Tampere Integrates Climate Impact Data into Urban Planning - Pilot activity update from Tampere

As part of the Climate-4-CAST project, the City of Tampere has made significant steps in embedding climate considerations into its planning and decision-making processes. Over the course of the project, two pilot cases have been central to testing and developing new approaches for integrating climate impact data across city operations.

Pilot Case 1: Shadow Price of Carbon in Construction Projects

In the first pilot case, Tampere’s project team has collaborated with the Real Estate and Housing Policy Service Group to apply the shadow price of carbon analysis in the life cycle assessments (LCA) of construction projects. This approach was tested for two ongoing school and daycare construction projects, with results presented to both the executive leadership and the project’s steering group.

The pilot has successfully demonstrated how carbon pricing can be used as a decision-support tool, helping stakeholders better understand the climate costs of construction and how harmful effects of climate emission should be included in life cycle costing. Based on positive feedback, the city has committed to continuing this pilot practice in future project evaluations. Furthermore, the shadow price of carbon is being considered for integration into Tampere’s Climate Action Decision Support Tool, enhancing its role in long-term planning.

Pilot Case 2: Climate Impact Assessments in Investment Reports for New Housing Areas

The second pilot case focused on incorporating climate and environmental impact data into investment reports for new residential areas. Hervantajärvi district served as the primary case study. In collaboration with several city units Tampere has prepared comprehensive climate impact assessment for the district including impact assessments across areas such as site preparations, infrastructure and green areas, buildings, transportation, energy use, and carbon sinks. The assessment has been carried out with Planect tool – a specialized urban planning solution designed for evaluating the environmental effects of land-use plans.

In May the approach with impact assessments was reported for the pilot steering group, receiving a positive support for continuing the practice in future preparations of investment reports.

Embedding Climate Data in Governance

These pilot cases have laid groundwork for more climate-conscious urban planning in Tampere. With the practical approaches, the city has strengthened its capacity to evaluate and mitigate climate impacts in both strategic and operational planning and increased its leaderships understanding of the various climate impacts of city operations. Tampere’s experience offers thus practical insights to integrate climate data into their governance structures and planning frameworks.

Text: City of Tampere, Hanna Meriläinen & Emmi Nieminen

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