1.5 degree life

Turku aims to be a frontrunner in circular economy and climate action

This creates better everyday life for the citizens. Climate solutions have many important benefits such as healthier living environment, greener urban areas, clean air and water, and functioning ecosystems to mitigate the risks of the climate change. Circular economy is an efficient way to reduce carbon emissions and the use of natural resources in a systematic manner. Transition to circular economy creates new business opportunities, jobs and wellbeing for the whole region.

Read more: turku.fi/en/circularity

-Turku is doing its part to keep the word on track to the 1.5 degree target-

The city of Turku has a very ambitious climate plan to be a carbon-neutral area by the year 2029.

City of Turku can reduce itself half of the region's emissions, for example by investing in sustainable energy and infrastructure as well as low-carbon transport and promoting circular economy. The rest of the area's emission reductions will require efforts from businesses, communities and residents.

Turku is inviting everyone to discover sustainable lifestyles and take part in creating carbon neutral and resourcewise cities.

Most of our society’s climate emissions come from how we live, eat, move and consume

In order to achieve a climate-sustainable life by 2050, Finns should reduce their carbon footprint to one tenth of the current level.If everyone’s emissions were same as our finns we would need four planets.

The carbon footprint of the average finn

Since most of our emissions come from our everyday life choices, we have a huge potential for climate action. The power of your own example alone can encourage a huge number of people in your neighborhood, workplace, condominium, or hobbies to make sustainable choices in everyday life.

There are many ways to a 1.5 degree life – find yours

Climate friendly living means a world where we use only as much resources as ecosystems can provide and make better and sustainable choices in everyday life. It consists of ways to build everyday life so that climate change can be halted to 1.5 degrees warming under the Paris Climate Agreement. The changes are needed in individual, civic and political actions, as well as in consumer choices and technologies and expand over a period of several years. No-one hast to do it alone nor all the changes need to happen right now. 

What does 1.5 degree lifestyle look like?

For different people, a 1.5 degree life means investing in different things. For some it is changing to use a hybdrid car or to share rides, for some adding vegetables to meals and for some changing to a smaller apartment.

1.5 degree life
 

Here are some priority actions that have the biggest impact on a personal footprint:

  1. Adding a portion of vegetables to the meals, it has health benefits as well.
  2. Moving as much as possible by using muscles and/or public transport.
  3. Buying only what is needed. Trying to see if there are items that are possible to loan or lease or that are used.
  4. Being conscious of the energy usage also saves money! For example warm water is energy too.
  5. Trying new sustainable ways and discussing the experiments and sharing the best tips with neighbours and friends. 

 Contributing to a global climate action – 1.5 degree life video - campaign

Turku wants to encourage citizens to shift towards 1.5 degree lifestyles and to invite other cities around the world to join.     

Currently Turku is giving voice to its residents to express what does 1.5 degree life mean for them. “The 1.5 degree life” video campaign will encourage residents to consider the climate impacts of their lifestyles and to share the best ways to live more sustainably.

The campaign will take the shape of a social media video competition, where local youth are invited to share their best tips on climate friendly living by producing creative videos. Best videos are shared in Turku’s social media channels to inspire all the citizens shifting towards 1.5 degree lives.

Campaign is done together with Yokohama, Nagano and Obuse town in Japan. Campaign is running till the end of year 2020.

See more information about the campaign here

Contact person: Lotte Suveri, lotte.suveri(at)turku.fi