Striving for sustainable development in everyday life

Individual change is necessary to tackle sustainability challenges effectively. At Aalto University, we have developed a new app, AaltoSDG, in order to encourage its users to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals by taking individual action and pushing for systemic change.

Continue reading “Striving for sustainable development in everyday life”

Looking beyond the horizon when preparing for climate change in the energy transition

Climate change will alter the world as we know it, exacerbating already existing threats while also bringing new risks and unforeseen opportunities. The impacts of climate change will materialise differently in different corners of the world. More vulnerable areas in the southern hemisphere will bear the brunt of the adverse impacts, while affluent countries in the North are projected to experience less devastating impacts and be better able to cope. This way of thinking has lured many developed countries into a sense of false security, exacerbated by national climate assessments showing how the effects of climate change are likely to be important but relatively moderate, and well within the adaptive capacity of the country.

Continue reading “Looking beyond the horizon when preparing for climate change in the energy transition”

Nature based solutions at the Urban Sustainability Webinar

The University of Helsinki launched a research theme regarding urban sustainability in May 2020. The theme is produced in cooperation by the two institutes Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) and Helsinki Institute of Urban and Regional Studies (Urbaria) and it includes four overlapping subthemes.

Continue reading “Nature based solutions at the Urban Sustainability Webinar”

COVID-19: Dying for Sustainability?

The current pandemic might temporarily slow down environmentally destructive economic growth. However, claiming that we are dying for sustainability is dangerous. The global sustainability crisis is not just driven by uneconomic growth but also increasing global inequality and social stratification.

Continue reading “COVID-19: Dying for Sustainability?”

The Finnish secondary environmental responsibility regime under scrutiny – mere complementary, yet necessary part of sustainable environmental protection

Picture a situation where a company engaged in mining activities has gone into bankruptcy. Preconditions for a profitable mining business are no longer present; no new operators for the mine have been found either. The applicable mining laws provide that the decommissioned mine, including its surrounding areas, should be cleaned, remediated and landscaped into a state that meets the public safety laws. However, the financial assurances, once provided by the company, are insufficient to cover the costs of remediation. Neither does the bankruptcy estate possess sufficient funds to meet the costs of remediation.

Continue reading “The Finnish secondary environmental responsibility regime under scrutiny – mere complementary, yet necessary part of sustainable environmental protection”