climate-proof urban planning and construction that takes account of the circular economy and changing weather conditions, among other things. The formulation of these measures has utilised, for example, the results of large-scale EU-funded projects (SMART-MR and CIRCuIT).

HSY will act as a party initiating and monitoring measures, but many measures can also be launched without HSY’s participation. Both national and European Union funding channels can be used to turn the measures into projects. Many of the programme measures are suitable to apply for sustainable recovery project funding granted due to the coronavirus pandemic, for example.

The programme is intended to be a living and renewing document that provides an opportunity to create a platform and network for regional sustainability. The intention is that the programme will evolve and be renewed over the years, in line with changes in the operating environment, and that the programme will be used to implement and scale the results of research and development projects into ongoing practices. The launch of the implementation of the programme has included the publication of a monitoring tool (‘Kestävän kaupunkielämän ohjelmavahti’, in Finnish) to track the progress of the measures and assess their impact.

The programme was prepared in 2019–2021 in a wide-ranging and participatory process together with experts and stakeholders of the member cities. It was approved by HSY’s Board of Directors in May 2021.

For further information, please contact Climate Specialist Maaria Parry maaria.parry(a)hsy.fi

The role of cities in resolving the climate crisis is significant. In the European Union, 75% of people live in urban areas (The World Bank 2019), which also means that a significant share of emissions result from the energy and mobility needs and use of natural resources of city residents. However, cities also have the economic, institutional and cultural power to drive change. Cities and local governments have been setting increasingly impactful climate goals for themselves – in the Helsinki metropolitan area, the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen have committed to being carbon neutral in 2030 or 2035.

Urban areas are also vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and these effects are visible in the Helsinki metropolitan area as well. Even if greenhouse gas emissions could now be stopped completely, some of the consequences of climate change are inevitable. Global warming has diverse direct and indirect consequences that, at worst, can cause great human and economic harm if we do not change the way we plan and operate.

In addition to climate change, the loss of biodiversity is a major challenge. The built environment is taking over space from natural environments. The problem is, in particular, the fragmentation of forests and other green areas, which reduces the habitats of plant and animal species and makes it more difficult for viable populations to survive in these areas. Residents’ consumption choices are also important in terms of global biodiversity as we consume goods and food produced elsewhere.

Changes in consumption habits and lifestyles play a crucial role in combating climate change (Lettenmeier et al. 2019, The Finnish Climate Change Panel 2020). In order to achieve the targets set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change – to limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius – the carbon footprint of our lifestyles must be cut by more than 70% by 2030 and 90% by 2050. Lifestyles in line with the 1.5 °C climate target essentially include reducing the consumption of meat and dairy products, fossil energy and private car use. Lifestyle change does not rest solely on individuals’ personal choices, but requires joint action by all actors, especially the private sector and government. Living a lifestyle in accordance with the 1.5 °C target is by itself not enough either; both responsible citizenship and climate action taken by the society are needed.

The transition to a circular economy is seen as an important solution to sustainability challenges and as an important strategy for promoting a low-carbon society. The implementation of the circular economy has been identified as generating great economic, social and environmental benefits in cities, and it is in line with a number of SDG objectives (Ellen MacArthur Foundation 2017). In the EU’s view, the transition to a full circular economy is a prerequisite for achieving climate neutrality by 2050, adequately protecting natural environments and strengthening the competitiveness of the economy (European Commission 2020).

Inspired by these challenges and solutions, the Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority HSY has in its strategy set for 2019–2025 the vision “Together we will create the most sustainable urban area in the world”. Based on this vision, HSY’s Board of Directors decided to launch the preparation of the Sustainable Urban Living Programme in late 2018. The programme aims to:

• Support the achievement of the climate goals of the cities in the Helsinki metropolitan area, both in terms of mitigation and adaptation;
• Include emissions from consumption and their reduction more prominently in the urban area’s sustainable development work; and
• Accelerate the transition to solutions that comply with the principles of the circular economy.

Reducing climate emissions will also support the improvement of air quality as emissions that reduce air quality decrease. Many measures to reduce emissions, such as a plant-based diet and sustainable forms of mobility, also have many positive health effects.

