According to the international scientific community, it is clear that climate change and biodiversity loss must be tackled simultaneously. While the calculation and reporting of climate impacts or carbon footprints has gained ground in various organisations, a similar level of understanding and tools for nature impacts or biodiversity footprint are still scarce.
The City of Tampere has engaged in a joint research project with the School of Resource Wisdom of the University of Jyväskylä (JYU.Wisdom) to look into the global impact that the City’s activities have on biodiversity and carbon emissions. City-level evaluations of biodiversity impacts are highly exceptional in the entire world.
– The project helps us to gain information on the factors due to which we have an impact on the use of natural resources. We are looking for the biggest and most meaningful effects so that we can focus on solving them. This is a matter of more sustainable resource allocation, says Project Manager Kaisa Mustajärvi in charge at the Climate and Environmental Policy Unit.
The project develops a method to monitor the climate and biodiversity impact on an annual basis. It also aims at finding out what kind of footprint data would best support staff and decision-makers in making more responsible procurement and policy choices. The aim is therefore to find ways to reduce biodiversity loss and climate impacts.
– Availability of natural resources and materials is also a matter of security of supply so this research is part of the City’s risk management. We need this data to be able to create a more sustainable and safer future for the residents. The results of the research will help us to understand the interactions between climate change and biodiversity loss so that we can steer clear from solutions that are more detrimental in one crisis than beneficial in the other, Mustajärvi says.
City-level evaluations of biodiversity impacts are highly exceptional in the entire world. Various organizations such as the Universities of Jyväskylä and Oxford and the S Group have assessed their respective biodiversity impacts.
– City organizations play an important role as responsible actors and pioneers. Tampere appears to be one of the first cities in the world to calculate its biodiversity impacts. We want to lead the way in piloting and introducing a novel methodology that highlights the importance of biodiversity, says Project Expert Emmi Nieminen at the Climate and Environmental Policy Unit, and continues:
– The aim is for the city to use its financial resources more sustainably.
The project will analyse the biodiversity and carbon footprints of the city organisation's procurement based on financial accounting. The total duration of the project is 18 months and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
