EC VP, Espoo Mayor discuss cities´ role in climate change

The Mayor of Espoo, Jukka Mäkelä and the EU Commission Vice-President, Frans Timmermans on Tuesday discussed the role of cities in climate change.

They focused on how European cities can contribute to solving the global climate challenge and benefit from the lessons of pioneers such as Espoo, said the City of Espoo in a press release.

Timmermans is responsible for the Commission's climate affairs and the European Green Deal Program.

The European Union is committed to an ambitious climate policy. In its Green Deal Program, it has set the goal of removing as much greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere as it produces by 2050. Espoo is aiming for the same already by 2030. Common steps to achieve this goal was discussed during the visit.

"In the city’s strategy, the Espoo story, we are committed to develop solutions that strengthen competitiveness, the imprint of climate work, create sustainable growth and reduce emissions. In this way, we are doing a modern, resource-efficient and competitive EU economy", said Mäkelä.

During the meeting, Mäkelä described how Espoo acts as a partner for the development of clean and intelligent urban solutions.

"It was great to see how Timmermans, as the leader of EU climate policy, was interested in the “Espoo way” of doing things. We want the city's imprint, meaning the new innovations, to be globally significant. Companies in Espoo develop and experiment with new solutions first at the local level and then export the best solutions globally. In this way, innovations can benefit the entire EU", Mäkelä said after the meeting.

Espoo is one of the world's leading climate cities. Sustainable development is promoted in extensive cooperation through the cross-administrative Sustainable Espoo Program.

"The most significant climate change mitigation measures in Espoo are related to energy production, transportation, construction and land use planning. These challenges are common to European cities", said Meri Löyttyniemi, Chair of the Sustainable Espoo Program, who also participated in the meeting.

EU invests significantly in sustainable development, Espoo participates in the mission of climate-neutral and smart cities

The European Union’s Green Deal Program was published in December 2019. This is the growth strategy for EU to make Europe a carbon-neutral continent by 2050. A key component is the European Green Deal Investment Plan (EGDIP), through which the EU will invest at least € 1 trillion in sustainable solutions by the end of the decade.