This document is a condensed English version of the Sustainable Urban Living Programme completed in May 2021. It has been updated in terms of information concerning the monitoring tool (‘Kestävän kaupunkielämän ohjelmavahti’).

The Helsinki Metropolitan Area Climate Strategy to the Year 2030 was prepared back in 2007 as a concerted effort between Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen as well as the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV), HSY’s predecessor. Climate change mitigation was outlined then a key part of urban planning and decision-making in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Following the adoption of the joint climate strategy for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, the cities developed more detailed city-specific strategies and action plans for their territories.

Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa participated in the establishment of the climate network of the mayors of Finland’s six largest cities in 2011 and had already joined the EU Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy. Climate goals were tightened with new climate data and examples from international reference cities, and the cities set their own emission reduction targets that were stricter than the region’s joint climate strategy.

Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa have outlined in their current city strategies that they will be carbon neutral already in 2030. The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region also set out to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. Finland’s national carbon neutrality target is in line with these goals.

The programme is also based on the joint climate change adaptation strategy prepared for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area in 2012. The strategy focused on adaptation measures transcending sectoral and administrative boundaries in the urban area in the period 2012–2020. The vision of the strategy was “Climate-proof city – the future is built now”. Its aim was to safeguard the well-being of the region’s residents and the functioning of the cities in changing conditions.

HSY’s core operations consist of providing municipal water supply and waste management services, as well as information on the Helsinki metropolitan area and the environment. HSY’s goal is to improve both its own and the entire Helsinki region’s material and energy efficiency, as well as the utilisation of material flows. HSY also calculates and reports annually the climate emissions in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and city-specifically in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen. HSY is thus naturally a builder of regional cooperation in climate and circular economy work. Climate work is carried out in networks with the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen, the joint local authority HSL and the regional operators Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council and Uusimaa ELY Centre.

The Helsinki Metropolitan Area is a growing metropolis with a population of 1.2 million, and a joint operational area from the point of view of residents and businesses. In order to encourage operators, it is important that the cities of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area have a common vision and will. Through the Sustainable Urban Living Programme work, it is possible to identify and bring together new identified climate work and circular economy measures in the urban area.

Within the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, objectives for reducing climate emissions and adapting to climate change and measures for promoting the circular economy can be promoted in a cost-effective and socially sustainable manner through measures transcending the administrative boundaries of the cities. The programme work can be used to share best practices and information, making use of the strengths of each city. By building joint development networks and projects, it is possible to motivate various operators to engage in wider and more effective climate and circular economy work that pays more attention to indirect emissions from consumption and the total carbon footprint of residents in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.

The Sustainable Urban Living Programme supports the achievement of climate goals and accelerating the transition to a circular economy by focusing on work that transcends the boundaries of the cities. For this reason, the measures selected for the programme are ones that complement the cities’ own climate and resource wisdom programmes and that can be used to promote climate goals and the circular economy in regional cooperation. This cooperation makes it possible to improve and support the impact of the climate measures planned and implemented by the cities. The programme also aims to contribute to the achievement of carbon neutrality targets at the level of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region and nationally.

The programme focuses on strengthening sustainability particularly from a climate and environmental perspective, but its measures also support social and economic sustainability.

In the preparation of the Sustainable Urban Living Programme, emphasis was placed on the promotion of material efficiency and climate work themes whose promotion was given less attention in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Climate Strategy and its 2012 revision of objectives. During the preparation, the following priority areas were selected for the programme: consumption, food, waste and water, urban planning, construction, and well-being.

The programme does not include measures related to energy production or transport, as the climate goals for these are implemented through other channels (programmes of cities and energy utilities, the Land Use, Housing and Transport MAL 2019 Framework Program). However, urban planning in support of sustainable mobility is included in the programme’s measures by sharing expertise for the development of carbon neutral areas and responding to the new information needs for climate-proof urban planning.

The main objectives of the programme are to:

1. Support the achievement of the climate goals of the cities in the Helsinki metropolitan area, both in terms of mitigation and adaptation.

