Not enough forests
This is where we have come. Even 2,5 hectare of forest per each person in Salo is not enough if you want to bind up all the greenhousegases that is produced in Salo. 915 hectares of Salo’s area is forest, but 620 000 hectares would be needed. To be exact, that would take alone 4,3 times bigger area than Salo. There is only 25 000 people is Salo.
I can only imagine what is the situation in bigger cities. Can something be done to this?
Salo has found the ways
People in Salo do what they can to fight against climate change. Salo has found various ways to make it happen.
- For example with right kind of planning, we should be able to create compact citystucture. And then the need for traffic is also smaller, says environmental engineer Riitta Matilainen from Salo.
Also one good way to make Salo more environmental friendly is to build houses that saves energy, Riitta Matilainen continues.
In refuse disposal biodegradable waste should get out of dumping-ground. It creates methangas which is really strong greenhousegas.
As a long-term target, Salo is hoping to be able to get second rail between Turku and Salo. In Salo power plant Voimavasu has changed the heatingform from fossil fuels to biofuels. This is the only way they can meet the targets.
See also: City of Salo
5.8.2005 Marja Seppänen
District heat for Loimaa
- Nothing sudden or dramatic is going to happen in loimaa because of the climate change, says cityingenieur Antti Kemi.
Of course climate change is a threat, but not so much for Loimaa in the near future. Loimaa has done quite a lot to slow the prosess, they use district heat which is made by using renowable energy resourses that come from local forests.
Energy consumption is considered when something new is build or old repaired. Unfortunately energy consumption is increasing, but that increase should be controlled.
- City planning is a good way to control energy consumption of traffic. Loimaa is concentrating its construction near the city center, so it is quite easy for the people to walk or ride a bike instead of the cars. District heat can also be used more efficiently, Antti Kemi notifides.
5.8.2005 Pekka Paavilainen
Floods are the biggest threats in Loimaa
Loimaa is one of the biggest producers of grain in Finland. There are a lot of cars in Loimaa, because distances are so long. Emissions of agriculture and traffic are the biggest factors that effect the climate change in Loimaa.
The biggest threats of agriculture are pests, heavy rains and long lasting drought.
- Loimijoki flows through the region. It will flood very easily, because there are only few lakes in river system of Loimijoki, says environmental secretary Seija Niskala.
Floods make strand building and cultivation more difficult. We have prepared for the floods by drawing a plan for the area and regulating the river flows, she continues.
5.8.2005 Petri Lammi
Turku isn't worried
The pearl of Turku, island of Ruissalo, is safe. In Tampere Pyynikki is in danger, it could turn out to be more like Turku. Maybe after a couple of dozens years even oaks start to grow also in Tampere.
- In Turku we are not afraid of climate change, but we have been already doing a lot to prevent problems. There are for example new rules about constructions which are counting that level of water could rise.
- The city is also participating to national climate change campaign, tells Mikko Jokinen chief of the environmental administration department of Turku.
- Any way, there are still lots of things that a normal citizen could do to prevent climate change and that is why the city will produce information and organize events about this theme. Every one should at least think about the ways they consume and move around in the city, says Jokinen.
Environmental Protection Office of Turku
10.8.2005 Tiina Sandberg
Small municipality – small actions
Our national climate strategy requires that municipalities are active in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. However many municipality authorities think that this matter does not concern them.
Nousiainen is a little municipality with a lot of agriculture. Environmental secretary Tuija Lojander’s opinion is that climate change is too big and difficult problem for small municipalities.
- This kind of things belongs to states and governments. With cooperation of municipalities and common campaign directed by government it may be possible to reduce emissions. But unfortunately plans are still very theoretical, notes Lojander.
Anyway in Nousiainen they give many kind of common information on environmental actions, for example recycling and sorting. In the area there is also a possibility to use public transport system. The regional ticket can be used within 18 municipalities.
See also: Motiva: Energy Conservation Agreements
5.8.2005 Merja Elo
Salo has a vision for greener future
- The future vision of Salo is to be a human sized, technologically advanced Green valley, Mika Ilomäki says when asked to describe the Green Valley project. Green Valley project was created to compose, co-ordinate and manage work that supports sustainable development.
City of Salo does it's part to prevent the climate change. Mika Ilomäki is a project co-ordinator in project called Green Valley. One of the projects main tasks is to arise environmental knowledge of people living in Salo and the neighbourhood municipalities.
Green Valley and the global climate change
Ilomäki admits that the fight against the climate change in Salo has just started but he is very optimistic about the future results. Salo, Halikko, Muurla and Pertteli have united their strengths and carried out a climatecampaign in 2002. All four municipalities have counted their emissions and reported for the results.
Two big windenergymills are going to be build in Högsåra island. Mills will be ready in the end of year 2005. Windpark will produce 10 percent of Salos energy need when it is ready.
Also other things are made. Read for example how does Viitanummi differ from normal housing area?
Reetta Salminen talked with project co-ordinator Mika Ilomäki.
16.8.2005 Reetta Salminen
