Climate plan for municipality of Utsjoki

Abstract

This thesis developed a climate plan for the municipality of Utsjoki in northern Finland. The objective was to support the local climate mitigation work by analysing the municipality’s greenhouse gas emissions, defining emission reduction targets, identifying mitigation measures that reflect the conditions of a small Arctic municipality and setting up a monitoring plan for the climate mitigation work. The work responds to the growing need for climate planning in small rural municipalities, where resources for climate action are often limited but climate change impacts are increasingly visible.

The thesis applied an action research approach where the research process combined quantitative emissions data analysis with qualitative research methods to strengthen local ownership of climate action. A workshop and a climate survey targeted at residents were used for generating ideas for emission reduction measures and for engaging the community in climate work. Climate scenarios were utilized to assess the feasibility of different emissions reduction targets.

The thesis demonstrates that small municipalities are often dependent on national and EU-level legislation and regulation to achieve emission reductions. However, locally relevant climate mitigation actions can still be advanced through participatory approaches and by building local partnerships and networks that support the implementation of climate work. In this context, the municipality plays an important role as an enabler of climate mitigation by providing information, facilitating collaboration, and supporting local climate-related initiatives.