The share of population living in cities and urban areas is increasing globally. Up to 70% of Finns already live in urban areas, while the global figure is over 50%. Urbanisation is often considered an economically favourable development trend, but it is challenging in terms of social and ecological sustainability.
The Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) produces information and solutions that promote sustainable urbanisation. We provide policy-makers, citizens and other stakeholder groups with information related to urban development. We reinforce the role of urban residents in the implementation of sustainable development, and make use of the prevailing culture of experimentation. Our goal is to provide cities and other urban actors with keys to making sustainable choices and decisions.
We combine research and development activities that promote sustainable change in cities and urban areas. We seek to introduce new environmental dimensions to urban research and to strengthen international co-operation in the field.
Our areas of expertise:
Sustainability challenges & possibilities
- Land use
- Water use
- Urban nature and wellbeing
- Material, energy, and emission flows
- Mobility and transport
Policy & planning
- Regional and urban planning
- Maritime spatial planning
- Energy efficiency
- Resource efficiency
- Infrastructure choices
City as a sustainability arena
- Novel production and consumption models
- Experiments and scalability
- Participatory democracy, citizenship & inclusion
- Citizen science