Improving the Efficiency & Efficacy of Enhancing Sustainable Development by Putting More Talent (that of the Citizens) in the Process, presented at the Smart Cities Summit on April 14th, 2021

1. #SmartCities #SofaSummit, April 14th, 2021, Tove Holm,
Coordinator for the Baltic Sea Challenge, City of Turku
Improving the Efficiency &
Efficacy of Enhancing
Sustainable Development by
Putting More Talent (that of
the Citizens) in the Process

2. Jussi Pajunen and Mikko Pukkinen
walked by the River Aurajoki in Turku
in 2006…
Concern for the state of the Baltic Sea
Healthy waters = competitiveness and
welfare of the cities
The first joint action plan of the cities
was published in the summer of 2007
jointly with the challenge campaign for
other organisations to do the same
Once upon a time the Mayors of the
cities of Helsinki and Turku…

3. • A network of knowledge and support for
concrete action at local level for protecting the
Baltic Sea
• Vision: A clean, productive and shared Baltic Sea
• Activities additional to legally binding obligations
1) Network of 315 partner organisations
representing cities, companies, educational
institutions, NGOs, regional authorities, …
2) Own action plans of participating organisations
What is The Baltic Sea Challenge?

4. In total: 123
actions, which
are enhanced
in the cities of
Helsinki and
Turku

5. What do we do?
We work:
1. within the cities
of Helsinki and Turku
2. engaging citizens
3. nationally
4. internationally

6. Operating environment
Combating climate change
UN: Sustainable
Development Goals
EU: Strategy for the Baltic
Sea Region
HELCOM: Baltic Sea
Action Plan
Finland’s Strategy for the
Baltic Sea Region
Various strategies and
programs in the cities of
Helsinki and Turku

7. City of Turku: Voluntary
Local review, June 2020
Turku is a pioneer in marine protection. The
joint water protection program of the cities of
Turku and Helsinki, the Baltic Sea Challenge,
was established in 2007 to create a direction
for marine protection and to involve cities in
the protection of the Baltic Sea.

8. there is an urgent
need for
internal cooperation
in cities for
sustainable
development,
without forgetting
local,
national and
international
cooperation
Agenda 2030 reports from 2020: have in
common

9. • Baltic Sea
events 2020
workshop,
∑43
25.2
• Meetings with networks
March • Declaration of
Sea Peace, Pax
Navis online
May
• The Baltic Sea Day
• Europe-forum 27-
28.8.
27.8
• Beach Cleaning
event on the Day
of Turku
20.9.
Kaarina High
School students:
we were
surprised at how
many people
contribute to the
protection of the
Baltic Sea, in
addition to the
city and
researchers from
companies,
authorities, and
associations
Events in 2020

10. The Baltic Sea Day 27.8.2020: 12 public events, two closed and one some campaign.

12. Events in 2021
• Baltic Sea
events 2021
workshop
27.1
• Meetings
with
networks
March
• Declaration of
Sea Peace,
Pax Navis
27.5
• The
Baltic
Sea Day
26.8
• Beach
Cleaning
event
19.9.
The Baltic Sea Action Plan of Helsinki and
Turku 2019- 2023, consist of 123 actions
Nr 104: Arranging campaigns & beach
cleaning events… in cooperation
A cooking competition for local fish, caught in
the Baltic Sea: Funded by the Archipelago Sea
Fisheries Action Group: The Archipelago Sea
Fish Challenge project of the City of Turku.
Let’s eat
the Baltic
Sea clean!
Challenge

13. In 1997, Samsø won a government
competition to become a model
renewable energy community.
At the time, Samsø was entirely
dependent on oil and coal, both
imported from the mainland.
Samsø achieved carbon neutrality in
2003. 100% of its electricity comes
from wind power and biomass.
Two windmills are own by an
association with 430 shareholders.
More info: https://energiakademiet.dk/
Methodology: the circle, developed by
Samsø Energiakademi on Samsø…

14. Søren Hermansen, CEO of Samsø
Energiakademi ”Find the plumber”

15. Video: https://energiakademiet.dk/en/exploring-the-circle/
Methodology: the circle, developed by
Samsø Energiakademi

16. Thank you!
tove.holm(at)turku.fi