Aspects of Helsinki s Local Agenda 21 and sustainability indicators and monitoring Kari Silfverberg, June 2008

Transcription

1 Aspects of Helsinki s Local Agenda 21 and sustainability indicators and monitoring Kari Silfverberg, June 2008 Contents: The Local Agenda (LA21) process of the City of Helsinki The sustainability Action Plan (LA21 Programme) and Programme for Ecological Sustainability (HEKO) Follow-up of SD Action Plan implementation and core indicators for sustainability Main sustainability challenges and achievements International city-based co-operation on environmental and SD indicators Selected data on some significant SD topics

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4 Helsinki s LA21 process A long-term participatory process, based on the principles outlined in the UNCED Agenda 21 Document 1992 and Aalborg Charter of 1994 (Charter of European Cities towards Sustainability), which was signed by the City Board in February 1995 City Council decision about starting Helsinki s LA21 process and overall targets of the SD Action Plan in March 1997 LA21 Steering Committee chaired by Lord Mayor Eva- Riitta Siitonen nominated in fall 1997 LA21 Project (co-ordinating unit) established in January 1998 in connection with the Environment Centre First citizens LA21 Forum in Finlandia Hall in April 1998

5 Helsinki s LA21 process, cont. (2) 18 open LA21 thematic working groups established during the first LA21 forum in April 1998 Draft report on proposals by the thematic working groups discussed on second citizens LA21 Forum in September 1998, report published in January 1999 Proposals of the thematic working groups studied by all municipal departments during January May 1999 Third citizens LA21 Forum in June 1999 Detailed SD Action Plan formulation work within the whole municipal administration during

6 Helsinki s LA21 process, cont. (3) First draft SD Action Plan distributed for an official commenting round to all municipal political committees in May 2001 Second draft Action Plan distributed for comments to all partner organisations and stakeholder groups (neighbourhood associations, environmental organisations and citizens LA21 working groups, scientific and professional organisations, social welfare organisations etc.) in February 2002 Finalization of SD Action Plan during spring 2002 and approval by City Council in June Implementation period

7 Actors involved in Helsinki s LA21 process Within the municipal administration: - LA21 Steering Committee, LA21 Project + network of LA21 contact persons from all municipal departments 18 open thematic working groups and altogether four large citizens LA21 forum events at Finlandia Hall About 20 neighbourhood-level LA21 working groups About 160 citizen-initiated small-scale LA21 projects implemented during with financial support from the municipality Altogether more than 4000 citizens participated actively in Helsinki s LA21 work

8 Helsinki s Sustainability Action Plan Helsinki was the first European capital with a completed comprehensive Sustainability Action Plan (Local Agenda 21 Programme). It was adopted by the City Council in June Formulation of the SD Action Plan was carried out simultaneously with the drafting Helsinki s new Master Plan 2002 for land use and transport system.

9 City of Helsinki Sustainability Action Plan The SD Action Plan is a long-term strategic programme, prepared in accordance with the principles of the Aalborg Charter the Charter of European Cities and towns towards sustainability. The plan covers all four aspects of sustainability: ecological, economic, social and cultural. It provides guidance for the long-term action planning and programming of all municipal departments and utilities. The plan includes seven overall targets and 21 thematic sections with altogether 70 decision paragraphs.

10 Overall targets of Helsinki s SD Action Plan 1. Reducing greenhouse gas emisssions 2. Protecting and fostering biodiversity 3. Strengthening the city s competitiveness and industrial structure in order to safeguard stable economic development 4. Including life cycle thinking in the city s physical planning, purchasing practices and construction 5. Increasing interaction and citizens participation and strengthening partnership 6. Preventing exclusion and social segregation 7. Fostering cultural diversity and the built-up environment

11 The tools for environmental protection are presented in Helsinki s Ecological Sustainability Programme (HEKO), which is based on the SD Action Plan and further elaboration of ecological sustainability issues. It replaces the former Environmental Protection programme ( ). The overall themes of the HEKO programme are: 1 Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions 2 Enhancement of urban nature and biodiversity 3 Sustainability of land use and transport system 4 Ecological sustainability in construction 5 City procurements 6 Environmental management and environmental education

12 Mid-term review of the implementation of Helsinki s SD Action Plan during The mid-term review was carried out during January- November 2006 and presented to the City Council in March The review was based on a detailed guestionnaire presented to all municipal political committees. All municipal departments and utilities were asked to describe their actions to implement the 70 City Council decisions included in the action plan. The review showed that there was a rather big variation in the commitment and performance between the various municipal organisations. Strengthening of efforts is needed during the remaining plan implementation period (-2010).

