Carbon neutrality is one of the key goals in the Espoo-story, city’s strategy. Espoo City Council approved the Climate Neutral Espoo 2030 roadmap at its meeting on 20 May 2024. Espoo is reducing its emissions on a rapid schedule and aims to achieve at least 80% emission reductions from the 1990 level by the year 2030. The remaining 20% can be sequestered in carbon sinks or otherwise compensated. In Espoo, climate work is part of a broader effort to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a frontrunner.
For Espoo's innovation community, businesses and operators, the green and digital transition brings new opportunities. Growing demand for low-carbon products and services will create jobs, exports, economic growth and prosperity. Espoo has already managed to reverse climate emissions despite strong population growth.
Emissions in the Espoo area are mainly generated from energy and transport. In both of these sectors, significant steps have been taken towards the climate target and determined work is continuing. In Espoo, the burning of coal ceased in April when Fortum closed the coal unit used for district heating at Suomenoja. In addition to working with Fortum, other renewable and carbon-neutral energy measures, such as phasing out oil heating and investing in solar panels both in Espoo's own buildings and in the Espoo region, will reduce climate emissions. The city itself already uses emission-free electricity.
