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CDP released its A List of leading cities doing climate work on Tuesday 18 February. From over 850 cities around the world that were evaluated, 105 made it on the A List. In addition to Turku, Lahti was another Finnish city to make the list.
CDP is a global non-profit organisation whose mission is to encourage businesses, cities and governments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, secure water resources and protect forests.
The list draws attention to the key role of cities
Cities cover less than 2% of the world’s surface area, but approximately 70% of global emissions are generated within them. According to CDP reports, 85% of cities worldwide already estimate that climate poses threats to themselves, and 75% of long-term threats are rated as serious or very serious. Cities play a key role in the fight against climate change, and at the same time the changes pose threats to them.
Plan, actions, reporting and transparency as grounds for selection
According to CDP’s analysis, the cities included in the A List are, on average, carrying out more than twice the number of climate change adaptation measures and more than five times the number of measures to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change compared to the other cities rated.
The cities on the A List are forerunners in the transparency of climate work as well as in the adaptation and preparation for the escalating effects of the climate crisis. The A score requires the city to have disclosed its climate data, conducted a city-wide emissions inventory, set an emissions reduction target, published a climate change action plan and performed a vulnerability assessment to identify climate hazards and impacts.
City Board Chair Lauri Kattelus to receive the award on behalf of Turku
The City of Turku has been invited to receive the award at an award ceremony at the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs in Paris on 25 February. All European A List cities will be awarded at the event. City Board Chair Lauri Kattelus will represent Turku at the ceremony.
‘The award shows that we have made good progress in implementing our climate policy. Turku’s recognition and inclusion in the A List of the world’s cities doing climate work feels good, but at the same time it compels us to continue our work with even more determination,’ Kattelus says.
The City of Turku’s climate work is being carried out in accordance with the climate plan approved unanimously by the City Council on 11 June 2018. Turku intends to become carbon neutral by 2029 when the city turns 800.