Library and Cultural Services in Municipal Sustainability Plans – Case Helsinki-Uusimaa
The library and cultural services of the municipalities in Uusimaa promote the circular economy and sustainable lifestyles, disseminate information, and educate people about the environment—all through culture.
Municipal sustainability plans, such as climate plans and biodiversity programs, are plans that have been approved by political decision-makers and are binding on municipal activities. Climate plans typically examine the largest sources of emissions in municipalities and set a climate target for the municipality or refer to a target set in the municipal strategy. In addition, the plans present climate action themes and measures. Separate biodiversity programs are still less common than climate plans, even though municipalities have been promoting biodiversity for a long time.
Municipal library and cultural services typically appear in sustainability plans as implementers or co-implementers of measures, as well as members of working groups. Below are examples of sustainability plans for cities and municipalities in the Uusimaa region compiled in spring 2025.
Examples from Helsinki-Uusimaa Region
Municipality of Askola
- The emission reduction measures in the municipality of Askola’s climate plan, Climate Plan 2025–2029, are divided according to the areas of responsibility of the municipal organization.
- Culture and library services have been assigned tasks related to climate-friendly events, nature gardens, and the presentation of environmental literature, for example.
City of Espoo
- The Carbon-neutral Espoo and Nature-wise Espoo roadmaps assign measures to cultural services in climate cooperation and communication, particularly in relation to events and partnerships.
- Espoo libraries are partners in Nature-wise Espoo communications and events.
City of Hyvinkää
- In Hyvinkää’s Environmental Programme 2023–2027, cultural and leisure services are tasked with promoting environmental awareness and strengthening sustainable development networks across the education and culture sector.
- Goals include integrating ecological sustainability into event planning.
City of Järvenpää
- Resource-wise Järvenpää Roadmap assigns cultural and event services the task of promoting resource-wise events, while library services focus on digital services and materials.
- The potential of cultural services to promote sustainable lifestyles is recognised.
Municipality of Lapinjärvi
- In Lapinjärvi’s Climate Plan, the Director of Library and Cultural Services is appointed to the Climate Working Group, which coordinates and organises the municipality’s climate efforts.
City of Lohja
- One of the themes of the City of Lohja’s Hinku (Carbon neutrality program) 2.0 action program is sustainable lifestyles and, in connection with this, the promotion of community spirit and environmental education.
- Libraries are encouraged to participate in Hinku activities, with ideas such as themed weeks and sharing information about the climate impact of everyday choices.
Municipality of Nurmijärvi
- Nurmijärvi’s Climate Action Plan assigns libraries a role in environmental education, including organising climate-themed days, events, and discussions.
- In addition, library and cultural services are involved in joint activities across all sectors related to eco-support and the recycling and sale of municipal property.
City of Porvoo
- Porvoo’s Climate and Environmental Programme 2024–2027 includes actions for cultural and library services, music schools, tourism, and events.
- These focus on making events and tourism more climate-friendly and supporting local businesses and residents in the green transition.
City of Raasepori
- In the Raasepori Energy and Climate Programme, cultural services are involved in developing the sharing economy.
- The sharing economy is promoted through cooperation between the Education and Culture Department, Cultural Services, and Urban Development in libraries, events, cultural productions, and in collaboration with residents and communities.
City of Vantaa
- The Resource-wise Vantaa Roadmap assigns cultural services roles in three key areas: reducing the need for travel, supporting the sharing economy, and promoting sustainable lifestyles and environmental responsibility among residents.
- The Vantaa Environmental Watch (Ympäristövahti) environmental management service and follow-up tool includes a wide range of cultural service actions and tracks their implementation.
What kind of climate work is done in other municipalities in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region?
