Topic

Sustainability & climate action

Commentary

Chapter 1: COP27 signalled an end of an era for cities

Cities are no longer just drivers of climate action but must now transform themselves into leaders of collective action. As we shift from gradual low-carbonisation to rapid decarbonisation, cities must rethink their role, governance, and tools to address the climate crisis and foster coordinated efforts for sustainable change.

21st-century infrastructure must be regenerative

Traditional infrastructure, like Austin’s I-35, often benefits some while harming others, especially marginalised communities. Expanding from six to twenty lanes, as proposed, could exacerbate this. Instead, regenerative infrastructure—rebuilding communities and ecosystems—offers a vision for 21st-century development, promoting social equity and environmental health, crucial for a sustainable future.

What is regenerative infrastructure?

Sustainability is no longer enough to address today’s environmental challenges. Regeneration, which emphasises renewal, restoration, and resilience, is emerging as a more effective framework. By shifting from an anthropocentric to an ecocentric approach, regenerative infrastructure can positively impact both communities and ecosystems, fostering long-term, net-positive environmental and societal change.

Re-focusing on the future: Backcasting carbon neutral cities

Demos Helsinki cofounder Aleksi Neuvonen presents research on how backcasting scenarios can help cities achieve carbon neutrality. By working backwards from a desired carbon-neutral future, backcasting enables collective learning, redefines urban planning, and fosters cross-sector collaboration, crucial for the societal transition towards sustainable, carbon-neutral cities.

Discussing the future of timber construction in Finland

The event on May 18, 2022, gathered Finnish policymakers, city planners, and industry leaders to discuss the transition to timber construction. The Humble Governance model facilitated collaboration, addressing bottlenecks in emissions reduction, planning, and policy updates. Timber construction offers significant potential to lower emissions, but it requires proactive, collaborative efforts.

Earth Day 2022: The shifts we need to mobilize

The latest IPCC report highlights that while the window to prevent the worst impacts of climate change is closing, we still have the opportunity to act. However, urgent, collective, and transformative action is required. Demos Helsinki calls for several key shifts: taking accountability at all levels of governance, embedding equity in the climate response, and understanding that the climate crisis is a systemic issue that should inform all decision-making. Humility and learning from diverse voices, including indigenous wisdom, are also essential as we move beyond net-zero and towards sustainable livability.

Publications

Policy Brief: Path2030 – Evaluation of Finland’s Sustainable Development Policy

17 main goals, 169 sub-targets and only 10 years time. What path should Finland take to reach the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030? The Path 2030 policy brief offers pathways and concrete suggestions to improve Finnish Sustainable Development policy performance.

Futures Brief: The Consumer Business Models of the Future

We believe that smart-ups create the success stories of the future. This Futures Brief helps us to think, act and develop like a smart-up.

Policy brief: Finland aims to become a sustainable development leader

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was launched in the beginning of 2016 and Finland aims to be among the leading countries in its implementation. The Avain2030 project of the Finnish Environment Institute and Demos Helsinki identified the pain points and success stories of sustainable development in Finland based on…

Projects

Circular Economy Green Deal – a steering instrument for collective action towards circularity

The Circular Economy Green Deal is a novel Finnish steering instrument that catalyses collective action for systemic change towards circularity based on voluntary commitments. Demos Helsinki had the honour of leading the co-creative process that led to the creation of the Circular Economy Green Deal.

MUST: Enabling multispecies transition in urban planning

The ongoing biodiversity crisis demonstrates that we need better ways to live with nature in cities. The MUST project, employing a multispecies transition lens, aims to enhance the understanding and visibility of multispecies needs. This, in turn, will foster improved deliberation and action among stakeholders.

Safeguarding Finland’s future: The interplay of circular economy and comprehensive security

In a world marked by interconnectedness, Finland recognises the importance of comprehensive security in ensuring the wellbeing of its society. As Finland sets its sights on a carbon-neutral circular economy by 2035, it becomes crucial to explore the security implications of this transition. This project aims to shed light on…

People

Themes