Steps to mitigate the climate change

by Johanna Saarola & Mervi Virtanen

Growing unusual weather conditions like pouring rains, floods and mild winters are true in Northern countries nowadays. Climate change is a reality and public sector has to take responsibility for mitigation and adaptation actions. Already in 1997 Lahti joined the Climate Protection campaign for Municipalities, coordinated by ICLEI.

The main sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the region are energy production, traffic and waste management. In Lahti energy is produced at Kymijarvi power plant in a joint production process - electricity and heat are produced at the same time. Gasification of recovered fuel (REF) reduces CO₂ emissions about 10%. Still 84% of energy is produced by fossil fuels.

Lahti has made a commitment to long-term energy conservation through the Energy Conservation Agreement with the Finnish Ministry of Trade and Industry. The means to save energy are carrying out energy audits in the properties, drawing up energy conservation plan and implementing cost-effective conservation measures.

Lahti Environmental Policy 2006-2009 was approved by Lahti City Council on 13 March 2006. According to this policy, in 2015 greenhouse gas emissions in the Lahti Region will remain at the same level as in 1990 and specific consumption of electricity in properties owned by the city (kWh/m³) in 2015 will be 10% lower than at present (in 2005). Lahti Climate Strategy will be drawn up by the end of 2008.

The citizens of Lahti have awakened to understand climate change through the last untypical mild winters. They are concerned about the skiing possibilities and the organising of the famous Lahti Ski Games in the future.

The city considers the promotion of energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and effects of climate change very important. Lahti has improved the awareness of citizens by many campaigns, exhibitions, expert days and seminars organised by Lahti Region Environmental Service. Further resources have been gathered from different development projects which have been funded by the EU. These projects have made the development of the sustainable development centre possible where people can get information on energy and environmental issues.