Climate solutions in Nordic cities can cut emissions and save money
Fourteen Nordic climate solutions would enable cities and municipalities in the Nordic countries to reduce their annual greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 26 million tonnes of carbon dioxide – equivalent to almost half of Sweden’s annual emissions.
These findings are revealed by the Nordic Green to Scale for Cities and Communities report, released today in Reykjavik, Iceland. As part of the wider international Green to Scale project launched in 2015, the report highlights how emissions could be reduced if green solutions already used by pioneering cities were implemented across Nordic countries. Sitra coordinates the Nordic Green to Scale for Cities and Communities project together with Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), CONCITO, CICERO, the University of Iceland and C40 Cities.
“We know green solutions exist but scaling them up remains a challenge. This report helps to understand how to overcome that challenge,” says Oliver Johnson, Head of Unit Climate, Energy and Society at SEI.
The study focuses on solutions in sectors like energy production and transport, which account for a high proportion of carbon emissions generated by municipalities. The report analyses solutions such as the recovery of heat from wastewater in Turku’s district heating network, the use of geothermal heat in heating single-family houses in Stockholm, and cycling in Copenhagen, and reports on how effectively they reduce emissions in cities.
The Swedish launch event for the Nordic Green to Scale report will take place on November 27 at 13.00 at Stockholm Environment Institute HQ. The event will include a dialogue between representatives of municipalities in Sweden and Finland on scalable green solutions in cities, drawing on examples from the Nordic region.
Cities and towns are now the drivers of change
While we continue to wait for national governments to take sufficient measures to tackle climate change, city and municipal authorities are taking action. Wider implementation of all of the climate solutions in the report would reduce emissions by a total of 26 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. The amount corresponds to almost half of Sweden’s annual emissions.
“This study shows that it is possible for cities to make great strides towards carbon neutrality by use Nordic climate solutions that already exist. We should implement proven solutions immediately,” says Oras Tynkkynen, Senior Advisor at Sitra.
The study also identifies new and promising solutions currently being piloted in municipalities. Examples include the production of renewable methanol as transport fuel in Grindavik in Iceland, medium-deep geothermal energy in Espoo in Finland, and transforming old buildings into energy-plus buildings in Sandvika in Norway.
Additional information
Oliver Johnson, Head of Unit, Climate, Energy and Society, SEI. oliver.johnson@sei.org
Mariko Landström, Specialist, Sitra. mariko.landstrom@sitra.fi, tel. +358 29 461 846
Janne Peljo, Project Leader. janne.peljo@sitra.fi, tel. +358 29 461 8251
Oras Tynkkynen, Senior Advisor, Sitra. Oras.Tynkkynen@sitra.fi, tel. +358 50 512 1584
Andrew Gallagher, Press contact, SEI. Andrew.gallagher@sei.org, tel. +46738055412
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) is an international non-profit research and policy organization that tackles environment and development challenges. We connect science and decision-making to develop solutions for a sustainable future for all. Across our eight centres in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, we engage with policy processes, development action and business practice throughout the world. www.sei.org @SEIresearch @SEIclimate