Turku Climate Forum, organised today for the eighth time, brings together leading climate experts from the EU, central government, cities, research institutes, and companies to discuss the next steps in climate work and the decisive role of cities in building a sustainable future
The Finnish cities participating in the European Union’s Climate Mission are also gathering in Turku: in addition to Turku, Espoo, Helsinki, Lahti, Lappeenranta and Tampere have created solutions to climate issues and achieved significant emission reductions at the forefront of urban climate work. The actions of these cities put the EU’s ambitious climate policy into practice.
Solutions are created in cities
The impacts of climate change are increasingly visible in people’s everyday lives. The exceptionally intense heatwaves, floods and wildfires that have affected Europe in recent years have shown that the climate crisis is not a future threat, but a reality of today. At the same time, societies are seeking solutions for reducing emissions, adapting to climate change and renewing the economy in a way that strengthens wellbeing and competitiveness.
Many of the solutions are created specifically in cities. Cities are responsible for a significant share of emission reductions, the implementation of the energy transition, the promotion of sustainable mobility and adaptation to climate change. Success, however, requires close cooperation between cities, regions, states, other actors and the European Union.
The EU’s climate policy is globally ambitious
The European Union aims to reduce emissions by 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. At the same time, nearly one hundred European cities are seeking to achieve climate neutrality already by 2030 as part of the EU Cities Mission.
Achieving these goals requires major changes in energy production, transport, construction and consumption. The experiences and practical solutions of cities are therefore playing an increasingly important role in implementing European climate policy.
Marjo Nummelin, Finland’s Chief Negotiator for Climate Change at the Ministry of the Environment, emphasises the importance of cities:
– The impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly visible around the world, and this summer especially in Europe. Work to mitigate climate change is more important than ever, in Finland, in the EU and internationally. Finland is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. Cities and municipalities play a key role in achieving the national carbon neutrality target, and many of them have also set even more ambitious targets. Climate action can also strengthen the vitality and wellbeing of municipalities and accelerate investments in the green transition.
Forerunners in carbon neutrality show the way
In cities, carbon neutrality work has expanded from reducing emissions within the area to addressing consumption emissions, strengthening biodiversity and promoting the circular economy.
In recent years, the Finnish mission cities have carried out a significant energy transition by phasing out coal-fired power plants and increasing low-emission energy production. At the same time, cities have been seeking new solutions to reduce transport emissions and have strengthened cooperation with the business sector.
Adaptation and preparedness for the impacts of climate change are also increasingly high on the agenda of cities, as a large share of the measures are implemented at the local level. As in climate change mitigation, partners and networks are also highly important in adaptation.
Cities turn climate targets into everyday solutions
In the updated climate plan approved by Turku City Council in June 2026, the city sets targets for reducing consumption emissions for the first time, monitors the affordability of energy and mobility, and links vitality and green financing more strongly than before to climate work. Turku also achieved its target of reducing emissions by 75% on schedule despite the city’s growth.
New initiatives are also being prepared to reduce transport emissions. This autumn, Espoo and Helsinki will present zero-emission zones for lorries and vans for decision-making. If implemented, these zones would significantly accelerate emission reductions from transport in cities. The measure is clear and realistic for reducing emissions and noise from transport.
Lahti has also prepared targets and measures to reduce emissions from goods transport and promote the electrification of heavy transport. In addition, Lahti’s recently updated climate programme includes, as a new element, prioritised measures that have been assessed as the most effective and urgent in terms of advancing the carbon neutrality target.
In Tampere, the use of public transport is growing strongly, largely due to the popularity of the tramway – the number of tram journeys increased by as much as 78% between 2022 and 2025. Public transport is also becoming electrified at a rapid pace. The electric plusbus routes to be introduced in 2028 will bring tram-like smoothness to the busiest bus routes and reduce transport emissions.
In Lappeenranta, particular efforts have been made to reduce emissions related to heating. District heating emissions are already at a low level, and the transition to climate-neutral electricity and waste heat is progressing. Testing new technologies is part of the energy strategy – the city’s efficient heat accumulator uses AI-controlled algorithms to optimise the storage of electricity.
Turku Climate Forum builds a shared vision of the future
Turku Climate Forum offers a unique meeting place for European and Finnish decision-makers, experts, companies and cities at a time when the direction of climate work also defines future competitiveness, security and wellbeing.
The key message of this year’s Climate Forum is that ambitious climate policy is much more than emission reductions. It is also about the affordability of energy and housing, the renewal of the economy, safeguarding biodiversity, and people’s everyday safety and health in a changing climate.
– The coming years are decisive for climate work. The role of cities is emphasised, because it is in cities that decisions are made on energy, transport, construction and the living environment – in other words, on the conditions for a good everyday life. Turku Climate Forum brings together the actors who are building solutions in practice and showing that ambitious targets can be achieved, says Risto Veivo, Climate Director at the City of Turku.
Turku Climate Forum will be held on 26 August 2026 in Turku as part of the Europe Forum programme. Climate Forum brings together leading experts from the EU, central government, cities, research institutes and companies to discuss the future of climate work in Finland and Europe. A recording of Climate Forum will be available afterwards on Europe Forum’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@eurooppa-foorumi
Read more:
• www.turku.fi/en/climate
• www.europeforum.fi/en/