Climate Info to help citizens make the right choices fighting climate change
Helsinki Region cities and municipal organizations are setting up a new service for citizens, Climate Info. The service is meant to motivate citizens to fight climate change and to help them shift towards a low-carbon lifestyle.
The goals, functions and operations of Climate Info will be presented at Sanoma House from October 12, 2010 onwards. The Info Website at www.ilmastoinfo.fi will be launched on the same day.
A related betting campaign will be launched on the Web at www.ilmastoinfo.fi/tonnivetoa (“a bet on one thousand”), which offers ready-made choices for consumers to reduce their carbon footprint. Users can compile a package from the choices to accomplish an estimated reduction in emitted carbon of one thousand kilogrammes and make a bet on it. Bets can be made from October 1 through November.
Climate Info and the betting campaign offer a novel approach to everyman’s opportunities to effect change and make the right and easiest choices, without making anybody feel guilty – whether we are talking about a holiday or business trip, renovations at home, purchases at work, alternatives in the office, or heating solutions.
The activities stem from the realization that small actions count when a large number of people commit themselves to change.
Helsinki Regions cities have committed themselves to reducing their per-capita greenhouse gas emissions by 39% from the 1990 level by 2030. The current annual per-capita emissions are approximately 6,000 kg in a year. If the entire carbon footprint of Helsinki Region residents is taken into account, including food production, the total emissions are about double that amount, with one-third of the addition resulting from transportation, products and services each. Emissions can vary by thousands of kilogrammes depending on lifestyles.
Climate Info is produced by the Cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, HSY Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority, HSL Helsinki Region Transport and Helsinki’s energy company Helsingin Energia. The activities are coordinated by the City of Helsinki Environment Centre.
Guidance to the use of Climate Info and lifestyle changes is offered on the Narinkkatori square in Helsinki from October 12th to 13th, 10 am to 6 pm.
