Climate and the environment is a common issue for the municipalities of Central Finland
"Äänekoski is a pioneering municipality in climate work"

- The climate meeting of the municipalities was organized in Äänekoski at the initiative of the Central Finland Federation, because the environmental and climate work done by Äänekoski has aroused interest in the entire province. We can be proud of what we do, because Äänekoski is considered a pioneer in climate issues, an environmental manager Hanna Ahonen says.
A joint climate meeting of the municipalities of Central Finland was organized at the Äänekoski town hall on August 17.8.2023, 40. There were 16 guests from XNUMX other municipalities in Central Finland. The management of the municipalities and experts from the fields of environment, zoning, technical and vitality were present.
- We received a lot of positive feedback that Äänekoski has a good atmosphere of cooperation and cooperation, climate coordinator Juho Liimatainen toteaa.

Climate work has been strongly implemented in industries
The municipalities of central Finland wanted to get to know the environmental and climate work done by the city of Äänekoski and to learn from good practices. Äänekoski is part of the municipal energy efficiency agreement and was the first central Finnish municipality to join the Carbon Neutral Municipalities (HINKU) network.
In Äänekoski's city strategy, a sustainable environment is one of the most important goals, and the climate and environmental perspective is strongly incorporated into the activities of every industry. The city of Äänekoski also does active and effective communication about the actions it takes.
- Äänekoski has been a pioneer among central Finnish municipalities in its planned climate work. We heard no fewer than ten presentations from different industries about the climate work of the city of Äänekoski. They show how the climate work in Äänekoski has, as an example, been widely implemented in industries and it really cuts across the city's organization, the regional development expert of the Central Finland Association Summer Bayr says.
Bayr emphasizes that cooperation both between municipalities and within municipalities is important in order to take into account such a multi-caused phenomenon as climate change.
- New municipal climate projects are starting in Central Finland, involving no less than 12 municipalities. Hopefully, among these, there will also be more HINKU municipalities in the footsteps of Äänekoski and Viitasaari.

Climate work brings cost savings
The city of Äänekoski makes and supports sustainable development in all its activities. The goal is to be a carbon-neutral city in 2030. We take care of our environment so that we can leave it better for future generations.
- It is easy to get the impression that environmental action is responsible for all environmental and climate work, when in reality concrete action takes place in all our industries as part of our daily work. At Äänekoski, climate work is part of everyone's job description and it crosses industry boundaries, Hanna Ahonen describes.
The city of Äänekoski does climate and environmental work cross-cuttingly in management, decision-making, communication, procurement, energy solutions, land use planning, construction, environmental planning, education, education, food services and sports services. The implementation of the climate work is also actively monitored and is supported by e.g. environmental and climate monitoring service.
- Environmental and climate work has brought cost savings and additional resources to the city of Äänekoski through funding. In addition, it builds the city's image, sense of community and promotes stakeholder cooperation, Ahonen's list.
The climate meeting was jointly organized by the Union of Central Finland Support the climate work of the municipalities of Central Finland project and the city of Äänekoski Life-lasting Äänekoski -project.

For more information:
Environmental manager Hanna Ahonen, 0400 893 683, hanna.ahonen@aanekoski.fi
Bulletin of the Union of Central Finland 18.8.2023 August XNUMX
News published, modified 22.12.2023 at 12:37