The Sustainable Urban Living Programme supports the achievement of the cities’ climate goals in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation by focusing on regional climate work that transcends the boundaries of the cities through the six priority areas mentioned above. When climate change mitigation and adaptation and related actions are considered together, benefits and synergies can be achieved that would be out of reach if looked at individually.

The Helsinki Metropolitan Area Climate Strategy to the Year 2030 has been replaced by the cities’ own strategies and programmes for mitigating climate change, and the goals of the regional strategy have been tightened at the city level. The Sustainable Urban Living Programme supports these city-specific plans and objectives and seeks to strengthen them through regional cooperation.

In order to promote adaptation to climate change, the Sustainable Urban Living Programme is the next regional adaptation plan as the adaptation strategy period has ended. The measures of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, drawn up in 2012, extended to 2020. The Sustainable Urban Living Programme proposes new regional adaptation measures that will be implemented together with the cities and other regional actors.

Measures related to climate change mitigation can be found under each priority, while adaptation measures are included in the chapters focusing on food (Chapter 4), urban planning (6), construction (7), and well-being (8).

2. Include emissions from consumption and their reduction more prominently in the urban area’s sustainable development work.

As the cities’ climate goals focus on reducing direct emissions, one of the aims of the Sustainable Urban Living Programme is to expand the development towards carbon neutrality by looking at indirect emissions from consumption and the total carbon footprint of city residents in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Calculation and monitoring of consumption-related emissions will be launched as part of the programme. This will make it possible to target the reduction of emissions from consumption more precisely and to step up the work done in the Helsinki metropolitan area to mitigate climate change.

3. Accelerate the transition to solutions that comply with the principles of the circular economy.

HSY has monitored waste streams in the Helsinki metropolitan area, produced information on household recycling rates and conducted studies on other ways to measure the development of the circular economy at the regional level. However, there are many challenges in measuring and monitoring the circular economy in a comprehensive way.

So far, the cities have promoted the circular economy as part of their own programmes. Although various circular economy projects have also been implemented in cooperation between the cities and HSY for a long time, the Helsinki Metropolitan Area has lacked a common vision, programme or roadmap for the circular economy in the region. The Sustainable Urban Living Programme is the first joint circular economy programme for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The measures in the programme contribute to the implementation of the EU’s new Circular Economy Action Plan, the national programme to promote a circular economy and the Finnish roadmap to a circular economy 2.0. In addition, the programme supports the cities’ own circular economy strategies.

The Sustainable Urban Living Programme provides proposals for measures that can be implemented in regional cooperation with public organisations, companies, research institutes and residents over the next ten years. The timeframe for implementing the Sustainable Urban Living Programme extends to 2030.

The programme includes 68 measures under six priority areas. They put the programme in concrete terms. Visions and objectives have been drawn up for each priority. The programme does not include the parties implementing the measures; responsible bodies and partners as well as the resourcing of the measures will be defined after the programme’s approval. Due to the broad and cross-sectoral nature of the programme, its implementation requires the involvement and cooperation of many different sectors, such as the environmental, social and business fields.

Given the role and position of HSY, most of the measures are activities in which HSY is or may be involved as an active operator (measure) and which can be turned into projects. Some, on the other hand, are measures in which HSY does not have decision-making power but proposes them to the cities and other regional operators for initiation (policy). This classification has been made for construction-related measures (Chapter 7). The programme also includes measures or parts thereof that are not directly related to HSY’s field of operation, but which display needs or shortcomings from the perspective of regional sustainable urban living, are impactful and will take the development of the Helsinki metropolitan area in the desired direction.

The following results will be produced through the implementation of the programme’s measures:

• Projects: Identifying and implementing projects that promote sustainable urban living, the main results of which are scaled into ongoing activities.
• Cooperation structures: Establishing and strengthening networks and other cooperation.
• Guidelines: Defining regional guidelines for the development to be pursued.
• Information production: Producing information to support knowledge-based management and decision-making in the region.

