Sara Lilja Steensig
RIGHT ROUTE: Downtown Lahti
- Credit: Lauri Rotko
Lahti is leading the way in carbon reduction. So what lessons does it have for other cities?
As Finland s ninth-largest city, with a population slightly smaller than Gloucester s, Lahti is not used to being a capital. But this year is different.
The city – around 100km (60 miles) north of the country s
actual capital, Helsinki – is the European Green Capital for 2021, an accolade awarded by the European Union in recognition of its achievements in urban sustainability.
And at the heart of Lahti s environmental vision is a startlingly ambitious target: to become carbon neutral in only four years time. For comparison, Finland s national target is 2035, and the EU s (like the UK s) is 2050.
Finland’s ninth-largest city is, with its modest population of just 120,00 inhabitants, not used to being a capital.
But this year is different.
Lahti, situated 100 kilometres north-east of the capital Helsinki, is the European Green Capital 2021, recognition from Brussels for cities that have impressive environmental records. The city has pocketed €350,000 and is Europe s green ambassador for the year.
In just four years, Lahti is aiming to be carbon neutral. To put that in perspective Finland s national target is 2035 and the EU s 2050.
So what can the rest of Europe learn from Lahti? Here are six environmentally friendly initiatives that other cities could try.