City of Tampere aims to become carbon neutral by 2030. The Roadmap for carbon neutrality as part of the sustainable Tampere 2030 Programme is the key policy instrument influencing the city’s sustainability activities.

In the period from 1992 to 2015, Finland’s greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 45,5 % per head. The 2030 target will require an 80 % reduction in carbon emissions over the 1990 figure. The city of Tampere is concerned that much of the “low hanging fruit” has been addressed and they feel they are running out of straightforward opportunities.  The next set of initiatives will be more expensive.

The city is piloting an ambitious urban regeneration project redeveloping the district of Hiedanranta, which is the site of a former paper mill. A goal for this area is to be a Net Zero Energy territory. Other project goals include having 25,000 inhabitants and 10,000 jobs, and to link the urban regeneration to research and higher education. They will also aim to stimulate many businesses with “local service” business models. A greater proportion of wood will be incorporated within the building structures (wood is an integral structural element of buildings in Austria but tends not to be used for structural elements in other European countries).  Hiedanranta is 5 km from the centre and the city’s tram line will be extended to this area as part of a Phase II expansion.