Vision: The residents of the Helsinki metropolitan area are enlightened, motivated and aware of the environmental impact of consumption and want to promote sustainability through their own actions. With their procurement of products and services, HSY and the cities act as leaders in the circular economy, sustainability and responsibility in the region. The cities implement urban planning in a sustainable way and promote the adoption of circular economy solutions through planning and construction management.

Our current emissions targets focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from activities within urban areas – meaning largely the energy consumption of buildings, service provision and transport in the cities. In order to assess the progress of a sustainable lifestyle in the urban area, we need to monitor and evaluate the consumption taking place in the area and any changes in it. From the perspective of climate impacts, this means taking into account the indirect greenhouse gas emissions of products and services used in the Helsinki metropolitan area as part of the annual carbon footprint of consumption.

Consideration of indirect emissions highlights, for example, the climate impacts of construction in the area more clearly than at present. The carbon footprint of consumption also helps to monitor the progress of the circular economy as the climate impacts of product manufacturing, material recovery or disposal are more clearly visible. The review of the carbon footprint allows developers of more sustainable forms of consumption or new service providers to demonstrate the impact of their activities at the regional level and as we move towards more sustainable urban living. In addition to assessing and monitoring emissions from consumption, we must also look for ways to lower the emissions of our lifestyles and day-to-day lives. With consumption choices, we are also able to directly influence the amount of waste we generate and thus reduce the use of natural resources.

Sustainable urban living in 2030:

• The carbon footprint of consumption is monitored regionally.
• Consumers are more aware of the environmental impact of consumption.
• Sharing economy services are brought to the fore and actively used by the residents.
• Repairing and maintaining products extends their service life.
• Shift in consumption towards high-quality and sustainable procurement, from purchases to services, sharing economy and experiences.
• Circular economy criteria have been drawn up for procurement.
• Moderation in consumption is also reflected in reduced waste volumes.

Objective: Promoting the transition to sustainable consumption and the circular economy in the urban area by increasing information and improving services.

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Measure 1. Establishing a method for assessing indirect emissions from consumption and the total carbon footprint of the cities and initiating their monitoring to support decision-making

Measure 2. Opening comfortable recycling malls in the Helsinki metropolitan area

Measure 3. Mapping the accessibility of services for sustainable day-to-day life and strengthening rail transport station areas as service hubs

Measure 4. Promoting the use of maintenance and repair services and supporting their activities

Measure 5. Expanding the sharing economy services provided by the cities

Measure 6. Providing information on the environmental impact of consumption choices

Measure 7. Providing information on the water footprint of consumption choices

Measure 8. Motivating consumers to make responsible choices when clothes shopping

Measure 9. Improving the image and availability of used products

Measure 10. Promoting the use of reusable household products

Measure 11. Increasing cooperation between the cities in sustainable procurement

Measure 12. Developing circular economy criteria for the cities’ procurement

Measure 13. Committing to the use of durable products instead of disposables in public procurement

Vision: The residents of the Helsinki metropolitan area eat tasty food produced sustainably and ethically, following, for example, the planetary health diet that promotes both their own health and the well-being of the planet. Residents appreciate food and are aware of the health and safety aspects associated with it, as well as the resources required for production and the resulting environmental impact. A wide range of food is also produced in the Helsinki metropolitan area, which improves food security in the region, diversifies the landscape and facilitates adaptation to climate change.

As much as one-fifth of the climate emissions from consumption come from food. The biggest climate emissions in the food chain are generated during the production phase. In addition, food production has impacts on nutrient emissions into water bodies and on biodiversity. A sustainable food system promotes biodiversity, carbon sink management and the circular nutrient economy. It also takes into account the economic and mental well-being of producers and the ethical aspects of production. The transition to a more sustainable food system is made possible by making food production a visible part of day-to-day life, setting goals, producing information and establishing cooperation networks.

Healthy and versatile nutrition can be implemented in a climate-friendly manner. By planning a diet with climate considerations in mind, it will be possible to eat products of animal origin in moderation in the future as well. However, in addition to environmental and health factors, there are also ethical considerations associated with a meat-heavy diet. The planetary health diet has been proposed as one solution that takes into account both sustainability and health. It is in line with Finnish nutritional recommendations in terms of its plant-based focus, but the amounts of foods of animal origin used are defined more strictly in this diet.

