The City of Helsinki signed the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism on 1 June 2022. Cities and tourism operators that sign the Glasgow Declaration commit themselves to immediately accelerating climate action in order to reduce global emissions from tourism by at least half in the next decade. The aim is to achieve net zero emissions from tourism as soon as possible before 2050. The declaration also supports the City of Helsinki’s own goal of being carbon-neutral by 2030.
Helsinki wants to be a pioneer and solution provider in sustainable tourism
In its new Helsinki Tourism and Events Programme, the City of Helsinki also defines as its strategic main objective that Helsinki wants to be an international pioneer and solution provider in sustainability, tourism and events, and to take into account environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality in all development activities related to tourism and events. Helsinki aims to make sustainable choices and active efforts to reduce consumption and optimise operations into a part of the everyday life of the entire tourism industry.
In order to achieve this goal, it is important for Helsinki to commit to measures that ensure the development of low-carbon travel options and destinations. At the same time, Helsinki wants to work to ensure that tourism is also possible in the future, and to safeguard the business opportunities and jobs offered by the tourism industry.
“The City of Helsinki aims to be carbon neutral by 2030. The measures related to tourism are also aimed at achieving this ambitious goal of the city. We all need to commit to common goals in companies, tourist areas, nationally and internationally,” says NinaVesterinen, Tourism Director of Helsinki.
All signatories to the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism commit themselves to drawing up concrete climate action plans and setting an example for sustainable tourism. The declaration has already been signed by more than 500 actors from 79 countries.
Visit Finland and the City of Helsinki want to make Finland the first choice for climate-conscious tourists
Several cities and tourism operators signed the Glasgow Declaration in Finland at the same time. The joint signature session was organised by Visit Finland, which aims to make Finland a leading destination for sustainable tourism and to create added value for society and tourism operators by nurturing unique nature and culture. The shared goal of Visit Finland and the City of Helsinki is to make Finland the first choice for climate-conscious tourists.
For more information on the Glasgow Declaration and the Helsinki Tourism and Events Programme:
Glasgow Declaration, link
Helsinki Tourism and Events Programme, link