Vihti municipality is committed to the emission reduction target, but only a fraction of climate-warming emissions are caused by the municipality's own operations or properties. This means that in order to meet the climate target, the municipality must encourage private players to reduce their carbon footprint.
The municipality is working systematically to minimise its impact on global warming. At the same time, we are preparing for climate risks, such as heavy rainfall and heat waves, that are becoming more frequent as a result of global warming. As well as reducing emissions, we are also trying to showcase examples of smart and cost-effective climate solutions to businesses in the region. Someone's got to be the one to do it first, and others will follow – right?
The truth is that many companies in Vihti are many steps ahead of the municipality in their efforts to mitigate climate change. There are several companies in Vihti that have taken significant steps to minimise the climate impact of their business. These companies can be considered climate pioneers, even on a national scale. Could the municipality take a leaf out of the book of these companies? At the very least, sharing lessons learned from both sides should be in order.
We want to provide a forum for entrepreneurs and business representatives to discuss best practices and share success stories of climate action, as well as talk about its challenges and pitfalls. The municipality of Vihti, in cooperation with the municipality of Kirkkonummi, organises climate webinars for businesses in the area. The next webinar will take place on 2 February 2021, and the theme will be sharing best practices of climate work between companies.
Although climate work is not a race between organisations but a shared fight for our living environment, we want to boost the climate work of companies through a light-hearted Ilmastojahti ("climate hunt") competition. In the competition, companies inform the municipality about their climate-smart actions, and the best ones are rewarded with visibility in the municipality's communication channels. Ilmastojahti is open to all businesses in Vihti, regardless of size or sector - the cleverest actions will be rewarded!
Here in Vihti municipality, we are increasingly looking at our operations from the climate perspective and encourage companies to do the same. Through business climate webinars and the Ilmastojahti competition, Vihti municipality wants to support the climate work of all businesses, regardless of their sector or size. Now is the time to seize the opportunities of climate action!
Vera Järvenreuna
Climate Coordinator
This blog series looks at the profitability of climate work. Cost-effective climate solutions for municipalities are promoted in a joint climate project with the municipality of Kirkkonummi, called "Model for cost-effective climate work in small and medium-sized municipalities." The project is funded by the Ministry of the Environment. Vihti is committed to halving its per capita greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
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