Building a Sustainable Future: A review of Carbon Footprints of Finnish cities and municipalities, and community-led solutions.

Abstract

My thesis offers a review of carbon footprint and emissions for various cities and municipalities throughout Finland. The meta-analysis is based on results published from the projects conducted by Sitowise, the Centre for Natural Resources (Luke), and the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) who used the Kulma and ENVIMAT input-output model to process their primary data from various sources. These models consider a range of sectors including energy consumption, construction, transport, foods, goods, and services. My primary goal was to identify the major contributors of emissions in cities and municipalities by analyzing all the available data. Subsequently, I suggest some realistic solutions to lessen carbon footprint at the community level. Moreover, I assess the feasibility and effectiveness of proposed solution by reviewing a series case studies conducted by several municipalities, not only in Finland but also in another country. The findings of these organizations indicate that the variability of carbon footprint is influenced by factors such as geographical position, construction projects, local transportation facilities, food habits and the availability of goods and services. Finland aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 and its cities can implement strategies to achieve this target. While some Finnish cities are successfully implementing innovative initiatives with positive outcomes, other cities are lagging behind and need to intensify their efforts. My thesis suggests that cities should prioritize the development of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, along with nuclear energy. Additionally, they should adopt environmentally friendly construction materials, promote the use of electric vehicles, and encourage walking and cycling. Residents are advised to be conscious of their consumption habits, shift towards plant-based diets, and make more environmentally conscious purchasing decisions. It also recommends that local governments assist in promoting circular economy, engaging in environmental awareness campaigns, and implementing smart waste management systems to educate inhabitants on making more sustainable choices. The reliance on processed data from Sitowise, Luke and Syke limits my ability to independently verify the findings and propose new solutions, as my conclusions are inherently influenced by the original interpretations provided by these organizations. Future research should focus on directly collecting new data from cities and comparative investigation of how other countries manage carbon emissions effectively. Additionally, future research should investigate how new technology and policies might assist cities to minimize their carbon footprint at low cost.