If food ends up being wasted, all the environmental impacts generated during its life cycle have been in vain. The UN Sustainable Development Agenda aims to halve the amount of food waste in households and retail by 2030 and to reduce food waste in all parts of the food system. The means of Finland’s national food waste roadmap include sensible policy measures and voluntary agreements, promoting technology and research, and increased investment in education and training on food waste as well as cooperation between various actors. Advice and guidance for residents on reducing food waste should also be increased.

Sustainable urban living in 2030:

• Residents’ knowledge of food has grown and increased the appreciation of food.
• It is easy for residents to make sustainable food choices and follow the planetary health diet, for example.
• Residents’ over-consumption of protein has decreased to a level in line with nutritional recommendations, which has also reduced the nitrogen load in wastewater.
• Half of the consumption of animal protein has been replaced by vegetable protein.
• City groups favour seasonal, organic and local food.
• Public and private actors in the region are reducing the environmental impact of their food chains and supporting residents in the transition to a more sustainable diet.
• The urban area acts as a promoter of local food and urban agriculture by bringing producers and residents together, for example, with shared tables and communal facilities for cooking.
• Urban food production is a growing industry in the region.
• The amount of food waste at home, in shops and in the food service has halved.

Objective: Halving the harmful environmental impacts of food on the climate, water bodies and biodiversity, and increasing positive impacts together with municipalities, residents and regional actors in the region.

Measure 14. Increasing the appreciation of food and responsible food culture through education and involvement

Measure 15. Piloting the calculation of the environmental impacts of public food procurement to support common sustainability criteria

Measure 16. Surveying the sustainability work of shops and consumer opinions to support measures aimed at changing consumption behaviour

Measure 17. Supporting the transition of the region’s residents towards sustainable food choices, for example, through joint campaigns and nudging measures

Measure 18. Encouraging the reduction of food waste through renewed advice tools

Measure 19. Scaling existing food waste pilots

Measure 20. Identifying the food waste streams of the public, commerce and restaurant sectors and looking into ways to reduce them as well as recovery options from a cost-effectiveness and environmental perspective

Measure 21. Developing the region’s food system and creating an action plan

Measure 22. Making the food chain more visible in the map service

Measure 23. Preparing a guide on the benefits of urban agriculture

Vision: The amount of waste generated is low, and the waste that is generated is sorted efficiently and recovered in the best possible way. Water services are implemented in an energy-efficient manner, water is consumed smartly while minimising environmental impacts.

The transition to a circular economy requires minimising the amount of waste at all stages of production. The amount of waste is best reduced at the system level in production and through product design, and at the personal level through consumption choices. The EU Waste Framework Directive has set a recycling target of 60% for municipal waste by 2030. HSY is aiming for a recycling rate of 60% in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area already by 2025. Municipal waste is defined as waste from people’s consumption in homes as well as in public and private services.

Many industries are working hard to promote the circular economy and material recycling. Companies play an important role in the piloting and development of innovative business models, processes, products and services. Cities, in turn, have a key role to play in enabling innovative circular economy business. Achieving these objectives requires regional cooperation, a common goal, coordination and information, as well as new types of products and services that help reduce waste volumes.

This chapter aims to improve the efficiency of the circular economy mainly through innovative waste management and water services. Measures related to consumption (Chapter 3), food (Chapter 4) and construction (Chapter 7) also contribute to the achievement of waste reduction targets. Unlike the other priorities of the programme, the objectives of this priority are aimed already at the year 2025 in accordance with HSY’s strategy.

Sustainable urban living in 2025:

• Encouraging efficient waste sorting to increase the recycling rates of municipal and household waste to 60%, and so that 60% of biowaste is recovered through separate collection.
• Reducing the amount of plastic in mixed household waste to half of the 2018 level.

