Wednesday 24 June 2020

Finland’s oldest city takes top prize as the best mid-sized climate city in Europe

Turku, Finland's oldest city on the Southwest Coast of the country, has been chosen as the best mid-sized climate city in Europe at the European Covenant of Mayors Awards 2020.

The initiative, which celebrates the progress of European cities in sustainable energy and climate action plans has also awarded Italy's Turin as the best large climate city and Montaione in the heart of Tuscany as the best small one.

Turku has already transformed the energy system from fossil fuels to renewables and cut more than a third of its greenhouse (GHG) emissions from the levels of 1990.

The local authority aims to halve the emissions by 2021 and become one of the first climate positive areas in the world and frontrunner for a circular economy by 2029.

More than 10,000 cities and regions with altogether close to 320 million inhabitants have joined the European Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy so far.

Joining in this programme, European cities aim to reduce emissions faster than the goals set by the EU and carrying out ambitious climate policies.