Students and all members of the university community are invited to take part in the development of climate and nature work
The roadmap for Carbon Neutral University of Helsinki 2030 will be updated to better address the challenges of global climate and nature crises. The update project has started and will continue until spring 2027. The whole university community – including students – is invited to participate in this development work. Join us in the discussion event "Exploring Sustainability" on 27 February 2026!
In the update of the Carbon Neutral University of Helsinki 2030 roadmap, the roadmap will be extended to cover not only climate but also nature impacts and the solutions the university brings to climate and nature crises, i.e. the handprint. The end result is potentially a Nature Positivity Roadmap.
In the project, an estimate of the university's nature footprint will be calculated. The final result of the calculations will be known by August 2026 at the latest.
Furthermore, the current carbon neutrality target - its ambition and feasibility - will be examined, and the question of what nature positivity means for the University of Helsinki will be considered. An updated roadmap and possibly new targets will be published in spring 2027.
"Updating the roadmap is a good opportunity for the University of Helsinki and the University Community to revisit the ambition of our climate and nature work. Climate change and nature loss are interlinked problems, and we can only create solutions to them by considering them both in a systemic manner. With this project we can determine the steps we need to take to achieve a nature positive university," says Karoliina Koistila, climate and nature specialist at the University.
Students and all members of the university community are invited to take part in the development of climate and nature work
The entire university community is invited to engage in the development of the roadmap. The first place to get involved is a virtual event on Friday 27 February 2026 at 12–13 in Zoom.
At the event we will discuss, among other things:
- The University's current carbon neutrality target, its strengths and weaknesses
- Climate and nature issues and actions that the community considers relevant to the University
- What makes the University of Helsinki a leader in sustainability
The event requires no prior knowledge of the topic and is open to the entire university community. Register here.
"I think it is important that as many people as possible at the University have a say in the University's sustainability work. Updating the Roadmap is an opportunity for the University of Helsinki to demonstrate its leadership in sustainability and responsibility. In order to define this leadership, we need different views and expertise from the community. The university community can also act as a catalyst for the ambition of sustainability goals," says Anne Portaankorva, Vice Rector responsible of Sustainability and Responsibility.
We are happy to discuss climate and nature-related issues with the university community, also at different stages of the project. For example, we would be happy to hear from you if you are conducting research on a topic that could be linked to the university's climate and nature work. You can contact Karoliina Koistila with a low threshold and express your interest in participating in the development work.
Join us in developing the university's climate and nature work together!
For more information on the sustainability work of the University of Helsinki, please visit Living within the planetary boundaries at the University website.
More information:
Karoliina Koistila
Climate and Nature Specialist
karoliina.koistila@helsinki.fi