Measure 24. Developing waste management costs and collection solutions to encourage recycling

Measure 25. Developing plastic collection, recycling and reuse

Measure 26. Increasing understanding of the benefits and disadvantages of plastic

Measure 27. Favouring products made of recycled plastic over virgin plastic in public procurement

Measure 28. Introducing new ways to promote the sorting of biowaste by residents

Measure 29. Increasing biomass recycling in the Helsinki metropolitan area

Measure 30. Utilising recycled fertilisers and biomasses locally, safely and flexibly

Measure 31. Identifying the most beneficial uses for biochar

Measure 32. Looking into innovations in wastewater treatment and ensuring the nutrient cycling in wastewater

Measure 33. Reducing energy consumption and increasing renewable energy production

Measure 34. Strengthening the operating conditions for regional alternatives to wastewater heat recovery

Measure 35. Developing and introducing new innovations to minimise clean water consumption

Measure 36. Identifying and strengthening circular economy business ecosystems in the Helsinki metropolitan area

Measure 37. Investing in the pretreatment of waste in plant conditions

Measure 38. Introducing new and safe uses for ash and slag from waste incineration

Measure 39. Preparing new circular economy indicators and developing waste statistics

Measure 40. Improving the knowledge of city residents about the amount of waste they produce

Vision: Carbon neutrality, the circular economy and the pursuit of sustainable living are the cornerstones of urban planning. Day-to-day life in the growing region is sustainable, healthy and safe. The community structure is integrated and based on sustainable mobility connections. Walking and cycling, as well as the use of rail and other public transport, are appealing and smooth. Housing is energy efficient and the built environment provides good conditions for its users, also taking into account adaptation to climate change. Services are based on sustainable consumption and the circular economy. The service structure is versatile and focused on sustainable mobility nodes. Basic services are easily accessible with sustainable forms of mobility and green areas are a safe walk away for everyone.

Our built environment is constantly evolving and the strong growth of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area will continue to put pressure on new dwellings, jobs and services, as well as on the quality of the green environment. Urban planning plays a key role in creating the conditions for low-emission trip chains, sustainable services, carbon neutral properties and functionally mixed residential and workplace areas in the cities.

The energy consumption of buildings as well as transport are the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the region’s cities, and making these functions carbon neutral is also a huge challenge for urban planning. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, urban planning that aims for carbon neutrality often also reduces emissions that degrade air quality, which improves the air quality and promotes the healthiness and comfort of the living environment. Alongside climate change mitigation, new means to adapt to and prepare for the effects of climate change are also needed. Urban planning also creates the conditions for maintaining and improving the quality of life of city residents as well as biodiversity. At the same time, attention can be paid to the ability of green areas and the built environment to sequester and store carbon, which is important for achieving carbon neutrality targets.

Sustainable urban living in 2030:

• Urban planning is used to guide regional energy efficiency and the realisation of a carbon neutral built environment.
• Carbon neutral and functionally mixed residential and workplace areas located in sustainable mobility zones, especially in rail transport station areas, contribute to the realisation of sustainable urban living.
• Maintaining the circular economy is one of the starting points for urban planning.
• New good practices are being discovered for climate change adaptation.
• The negative effects of social segregation are being curbed and the built environment supports everyone’s opportunities for sustainable and healthy urban living.

Objective: Carbon neutral and functionally mixed residential and workplace areas serve as an example of coordinating the promotion of the circular economy as well as the mitigation and adaptation to climate change in the urban area.

Measure 41. Introducing best practices for the planning and construction management of carbon neutral areas

Measure 42. Intensifying cooperation in the development of carbon neutral station areas in the Helsinki metropolitan area

Measure 43. Strengthening understanding of the promotion of the circular and sharing economy in planning

Measure 44. Deepening knowledge of mobility and transport and utilising it in the development of a sustainable urban environment

Measure 45. Creating a data pool on carbon sinks and storages in the Helsinki metropolitan area

Measure 46. Mapping and developing the green and blue infrastructure in the Helsinki metropolitan area

Measure 47. Improving the separation of permeable and impermeable surfaces in the Helsinki metropolitan area in datasets by means of remote sensing

Measure 48. Implementing urban heat island modelling and scenarios

Measure 49. Strengthening network cooperation on adaptation to climate change

Measure 50. Accelerating the introduction of nature-based solutions

Vision: Buildings are used in a space efficient and energy saving manner. Good maintenance supports sustainable use, extends the life cycle of buildings, and building elements and materials circulate efficiently. Land masses are optimised and the use of recycled materials in construction is commonplace. Functional and comprehensive green structures safeguard biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystem services.

The Helsinki Metropolitan Area is one of Finland’s most significant focus areas for new construction, and the region’s cities will continue to grow strongly. In addition to material efficient new construction, sustainable urban living relies heavily on the renovation of the existing building stock. In terms of new construction and renovation, the development of the metropolitan area is also of great importance nationally, as the new policies and criteria applied in the area to support sustainability and the circular economy can be seen as developing the entire construction sector – the availability of solutions will improve and their cost level will decrease as the demand for new methods based on the circular economy increases.

When materials and building elements are reused, the environmental load from the manufacture of new ones is avoided. For this reason, new resources are needed to manage and plan the use of recyclable and reusable materials and building elements or masses in order to put the circular economy into practice.

Sustainable urban living in 2030:

• The sharing and communal use of facilities helps to utilise the existing building stock more efficiently, reducing the pressure for unnecessary additional construction.
• Regional cooperation supports and encourages improving the energy efficiency of residential buildings.
• The cities and regional actors work together to guide the implementation of key circular economy practices in the construction industry, which will form an integral part of high-quality construction for a sustainable outcome.
• Mass economy planning and coordination is being developed in earthworks and infrastructure construction at the local and regional level.
• Diverse solutions of the green infrastructure promote biodiversity and are a visible part of the day-to-day life of the city structure.

Objective: Increasing the efficiency and functionality of buildings during use and strengthening the impact of measures to support the circular economy in the construction of the area through regional policies and cooperation.

Measures in which HSY may be involved as one actor

Measure 51. Intensifying circular economy cooperation in regional construction

Measure 52. Encouraging energy renovation of residential buildings in the region

Measure 53. Developing coordination of the reuse of building and demolition elements in the region

Measures proposed by HSY to other actors (policies)

Measure 54. Promoting space efficiency and communality

Measure 55. Looking into better utilisation of existing buildings

Measure 56. Utilising building materials from demolished buildings

Measure 57. Increasing adaptation information in construction

Measure 58. Guiding the region’s construction with circular economy examples

Measure 59. Increasing consideration of circular economy aspects in construction design

Measures in which HSY may be involved as one actor

Measure 60. Optimising mass economy in earthworks and infrastructure construction

Measures proposed by HSY to other actors (policies)

Measure 61. Increasing circular economy guidance in infrastructure construction

Measures in which HSY may be involved as one actor

Measure 62. Piloting urban retrofitting

Measure 63. Piloting a plot-specific green factor at renovation sites

Measure 64. Promoting the construction of urban gardens, vegetated roofs and walls

Vision: The residents of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area are aware of the effects of climate change and know how to prepare for them. They also have tools to increase individual resilience in the midst of change. The effects of climate change on well-being and health are prepared for and managed in the urban area so that even the most vulnerable groups of people are guaranteed a good and fair life. A safe, inspiring, attractive and functional urban environment creates comfort and promotes health and well-being.

Well-being is a cross-cutting theme throughout the Sustainable Urban Living Programme – urban living is not sustainable without people and communities that are doing well. This chapter focuses on preparing for and adapting to the effects of climate change, particularly from a health perspective (both mental and physical health and social well-being). Perspectives and measures that increase well-being can also be found under other priorities.

Climate change affects the urban environment, and thus people’s day-to-day lives, in many different ways. Increasing extreme weather events, such as cloudbursts and the resulting urban floods as well as heat waves, affect people in different ways. It is important to recognise the mental health risks of snowless and milder winters, for example, which can make the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder and depression more common and exacerbate them. The most vulnerable groups to the adverse effects of climate change have been identified as low-income and marginalised people, the elderly, children and the disabled, as well as people living in areas whose economic structure is non-diverse and vulnerable to climate change. Society must manage these effects, as otherwise inequality may increase and social cohesion may be weakened.

