Region of the Month: Uusimaa
Get to know Uusimaa
This #RegionOfTheMonth is Uusimaa, Finland!
Located on the Baltic Sea coast of Southern Finland, the Helsinki-Uusimaa region is one of Europe’s fastest-growing areas, home to 1.7 million people and a hub for international competitiveness, research, and development.
As part of the #SmarterAdaptation Challenge Suite, Uusimaa is leveraging innovative digital tools to bridge the gap between science, stakeholders, and policy. With a strong focus on data, the region is raising citizen awareness and driving smart adaptation to climate change.
Find out more about Uusimaa here: Uusimaa | Regions4Climate
Hear from our partners
Check out our latest video from our project partners in Uusimaa!
Heli Ponto, PhD from Forum Virium Helsinki and Heikki Kallasvaara from Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council (Uudenmaan liitto) dive into the crucial role the region of Uusimaa plays in building climate resilient communities within the #Regions4Climate project.
Discover how this region is spearheading transformative sustainability efforts and fostering community-centred strategies to build a more adaptive and resilient future in the face of climate change.
Helsinki's Climate Resilience Efforts
As part of the EU Mission on Adaptation, the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is preparing to become climate resilient by 2030. At the heart of this effort is the City of Helsinki’s Climate Unit, which is developing innovative solutions such as green roofs tailored to Finland’s harsh winters and integrated approaches to green infrastructure and stormwater management.
We spoke with Kankaanpää Susanna, a project manager leading these efforts, about the city’s strategies, challenges, and vision for the future.
Recent events
Internal Workshop on Demo Actions
In February 2024, the demo team organised an internal workshop to define a timeline for demo actions.
Engaging with Kivelä Elderly Care Professionals
During spring and summer 2024, FVH (Forum Virium Helsinki) met with Kivelä elderly care professionals to discuss the climate resiliency of the area. Additionally, FVH provided an observation report focusing on the area’s climate resilience.
Contributions to Webinars
Workshop on Flood Resiliency
In October 2024, FVH and University of Helsinki jointly organised a workshop to discuss flood resiliency and adaptation strategies.
Digital Twin Demo Tool Webinar
On 10 December 2024, FVH hosted an introduction webinar for the digital twin demo tool. The event attracted 45 participants and received plenty of positive feedback.
What's next
A key focus for the future is to raise awareness across society and regions about the critical need for climate adaptation. The region will prioritize building a comprehensive platform for exchanges, where local governments, academic institutions, and citizens can collectively engage on this mainstream topic.
The emphasis will be on initiating these conversations ensuring that climate adaptation becomes a central part of decision-making at all levels.