Environmental information used in urban planning and municipal decision-making supports municipal vibrancy

Municipalities make decisions on many aspects close to residents' daily lives, such as recreational green spaces and the preparation for and management of urban flooding. In the regional and municipal elections of spring 2025, we are choosing the decision-makers to steer the future of Finland's regions and municipalities. 

"Municipalities have the means to provide a living environment for their current and future residents. Sustainable solutions combine economic balance with the mitigation of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. This requires environmental information. Its systematic utilisation in urban planning and decision-making supports the vibrancy of municipalities and the well-being of residents," says Eeva Primmer, Research director at the Finnish Environment Institute. 

Sustainable and vibrant municipalities build on environmental information 

Changes in the state of the environment, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and the depletion of natural resources, concretely affect municipalities alongside population ageing and AI-driven digitalisation. Municipal decisions on land use, transport, and services have long-term impacts on the use of natural resources, emissions, and biodiversity. 

Consistent utilisation of environmental information in planning and decision-making supports the construction of vibrant and sustainable municipalities. 

"A democracy that respects information, good governance, and active resident participation can bring about sustainability transformation in a way that also allows the municipal economy to thrive today and tomorrow," says Jari Lyytimäki, Principal researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute. 

Read about the benefits of environmental information in municipal decision-making: 

• Sustainable and vibrant municipalities build on environmental information (Issuu.com) 

Cities can be densified nature-smartly 

Urban densification has been considered a solution that both benefits the economy and curbs climate emissions from transport. However, densification should not lead to a decline in biodiversity nor in the well-being of residents. 

Nature-smart densification involves preserving the natural environments within a municipality and systematically directing new construction to already used areas. Active land policy and careful master planning support the goal of nature-smart densification. 

Preserving local green areas offers diverse benefits, from combating biodiversity loss to carbon sequestration and managing urban flooding. Studies also show significant positive effects on people's well-being and health from diverse nature close to home. 

"In growth centres like the Helsinki metropolitan area and Tampere, local greenery has significantly decreased since the 2000s. Densification should not lead to a decline in biodiversity or residents' well-being. Particularly beneficial for well-being is wild and diverse nature near home," notes Riku Lumiaro, Senior Specialist at the Finnish Environment Institute. 

Read how cities can be densified so that both residents and local nature thrive: 

• Cities can be densified nature-smartly (Issuu.com) 

Inquiries 

• Principal researcher Jari Lyytimäki, Finnish Environment Institute, firstname.lastname@syke.fi, tel. +358 29 525 1397 

• Senior specialist Riku Lumiaro, Finnish Environment Institute, firstname.lastname@syke.fi, tel. +358 29 525 1394 

• Research director Eeva Primmer, Finnish Environment Institute, firstname.lastname@syke.fi, tel. +358 29 525 1521 

• Communication specialist Hanna Talikka, Finnish Environment Institute, firstname.lastname@syke.fi, tel. +358 29 525 1104

• Communicaton specialist Saara Sivonen, Finnish Environment Institute, firstname.lastname@syke.fi, tel. +35829 525 1082