Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki is the capital of Finland, located on the coast of the Baltic Sea in South Finland known for innovative urban planning and providing a high quality of life. Contrary to what one might expect, citizens of Helsinki are already experiencing warmer summers and prolonged periods of heat, which will be further intensified by climate change and the urban heat island effect.
Buildings in the city are designed for heat storage, often resulting in discomfort during heatwaves. To address these impacts and achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2030, Helsinki is advancing climate adaptation through nature-based solutions in the Med-IREN project.
Nature-based Solutions
Green roofs and façades
Greening of buildings and potential cooling will be simulated in relation to social infrastructure, e.g. care and retirement homes and hospitals. Data collection using high-resolution modelling and monitoring will support further implementation and upscale of NBS in the building sector.
Helsinki aims to replicate and upscale the solutions applied in the Mediterranean Egaleo region, considering the local conditions of the boreal climate. As a result, buildings can become more resistant to heat which will improve the well-being of vulnerable groups of people, such as patients in hospitals.
Med-IREN Benefits
Protect buildings with vulnerable groups of people (hospitals, care, and retirement homes)
Resilient telecommunications networks
Climate Resilience Policies
Helsinki has set a goal to become carbon neutral by 2030, net zero by 2040, and carbon negative afterwards. The main actions for the carbon-neutrality goal are defined in the Carbon-neutral Helsinki Action Plan (updated in 2024).
Helsinki’s climate change adaptation policies for 2019–2025 guide the city in adapting to the effects of climate change. The city aims to be prepared for extreme weather events and their indirect effects. Preparedness must be considered in city planning, new construction, and renovation projects. Recently, adaptation measures have focused on developing and implementing natural stormwater management methods, strengthening green structure, developing the green index tool, and improving summer cooling in schools and care homes, as well as climate change risk management.