CLIMATE EFFORT IN SOUTH KARELIA

The cities of South Karelia, especially the Environmental departments of Imatra and Lappeenranta, have co-operated in many different fields for several years.

The common climate effort was started already around 2005, and eventually in 2008 the project managed to receive financing. Both cities have naturally acted for the climate for much longer time and the consequences of climate change have been recognized.

As a concrete cause of actions, Lappeenranta has, for example, joined to the Climate Campaign, organized by the Local and Regional Government of Finland in 2000. Both Imatra and Lappeenranta have also calculated their greenhouse gas emissions. In Lappeenranta the information was gathered from years 1990, 2004 and 2007, and in Imatra from year 2006. Both cities have also signed The Energy Efficiency Agreement of Municipals with the Ministry of Employment and Industries (years 2008 - 2016).

Now it is time to encourage the whole South Karelia region to join to the climate effort, including inhabitants, companies and the other municipalities in the area.