Helsinki Regional Council committing to green deal agreement: reducing the use of natural resources to the level of 2015
Circular economy is no longer a mere environmental accomplishment – it is also about competitiveness, security of supply and generally, savings. To promote a sustainable resource-wise future, the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council has joined a regional green deal for circular economy. The green deal is a voluntary commitment in which the participating municipalities are offered support for concrete actions and gives them new opportunities to find solutions and start pilot projects.
– The regions of Helsinki-Uusimaa and Tampere have a significant number of inhabitants and industry, so the largest material flows are to be found here. It has been our aim to promote the circular economy in the Region already for some time and we hope the solutions we develop together can inspire other regions, as well, Mrs Tuija Telén, Regional Mayor of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region, says.
Currently, and compared to other EU countries, Finland is having the largest usage of materials pro person, and it is truly not on a sustainable level. One of the objectives of the green deal commitment is to reduce the use of natural resources (the use of primary raw material will not by 2035 exceed the level of 2015) and thereby to double the resource productivity.
The Councils of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region and the Tampere Region, together with the Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub and Circular Pirkanmaa (development centre for circular economy) operated by Ekokumppanit Oy are supporting the municipalities with their green deal commitments (making and implementing) and funding their projects. Furthering circular economy, the municipalities get a good method to achieve their climate and nature objectives. They can also save in materials and costs. This also creates economic development, competitiveness, resilience, security of supply and helps to ensure sufficient raw material in the region.
Tuija Telén, Regional Mayor of Helsinki-Uusimaa and Jari Kolehmainen, Strategic Director at the Council of the Tampere Region at the green deal kick-off at the Ministry of the Environment.
Largest potential in renewing construction and food system
The main development objectives in the green deal commitment of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council have been identified as the built environment and the food system in renewal – from the points of view offered by the location of innovation hubs and their emissions. The actions for circular economy are enhances via project funding, for example with the partly EU funded project KOPPI: Regional home bases – supporting and piloting the green deal in circular economy.
– With the help of this project, we are kicking-off two pilot projects, making it smoother to circulate land masses and develop a bank for construction material. The focus with food systems lies on developing innovations and on minimizing food waste, Mr Simo Karetie, Project Manager at the Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub, notes.
During the next couple of years, the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council and its project mentioned above will support the municipal work for circular economy, as well as actively develop local, inter-municipal and international cooperation. The Council is also funding and implementing projects promoting circular economy. The project supporting and piloting the green deal in circular economy includes concrete actions, too, which municipalities can then join.
What can municipalities gain from green deal commitments? Webinar 28 August
Municipalities are offered support for the planning of commitments and activities. Information will also be given about regional activities open to them. Why and how should the municipalities get involved in the green deal to gain from it? Discussion about this is on the agenda when information on the regional green deal commitment is given to the municipalities on 28 August, from 9 to 11 am. The webinar starts with an open part, but the latter is directed to the municipalities of the Tampere and Helsinki-Uusimaa Regions. Further information about the event will be updated on the KOPPI website.
For more information, please contact:
Simo Karetie
Project Manager
simo.karetie@uudenmaanliitto.fi
Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub, project KOPPI
Pipsa Salolammi
Adviser, Circular Economy
pipsa.salolammi@uudenmaanliitto.fi
Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub, project KOPPI
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