This week is Zero Emissions Day (September 21) again. This year, the day falls on a Sunday, which is why Zero Emissions Day celebrations will start on Thursday, September 18.
Zero Emissions Day originated in Nova Scotia, Canada and was brought to Finland by the Climate Leadership Coalition in 2017. The purpose of Zero Emissions Day is to give the Earth a day off from the use of fossil fuels. In Finland, we have wanted to highlight the opportunities citizens have to influence their own emissions.
Citizens' consumption habits have a major impact on emissions. This year, Earth Overshoot Day fell on July 24, and in Finland as early as April 6. This means that we would need the natural resources of nearly four Earths to cover our consumption each year.
So, everyday choices made by ordinary people hold the key to our efforts to reduce emissions and find more sustainable solutions. The IPCC Working Group III report “Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change” highlights that demand-side measures (changes in infrastructure use, adoption of end-use technologies, sociocultural and behavioural changes) and new ways of providing services can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions from consumption by 40-70% by 2050.
CLC member organizations offer clean solutions to citizens and businesses and promote emission reduction in many ways. These solutions also enable organizations to increase their own positive carbon handprint.
We compiled the introduction material for the European Climate Pact Community on the concept of Zero Emissions Day for the European Climate. The material includes a summary of campaigns and events organized by CLC member organizations in previous years for their staff, customers, and other stakeholders. You can download the material here and find inspiration for celebrating Zero Emissions Day.
Comprehensive Zero Emissions Day program at Otaniemi Upper Secondary School
Zero Emissions Day will be celebrated at Otaniemi Upper Secondary School on Thursday, September 18. The program at Otasali includes, among others, a presentation by Member of Parliament Saara Hyrkkö entitled "A carbon-neutral Finland is not a utopia—but it won't happen on its own," climate greetings from the UK by Phobe L. Hanson, and a presentation by Valtteri Murto, M.Sc. (Eng.), commercial pilot, and environmental specialist, entitled "Hope in the air – sustainable air transport as a challenge." All presentations will be recorded for the LUKEMA network's Lukema science channel on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVSG7WLQP-kFaK2Ff1LuELQ
Otaniemi Upper Secondary School’s Mummola space, a place for circular economy, handicrafts, and well-being, will celebrate its first anniversary. Representatives from the Martta Association will also be present, and the program will include sneaker cleaning, crocheting granny squares, and many other activities.
An Otakirppis flea market will be held in the lower lobby. Kino Tapiola will screen the documentary film “The Rainforest Story.”
Various workshops will be offered during class hours, covering topics such as green solutions for cities, mental health as a global phenomenon, and critical media literacy.
Recordings of previous Zero Emissions Days at Otaniemi Upper Secondary School can be found on the LUKEMA website https://ilmastokasvatus.fi/under the topic “Nollapäästöpäivä.”
For more information about Zero Emissions Day