An example of the progress of climate change in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area is the increase in the number of hot days annually in the 2010s. Much of the serious adverse health effects of hot weather occur in health care and social welfare institutions and facilities. Consequently, social welfare and health care services have been identified as a sector where the challenges of adapting to climate change will increase in the future.

Sustainable urban living in 2030:

Promoting the well-being of residents by preparing for the effects of climate change on well-being and health through cooperation with regional actors.

Measure 65. Preparing guidelines for the prevention of adverse effects caused by hot weather

Measure 66. Collecting and developing information on vulnerability

Measure 67. Launching advice on adapting to climate change

Measure 68. Turning climate anxiety into a resource

A wide-ranging and participatory process together with experts and stakeholders of the member cities was central to the preparation of the programme. HSY’s Board of Directors decided on the preparation of the Sustainable Urban Living Programme in the autumn of 2018 as part of the implementation of HSY’s strategy. Both a coordination group consisting of HSY’s experts and an external steering group were formed for the programme work. The members of the external steering group included representatives from the cities, Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council, Smart & Clean Foundation, and HSY.

The work was launched in 2019 at the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Climate Seminar, presenting the purpose and possible themes of the programme. The programme work was divided into five themes in the preparation. Experts from the Helsinki Metropolitan Area’s cities and other public organisations, universities and research institutes, associations and companies working on sustainability themes were invited to five theme-specific workshops. The workshops identified current sustainability challenges and formulated proposals for measures in the programme.

The programme text was worked on as follows in 2020:

• HSY’s experts from various sectors were consulted, and the preparation of the programme was also carried out in cooperation with, among others, the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council so that the Sustainable Urban Living Programme and The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Climate Roadmap 2035 would complement each other.
• The draft programme was completed in October 2020 and sent for comment to more than 300 experts involved in the programme work or identified as important for the programme’s themes. Feedback was provided by approximately 80 people.
• Simultaneously with the expert survey, a resident survey on sustainable urban living was launched to survey the views of the residents of the Helsinki metropolitan area and other interested residents on the themes of the programme. More than 600 people responded to the survey.
• The draft programme was revised based on the feedback from experts and residents. The results of the surveys and other feedback will also be used during the implementation phase of the programme.
• The draft programme was discussed by HSY’s Board of Directors on 11 December 2020, at which time the Board sent the draft to the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen for statements.
• The statements were received in the spring of 2021, and the programme text was modified accordingly. HSY’s Board of Directors approved the Sustainable Urban Living Programme on 28 May 2021.

The Sustainable Urban Living Programme is the starting shot for strengthening regional cooperation. The programme is intended to be a living and renewing document that provides an opportunity to create a platform and network for regional sustainability. The intention is that the programme will evolve and be renewed over the years, in line with changes in the operating environment, and that the programme will be used to implement and scale the results of research and development projects into ongoing practices.

Creating the most sustainable urban area in the world requires wide-ranging cooperation and financial resources. The programme does not include the parties implementing the measures; responsible bodies and partners for the measures will be agreed on after the programme’s approval. The programme’s measures – or very similar projects – may be launched or already be under way as implemented by the cities or others.

HSY will act as a party initiating and monitoring measures, but many measures can also be launched without HSY’s participation. Both national and European Union funding channels can be used to turn the measures into projects. Many of the programme measures are suitable to apply for sustainable recovery project funding granted due to the coronavirus pandemic, for example.

The launch of the implementation of the programme has included the publication of a monitoring tool (‘Kestävän kaupunkielämän ohjelmavahti’). In addition to being a monitoring tool, it is also intended to serve as a source of ideas for joint projects and thus as a forum to promote cooperation. The tool allows anyone to monitor the progress made by HSY and other regional operators in implementing the measures and achieving the objectives. The monitoring service brings the static programme document to life, and the tool is constantly being updated and developed.

If realised, the measures of the Sustainable Urban Living Programme will have a wide range of impacts that go beyond direct emission reductions. Developing indicators for a programme that focuses on such non-quantifiable and indirect impacts is challenging. The methods for monitoring the achievement of the objectives will be specified and an impact assessment will be carried out as the implementation of the programme progresses.