According to the goal, the city of Lahti should be carbon neutral by 2025. There is still a way to reduce traffic emissions.
The city of Lahti published its first sustainability report in connection with the financial statements on Tuesday. The sustainability report explains how well the city takes people and the environment into account in its operations, in addition to the economy.
– Ecological sustainability is the basis of everything, and only on top of that can we build social and economic sustainability, says Kulonen.
Lahti is aiming for carbon neutrality in 2025. According to the indicators, the city of Lahti is moving in the right direction in its climate goals. Greenhouse gas emissions in the Lahti region in 2021 were approximately 70 percent less than in 1990. The target year is already two years away, but traffic emissions have not decreased enough.
– The last squeeze is the hardest. In terms of traffic emissions, we are not on target. We have to use all possible means, says Kulonen.
According to Kulonen, \”All possible means\” means a change in behavior, a change in travel methods towards walking and cycling, and the electrification of traffic. The issue will come before Lahti’s decision-makers in May, when the city’s climate program is completed.
More nature reserves
The World Economic Forum has raised the loss of nature as one of the most significant risks during this decade. Municipalities and cities are required to take new active measures to stop the loss of nature.
The city of Lahti’s nature conservation program will be completed in 2023. It defines a network of protected areas in areas owned by the city. The share of protected areas under the Nature Conservation Act is about 2 percent of the area of \u200b\u200bthe city of Lahti. The goal is to increase the share to five percent by 2030.
– In the coming years, increasing attention will be paid to natural diversity, says Timonen.
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