Cities shape a sustainable future

In 2015, 193 countries in the UN General Assembly voted to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The strategy period is coming to an end, and the past four years have brought major changes. The Russian invasion of Ukraine forced Helsinki to rapidly overhaul its energy production and raised the 2022 emissions to a very high level. Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental well-being of young people did not develop in the desired direction. However, Helsinki has taken action to address these problems: in 2023, greenhouse gas emissions fell by more than a quarter from the previous year after the closure of the Hanasaari coal power plant. Access to mental health services, especially for children and young people, has also been improved.

For Helsinki, the well-being of all districts has been important during this strategy period. In the suburban regeneration areas of Kannelmäki–Malminkartano, Malmi, Mellunkylä and Meri-Rastila, efforts have been made to improve services and amenities. The prevention of severe segregation of the city’s neighbourhoods and population groups has also been a key objective during the strategy period.

The city has been growing at a record rate for the last four years. With this growth, the need for housing and construction is immense, but there is much to reconcile. The City’s ability to reconcile conflicting sustainability goals is becoming ever more crucial as Helsinki’s ambitious climate and biodiversity goals need to be balanced with the growing city.

The ambitious climate targets have progressed according to plan. Helsinki’s last coal power plant in Salmisaari will close in 2025. In addition to its climate work, Helsinki has taken significant steps to increase biodiversity. Helsinki achieved its strategic goal of adding five new nature reserves every year until the end of 2024.

As a city, we have also wanted to punch above our weight. We want to continue our ambitious work so that others can learn from our example.

Juhana Vartiainen
Mayor of Helsinki

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