Espoo is a pioneer city in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) work. Espoo completed the UN's Voluntary Local Review process in June 2020.
In February 2018, Espoo signed the Covenant of Mayors 2030 commitment to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. Espoo’s overarching sustainability objective is to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, including fossil-free district heating and sustainable mobility, and to reduce its emissions by 80% by the same date, compared to 1990. “Sustainable Espoo,” the city’s development programme, sets out the city’s strategy to implement actions towards carbon-neutrality by 2030.
In Espoo Lighthouse City, the demonstrations take place in three districts that are in different phases of development and construction - from one in the planning phase, to one in a redevelopment phase, and one already built.
Kera is an underdeveloped industrial area that will be rebuilt into a new residential district with 14,000 citizens and 10,000 jobs. Kera will be turned into an international example for circular economy and digital solutions.
Espoonlahti district is the second largest of the Espoo’s multiple city centers with 56,000 residents. The area is partially redeveloped, and the new shopping centre Lippulaiva in the heart of the district will be opened in 2022. The area is expected to grow in the near future. Here is a short video of the the progress of the Lippulaiva construction site from a bird's eye view (https://vimeo.com/546461736).
Leppävaara district is the largest and the most active of the Espoo’s five city centers. As an already built area, the centre of Leppävaara, with over 65,000 residents and the Sello shopping centre, is a major urban activity and transport node. The area is expected to grow substantially in the near future.
Positive Energy Blocks for both electricity and district heating provide a major part in sustainability within Espoo. Over half of the greenhouse gas emissions within Espoo are derived from these two fields. PEDs enable the use of new sustainable and local energy solutions in order to achieve the emission reduction goals while engaging local actors.
Electric (e-)mobility plays a major part in sustainable mobility. In 2019, mobility caused roughly 30% of the greenhouse gas emissions in Espoo. By increasing the share of electric vehicles of all sizes in public, private and shared mobility systems, the goal of reducing emissions can be met.
People make the city. By engaging citizens and developing modes of co-creation it is possible to create more human-centric solutions that are ecologically, economically and socially sustainable, and to foster sustainable everyday life in the city.
Developing new sustainable and smart solutions means that we need to also reconsider more broadly “how” things are done. This is done through the development of new smart business and governance models.
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Carbon neutral by 2030;
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To be a global frontrunner city in the UN Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) work and reach the goals by 2025;
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To be the most sustainable city in Europe now and in the future.
