Press release
13.12.2022

Cities solve sustainability challenges related to urban green spaces, urban planning and wellbeing

Sixteen Finnish municipalities are taking part in in the work on challenge clusters under the Sustainable City Programme. The aim is to tackle the most difficult sustainability challenges that cannot be solved by individual organisations or sectors alone. The three themes selected on the basis of the needs of cities are: urban green spaces in increasingly built-up cities, urban planning that takes sustainability targets into account, and flourishing communities in socially sustainable cities. The themes are particularly challenging as they combine the different dimensions of sustainability.

News item
12.12.2022

Welcome to our virtual study trip to a sustainable city!

The Sustainable City programme, together with Demos Helsinki, will organise a study trip of three events on best practices for sustainable urban development. Led by interesting speakers and examples from international contexts, the events will focus on challenges faced by different kinds of urban spaces and areas. The events will be held in English.

Press release
13.06.2022

Key indicators for sustainable urban development published – Join us in their testing and further development

How should the sustainability of cities be measured? The project carried out by the Finnish Environment Institute SYKE ‘Indicators for sustainable urban development’ was a multi-stage participatory process to draw up a proposal for key indicators for sustainable urban development. The aim is to support cities, ministries and other stakeholders in monitoring sustainable urban development. The follow-up project to be started now will test the key indicators that have been identified in municipalities interested in this work.

News item
17.03.2022

Good solutions put to practice – boost to scaling good practices for sustainable urban development

Municipalities and cities across Finland have developed their activities towards better environmental, social and economic sustainability. The project ‘Levers for a Sustainable City’ (VIPU) looks for solutions for faster scaling of good practices. Besides urban development, the tools created can also be used for other purposes.

Solutions for sustainable cities: examples from the Sustainable City Programme

null Communal vertical farming
  • Low-carbon cities
  • Socially sustainable cities
  • Healthy cities
  • pilots for pleasant and healthy green environment

Communal vertical farming

Kaupunkiviljelyä Espoon Kerassa

The project examined more sustainable and communal urban housing opportunities with the aim of creating a space where the residents of the area can get their fingers dirty the soil and spend time together planting.

Instead of an instructed environment, city-farmers can create their own space in the city by combining module-based, wooden farming structures, such as plant walls that divide the space. So far, the project has been fruitful for both InnoGreen and farmers, and it has created its small farmer community in Kera's logistics centre.   

Results

  • A multifunctional space that can be tailored to the needs of the community is essential for generating a sense of community. 

  • The outside green wall is an effective place to grow herbs and is well suited for urban farming.

  • Ecological materials have produced positive results in structures and growth platforms. 
     

Effects

  • Close cooperation between companies, residents and communities as developers of regions.

  • A replicable model for creating a more sustainable cultivation area in the courtyard.

  • The experiment is linked to future urban development, in which the attractiveness and greenness of cities determine their appeal.
     

In collaboration with

  • InnoGreen
  • City of Espoo
  • Stadin Puutarhuri
  • Keran Hallit 
  • Kera-kollektiivi
  • Tired Uncle Brewing CO
  • Ministry of the Environment