On April 23, 2024 ILCA consortium met Saara Karkulahti, a representative from the ELY Center, member of the Kuopio city council and chair of the board of Savonia UAS, who presented the ambitious roadmap towards carbon neutrality in the Pohjois-Savo region by 2035. The presentation highlighted a strategic plan comprising five pivotal objectives aimed at fostering sustainability and combating climate change.
Saara Karkulahti outlined the core goals of the roadmap:
1. Building a robust climate culture
2. Nurturing green growth through circular economy principles and sustainable utilization of natural resources
3. Advancing towards fair and clean energy solutions
4. Expanding carbon sinks and stocks
5. Collaborating for climate security and biodiversity preservation
The roadmap, initiated in 2020, has seen engagement from stakeholders representing 23 organizations. Regular meetings have been instrumental in driving progress and fostering collaboration.
While there have been notable reductions in emissions within the energy sector, challenges persist in areas such as agriculture and transport. To address these challenges comprehensively, Saara stressed the importance of intensified dialogue with governmental structures to facilitate broader systemic changes.
Moving forward, the focus will be on preparing a comprehensive carbon balance report, evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation and adaptation measures, and implementing funding experiments to adapt to climate change. Additionally, initiatives aimed at promoting environmental responsibility among companies and facilitating dialogue on various projects, including renewable energy, are set to play a pivotal role in realizing climate action objectives.
The presentation marks a significant milestone in the journey towards sustainability and carbon neutrality in the Pohjois-Savo region, underscoring the commitment of stakeholders to building a greener, more resilient future.
