Climate change policies in Kuopio

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Question

What kind of climate change policy is there in Kuopio at the moment?

Answer

The basis of the politics

The greenhouse gas emissions have grown in Kuopio from 1990. They're about the same as the emissions in other cities the same size. The most important sources of greenhouse gases are the district heating used to warm houses, other use of electricity, other use of fuels (the energy production of industry and fuels of construction vehicles) and traffic. The greenhouse gas emissions grow, if active operations to limit emissions from the traffic, the optimizing energy consumption and increasing the amount of renewable energy sources used aren't taken into action.

On EU-level the basisline is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at least 20% from 1990 to 2020. During the same time period the portion of renewable energy sources is increased up to 20% and the related traffic biofuel use up to 10 %. On local level the energy efficiency agreements have a big effect. Along with the city of Kuopio different companies and other agents, such as farms and housing companies, have made these agreements. The energy efficiency agreement made by the city of Kuopio obligates the city to reduce energy consumption by 9% from 2005 to 2016.

The greenhouse gas emissions caused by the city's own actions are only 8% of the total. The whole city corporation, including Kuopion Energia Oy, produces a significant part of the greenhouse gas emissions of Kuopio. The city can affect the emissions from it's own actions and the emissions from traffic by land usage and traffic planning. With advising and announcements the city can contribute to the increasing of energy efficiency of households and buildings. With it's corporate governance the city can also affect the actions and emissions of the whole city corporation.

The programme of climate politics in Kuopio 2009-2020

The climate political vision of the city of Kuopio is:

In Kuopio everyone has done their share to bring down the greenhouse gas emissions and get prepared to climate change.

This will be carried out by the following goals.

1. Greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by at least 40% of the 1990 levels before 2020

Goal	Responsibility
The energy efficiency of the city is forwarded by unification and replenishing	Technical post
The energy efficiency and effects on greenhouse gas emissions of projects and decisions about constructions of the community and it's services, as well as other important projects and decisions, will be researched during the planning stage.	All lines of activities Agency of management and developement Technical post
The basic services requiring a lot of transportation will be focused in the center of the municipality during the mergers. The distributed service resources are meant to be preserved at the old habitats also.	All lines of activities Agency of management and developement Technical post
The amount and the quality of the greenhouse gas emissions will be systematically observed and emission records will be actively utilized.	Environment agency

The carrying out of the goals are monitored by the following indicators:

• the total number of effect assessments (annually)
• greenhouse gas emissions (total and per resident / year CDE every 5th year)

2. The energy use of the city's own actions has decreased by at least 9% of the 2005 levels before 2016.

Goal	Responsibility
The actions in the energy efficiency agreement ofthe city of Kuopio are carried out	All lines of activities Real estate department
The consumption of energy (electricity, water, heat) are systematically monitored using the newest technology and this information is actively used to optimize the use of energy.	All lines of activities Real estate department Kuopion Opiskelija-asunnot Oy Niiralan Kulma Oy Kuopion Matkailupalvelu Oy
The energy efficiency of old buildings is improved during renovations and repairs, and the use of low-energy options are forwarded when building new.	Real estate department Construction control Kuopion Opuskelija-asunnot Oy Niiralan Kulma Oy

The carrying out of the goals are monitored by the following indicators:

• the actions in the strategy are carried out (annually)
• the specific energy consumption of the buildings owned by the city, Niiralan Kulma Oy, Kuopion Opiskelija-asunnot Oy and Matkailupalvelu Oy(kWh/m^3/a)

3. The greenhouse gas emissions from traffic and transport have derceased. Public transport, walking and using a bike are alluring ways of transport.

Goal	Responsibility
The conditions of public transport and walking and biking are improved and the level of service, fluency and attractiveness increased.	Technical post
The traffic emissions from actions of the city itself are decreased.	All lines of activities
The emissions from goods acquisition transport are decreased by improving the regional transport system.	All lines of activities Regional acquisition office
The usage of less emitting vehicles is forwarded in the city's own actions and by service providers.	All lines of activities Regional acquisition office

The carrying out of the goals are monitored by the following indicators:

• the greenhouse gas emissions of traffic (portion of total emissions and per resident / a CDE, every 5 years)
• increasing amount of cars (cars/1000 residents, every 2 years)
• well organized bus traffic (number and percentage of people living within 250 meters from the bus stop, every 2 years)
• the number of local traffic trips (trips/resident/d, annually)
• the length of walking and biking routes (m/resident, annually)
• the fuel consumption of the vehicles owned or used by the city (l/a, annually)

4. The use of renewable energy sources has grown in energy production

Goal	Responsibility
The usage of biofuels is increased in the energy production of Kuopio.	Kuopion Energia Oy Real estate department
In all actions of the city the commissioning of renewable energy sources is forwarded.	Real estate department Kuopion opiskelija-asunnot Oy Niiralan Kulma Oy Kuopion Matkailupalvelu Oy Construction control Technical post Countryside services
Investigation to get a waste incinerator to eastern Finland is begun	The city of Kuopio

The carrying out of the goals are monitored by the following indicators:

• the portion of renewable energy sources in energy production (energy balance, every 5 years)
• The portion of biogas collected from Lehtoniemi wastewater

treatment plant from the total energy consumption of Kuopion Vesi (%, annual)

• the amount of energy investments on farms (annual)

5. The effect of the climate change on the functions of the city of Kuopio have been identified and they're being prepared for.

6. Everyone acknowledges the effects of their actions and choises on the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.