Finland launches a service to help people combat climate change

“Climate change has received a great deal of attention this autumn and many people have been thinking about how their lifestyle affects the environment and their wellbeing. Now we are launching a service offering everyday solutions that anyone can use to help mitigate climate change. Making commitments ourselves makes it easier for us to have an impact and participate in achieving Finland’s climate goals,” says Chief Specialist Marja Innanen from the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Commitment2050 tool calculates a user’s carbon footprint and suggests 100 everyday actions tailored specifically to the user’s needs that will help them to reduce their carbon footprint one step at a time. Users can select the actions they are prepared to commit to. Finland is so far the only country in the world to offer such a tool.

“Around 68 per cent of Finland’s greenhouse gas emissions are created in our everyday life by the way we live, travel and eat and by what we buy. This new service is a great continuation of Sitra’s Lifestyle test and 100 smart ways to live sustainably. It shows us how our everyday choices impact on the environment and offers a planning tool to help achieve change. If, for example, one adult in every Finnish family cuts their emissions by 20 per cent by the year 2030, we would reach 37 per cent of Finland’s total emission reduction target,” says Project Director Markus Terho from The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra.

Users can find inspiration for a more sustainable everyday life by looking at others plans, and they can post treir commitment on the service, share it on social media and inspire others to get involved. Commitments can be updated at any time, and the service can offer reminders about the progress of the actions. Commitments can also be pledged anonymously, using a pseudonym.

“Every individual plan is important and contributes to the national emissions reduction target. By making sustainable everyday choices, we can also improve our quality of life and health while saving time and money. The easiest way to achieve significant reductions in emissions is by avoiding unnecessary air travel, switching to electricity produced using renewable energy sources, adding more local vegetables, berries and fish to our meals and buying and renting used goods,” says Senior Lead Anu Mänty from Sitra.

The national launch campaign for Commitment2050 will begin on 27 December and will be visible on digital channels and on social media, as well as in on-street advertising. In addition to the  campaign aimed at indivisuals, companies, towns and cities and other organisations are also being encouraged to make commitments.

The Commitment2050 service is part of the Society’s Commitment to Sustainability working model, which is one of Finland’s key tools for implementing the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. More than a thousand operational commitments have already been made, so far, mostly by companies, local authorities, schools and organisations.

“Now we want everyone to get involved, because we all need to work together, without delay, to create a more sustainable future,” concludes Marja Innanen.

• Commitment2050 service for citizens
• Campaign materials
• Hashtag: #enemmäntekoja
• Inquiries: Marja Innanen, Chief Specialist, tel. +358 40 777 5582, Prime Minister’s Office and Anu Mänty, Senior Lead, tel. +358 50 3270388, The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra.