Emissions from transportation in Riihimäki are the fourth lowest among comparison municipalities

Riihimäki has participated in a project in which Sitowise Oy calculated the greenhouse gas emissions, or carbon footprint, of city residents' consumption for the year 2024. The carbon footprint of consumption consists of energy consumption, transportation, construction, food, and the purchase of goods and services.

Construction emissions in Riihimäki are also low

A total of 22 municipalities participated in the project. The results of the calculation showed that Riihimäki has the fourth lowest emissions from transportation and construction among the municipalities participating in the calculation. Transportation emissions varied between 1,2 and 2,1 tons of carbon dioxide per inhabitant in the municipalities participating in the project. The average value was 1,5 tons. Transportation emissions from Riihimäki residents were 1,3 tons.

Construction emissions varied between 22 and 0,1 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the 2,0 municipalities participating in the project. The average value was 0,6 tonnes. In Riihimäki, construction emissions were 0,3 tonnes.

The greatest variation between municipalities was in emissions from construction, energy consumption, and goods and services. Goods and services accounted for 31 percent of total emissions from Riihimäki residents' consumption, 27 percent from food, 22 percent from energy consumption, 16 percent from transportation, and 4 percent from construction.

The calculation takes into account emissions from consumption generated both within the municipality and outside the municipality, as well as emissions generated globally.

The circular economy is the answer to curbing emissions

Everyday choices are important in terms of mitigating climate change. For example, doubling the lifespan of an individual garment or home textile reduces the resulting greenhouse gas emissions by half. As more and more people make more sustainable choices in their everyday lives, the combined effect is significant.

“A circular economy would be an easy and clear answer to curbing emissions from consumption,” says Riihimäki environmental expert Jenni Takala.

“Extending the life of goods by maintaining and repairing them, and borrowing them instead of owning them, would bring us both lower greenhouse gas emissions and, in many cases, cost savings. For example, in Riihimäki, the library's lending library and the products from the recycling center are a great opportunity to save money and natural resources.”

Carbon footprint should be reduced by a third by 2030

The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to 1,5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. To achieve this goal, per capita emissions should be 2,5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 and fall even lower, to 0,7 tonnes by 2050. The emissions of the municipalities participating in the Kulma project ranged from 7,1 tonnes to 9,9 tonnes in 2024. In Riihimäki, the figure was 7,89 tonnes. There is still some way to go before sustainable levels are reached.

Municipalities have significant influence on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from consumption. Municipalities can support their residents in making climate-sustainable choices, for example by investing in public transport and dining, offering low-emission district heating, and communicating on the topic.

A previous calculation carried out by the Finnish Environment Institute last year provided information on greenhouse gas emissions from consumption for the years 2015 and 2019. This time, the project carried out by Sitowise and the Natural Resources Institute Finland calculated emissions caused by consumption for the year 2024 using more detailed data.

Sitowise press release (May 2025): Municipal consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions calculated for the third time

Read our previous news (January 2025): Consumption-based emissions from the city of Riihimäki and households lower than average – consumption still too high

Read more about private sector consumption emissions and the development of consumption emissions calculations From the Sitowise website.