However, residents of many other municipalities may not be able to make the same choices when it comes to food and exercise.
Energy is Helsinki’s main culprit. The use of fossil fuels in the production of district heating increases the consumption footprint of residents by more than 3.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Helsinki Energy Company Helen has announced that it intends to phase out the use of coal in the combined heat and power plant in Hanasaari by April 2023 and in Salmisaari by April 2024.
Helsinki residents produce the second highest emissions through the consumption of goods and services, a total of 2.35 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Emissions from food and exercise were the lowest among the municipalities surveyed, 1.90 tonnes and 1.58 tonnes, respectively.
“The advantage of mobility is largely due to the fact that the city has a unified structure and a well-functioning public transport system that significantly reduces emissions.” analyzed Petteri Huuskaclimate expert from the city of Helsinki.
The study examined emissions in four consumption subgroups – food, mobility, energy and construction, and goods and services – in 15 municipalities in Finland: Espoo, Helsinki, Hämeenlinna, Ii, Joensuu, Järvenpää, Kuopio, Lahti, Mikkeli, Oulu. , Tampere, Turku, Vaasa, Vantaa and Äänekoski. The consumption-based approach ensures that the results reflect the effects of consumption, regardless of whether the commodity is produced in the municipality, elsewhere in the country or abroad.
In Helsinki, for example, the footprint is about 2.5 times larger than if the accounting were limited to activities within the municipality.
The study found that food and food-related services account for nearly a quarter of emissions from the average citizen.
“Emissions from the food industry are typically slightly lower when less meat and processed meat is consumed. Irrespective of the municipality, the consumption of red meat, especially beef, should be replaced by white meat and domestic wild fish and plant-based food to reduce emissions. said Emma LiljeströmSitowise expert.
According to the study, the people of Hämeenlinna cause the most emissions through consumption, a total of 9.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The residents of Järvenpää, on the other hand, produce only 7.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The average footprint of the residents was 8.7 tons.
Emissions related to traffic were the highest, 2.51 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, in the municipality of Northern Ostrobothnia with almost 10,000 inhabitants Ii. Emissions from food and food-related services were highest, at 2.13 tonnes, in Mikkeli, with more than 52,500 inhabitants in Southern Savonia.
Emissions from the consumption of goods and services ranged from 1.7 tonnes in Ii to 2.4 tonnes in Espoo. The inhabitants of Järvenpää had the smallest carbon footprint related to energy and construction, 2.02 tonnes.
Liljeström stated that although there are some uncertainties in the accounts due to the fact that not every commodity purchased by a resident can be traced, the results allow for comparisons between municipalities.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
Source: The Nordic Page