13 SD Action Plan implementation follow-up and sustainability assessment, cont. The main instruments for follow-up and assessment of Helsinki s progress and achievements towards sustainability are: The follow-up report (mid-term review of SD Action Plan implementation) Helsinki s report on Core Indicators for Sustainability. The first report was published in year 2000 and the second, updated version, in A follow-up report on actions to improve citizens participation and interaction between the municipal administration and citizens and stakeholder groups, published in Helsinki s annual Environmental Report These reports have all been presented to the City Council in

14 Helsinki s core Indicators for Sustainability The system of Helsinki s SD core indicators was developed during the LA21 process, and the first report was published in January The SD indicator report was updated during by the Environment Centre and Helsinki Urban Facts (Research and Statistics Department). The indicator report includes 25 indicator themes, which cover five overall sustainability aspects: 1) Global level sustainability aspect, 2) State of the local environment and environmental loads, 3) Sosio-economic SD aspects, 4) Service delivery and satisfaction with the living environment and 5) Citizens participation and responsibility

15 SD core indicators, Cont. Helsinki s report on SD core indicators tries to present municipal planners and decision makers as well as stakeholder groups, partner organisations and interested citizens with a broad picture of development trends whithin the city from the point of view of sustainability targets and challenges. It complements the mid-term review of the implementation of Helsinki s SD Action Plan. The SD core indicator report is updated with a 4-year cycle and presented to the City Council. Some of the themes are also presented annually in the environmental report.

16 Main sustainability challenges for Helsinki in 2008 Helsinki s recent sustainability monitoring and assessment studies (mid-term review of SD Action Plan implementation, SD core indicators report and annual environmental reports etc.) have identified the following important sustainability challenges for Helsinki and the Metropolitan Area: Need for considerable reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and increase of the share of renewable energy sources in production of district heating and electricity Need to extend the regional public rail transport network (particularly metrolines) and improve public transport services Need to improve eco-efficiency in construction and service delivery and decrease waste production Need to strengthen environmental awareness and responsible consumption practices

17 Helsinki s main strengths and achievements concerning SD and environmental protection Recent monitoring and assessment studies and international comparisons have identified following significant strengths and achievements: High share of public transport in the urban transport system High energy efficiency in combined heat and power production and development of district cooling system Diverse and easily accessible urban nature and archipelago Good quality water supply and effective wastewater treatment Comparatively strong social integration - social stratification, exclusion and segregation have not become major issues of inequality Efficient education and public health services Increasing environmental awareness among citizens and municipal organisations

18 International co-operation in environmental and sustainability assessment and reporting Helsinki participated during in the European Common Indicators (ECIP) project, which was coordinated by the European Sustainable Cities Campaign (ESCC) and Ambiente Italia. In 2005 Helsinki joined the EU-financed Urban Matrix research project ( ), which aims to develop methods of sustainability assessment and dissemination of good practices for bigger European cities. Helsinki has been working on developing joint environmental indicators with seven major Nordic cities since The project includes 11 joint indicator themes, and 2-3 themes are elaborated annually.

19 International Co-operation, cont. Helsinki has also carried out co-operation with the network of six bigger Finnish cities on development and harmonisation of environmental and SD reporting. Bilateral city-twinning co-operation between Helsinki and the cities of Riga and St. Petersburg on SD assessment and indicators has been carried out already during many years. The projects have received financial support from the Finnish Ministry of Environment.

20 The whole municipality City departments Sustainability Action Plan (Local Agenda 21) Auditing and Developing - Helsinki s Ecological Sustainability Programme - Environmental Policy Budget guidelines Sustainable Development Indicators Environmental Report of the City Environmental and Sustainability plans and programmes of departments Environmental management systems (EMAS and ISO 14001) Environmental Reports Annual reports

21 Consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions 1000 tons CO2-equivalent Electricity Traffic Heating of buildings Industry and machinery Waste management The target for the Helsinki sustainability programme 2010 Keke-tavoite

22 Consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions per resident Electricity Traffic Heating of buildings Industry and machinery Waste management Tons CO 2 equivalent / residentt 8,0 7,0 6,0 5,0 4,0 3,0 2,0 1,0 0,0 The target for the Metropolitan Strategy 2030 HILMA-tavoite

23 Comparison of greenhouse gas emissions in major Nordic cities in 2005

24 Wastewater nitrogen emissions to the sea from Helsinki Water Tons/yeari Target

25 AIR QUALITY: Cases of exceeding the daily limit value (50 ug/m 3 ) for thoracic particles (PM 10 ) Töölö Vallila Kallio Runebergink Mannerheimintie Hämeentie Töölöntulli Number of exceedings EU limit value for air quality

26 Number of passengers on public transport in Helsinki (excluding regional buses and local trains) Millions 250 Trams and ferry Buses Metro

27 Comparison of annual fuel consumption rates in transportation

28 Thank s for Your attention! Further information can be obtained from the websites of the City of Helsinki Environment Centre ( and other municipal departments ( or the speaker: Kari Silfverberg, LA21 Coordinator kari.silfverberg@hel.fi Tel: Fax: