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Our main aims

The main objectives of the City of Turku climate policy include having a carbon neutral city area by 2029, being climate positive from that point onwards, and preparing comprehensively for the effects of climate change.

Turku aims to be carbon neutral by 2029 and climate positive from then onwards. 2029 is also a year when Turku will be 800 years old. A sustainable gift for the city would be attaining carbon neutrality. The goal and its accompanying plan are bold and exemplary. The thrust is to inspire, encourage and support climate actions from all areas of the society - individuals, companies, city units, groups, businesses, civil society and so on. The plan was developed and is being implemented with the continuous input of all societal stakeholders.

More about our climate targets: https://www.turku.fi/en/carbon-neutral-turku/our-climate-target

Turku Climate Plan: https://issuu.com/turunviestinta/docs/turku_climate_plan_2029

Circular Turku. The City of Turku is committed to a resource wise future with zero emissions. This means no waste and sustainable use of natural resources by the year 2040. Turku aims at being carbon neutral already by 2029 and climate positive thereafter. In order to reach these ambitious goals, the city collaborates with regional partners to accelerate the circular transition of the Turku region. The Circular Turku roadmap provides a framework for concrete interventions that will lead the Turku region toward resource wisdom: https://www.turku.fi/en/carbon-neutral-turku/circular-turku

Some of our achievements

Turku has already in 2020 reduced its emissions by 50 % from the 1990 level. By 2025, emissions reduced will be 75%., by 2029, emissions reduced will be 90%, and the rest 10% will be compensated. From 2029 onwards, Turku will be a climate-positive city.

Advanced and sustainable drinking water production. The water consumed in the Turku economic region is of excellent quality. Artificially infiltrated ground water is treated through an economically and ecologically friendly process. Artificial groundwater is produced by pumping water into infiltration basins, where over the course of three to four months the water is filtered and cleansed, becoming groundwater.  The precise, innovative and unique method can be easily applied in other parts of the world. More information can be found in Turku Regional Water Ltd.’s video. Turku used to be infamous for bad-tasting water. Three different sources of clean water are being used in the Turku region, which is unique even in Europe.

Heat recovery from wastewater. The Turku regional energy company’s heat pump plant in Kakola, located near the city centre, utilizes wastewater’s heat to produce both district heating and cooling for buildings in the Turku region.  With heat pumps the remaining heat energy from the water can be recovered instead of being directly discharged into the sea. Kakola’s heat pumps correspond to the heating needs of approximately 24 000 citizens. All refinery sludge is also used to produce biogas. More: https://www.turku.fi/en/carbon-neutral-turku/climate-actions

For more achievements, visit: https://www.turku.fi/en/carbon-neutral-turku/climate-actions

Global acknowledgements to our work

City of Turku has been selected as one of the globally leading climate cities for four years in a row. City of Turku has been recognized by CDP, a global environmental impact non-profit organisation, as one of 123 A List cities across the globe that is taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency, despite the pressures of a challenging global economic situation.

Turku has been selected to participate in the EU Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities”.  European union Mission on 100 Climate-neutral and Smart Cities in Europe by 2030 aims to support at least 100 cities to become carbon-neutral by the end of the decade. The City of Turku was selected as one of the 100 frontrunner cities.

Turku Climate Path, by City of Turku