Accountability
We want to be a sustainable city for current and future generations.
A Responsible Kauhava: Building for a Sustainable Future
Kauhava is strongly committed to sustainable development, which guides all the city’s operations and decision-making. Responsibility is a core value for us, extending from the environment to people and future generations. We’re doing long-term, systematic work to ensure Kauhava is a great place to live now and in the future.
Kauhava’s Sustainable Development Program 2025–2030
Kauhava’s Sustainable Development Program for 2025–2030 is a strategic guideline based on common climate goals and the municipal energy efficiency agreement. The program emphasizes responsibility towards the community, individuals, the environment, and the future.
Key priorities:
- Environmental Responsibility: We champion ecological sustainability by weaving environmental considerations into all our decisions and actions. This includes preparing for and adapting to climate change, especially in urban planning and land use. We’re also committed to boosting environmental knowledge among residents, businesses, and staff.
- Social Sustainability: Our goal is to ensure the conditions for well-being for future generations and to reduce inequality in well-being, health, and inclusion. The measures related to this are a key part of the city’s well-being report.
- Monitoring and Transparency: The implementation of the program’s measures will be actively monitored. Designated responsible parties will provide data to the Sustainable Coordination Group, which will then report it to elected officials and city management. Implementation will be reported as part of the annual report starting in 2025.
Sustainable Municipalities – Collaborating Towards a More Sustainable Future
Kauhava is part of the Sustainable Municipalities collaboration along with Alavus, Kuortane, Kurikka, and Lapua. This extensive cooperation is based on the municipalities’ joint climate strategy for 2030. The goal of this collaboration is to make sustainable development choices and actions routine and normal practice within municipal organizations.
Cornerstones of Cooperation:
- Joint Climate Strategy: Clear, shared goals guide the climate efforts of all participating municipalities.
- Shared Knowledge and Peer Learning: Information exchange and sharing experiences between municipalities promote the spread of best practices and the discovery of common solutions.
- Strong Governance Model: Climate work is guided by municipal and inter-municipal working groups, as well as a climate forum for municipal leaders, ensuring consistent and effective operations.
Municipalities and Climate Actions: Concrete Actions in Everyday Life
The Sustainable Development Program transforms into concrete actions at an everyday level. Our climate work is long-term and continuous, aiming for lasting changes.
Our key climate action measures:
- Energy Efficiency and Consumption Reduction: We’re cutting down on energy and water consumption through energy-efficient investments and by streamlining operations with training and campaigns. We’re committed to the energy efficiency agreement for 2017–2025, aiming to reduce energy consumption by up to 10.5% from 2015 levels.
- Enhanced Waste Management: We’re focusing on efficient waste management and improving sorting opportunities across all municipal operations. Reducing food waste is also a key part of our efforts.
- Reduced Emission: We’ve already taken steps that have decreased emissions from, for example, transportation due to increased efficiency.
- Adapting to Climate Change: We utilize information exchange from existing flood protection working groups and environmental protection authorities. The climate-resilient city planning guide helps us assess and plan adaptation measures, such as the natural management of storm water.
Organization of Climate Work:
- Internal Municipal Coordination Groups: These cross-administrative groups embed climate work into the municipal structures and address issues related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. They have also drafted the municipalities’ sustainable development programs.
- Municipal Directors’ Climate Forum: This forum monitors and guides the implementation of the municipalities’ joint climate strategy and the municipality-specific sustainable development programs. It promotes the integration of climate goals into the municipal budget and monitoring processes.
- Inter-municipal Working Groups: Permanent technical groups and temporary smaller groups share successes and seek solutions collaboratively, promoting continuous learning and development.
Kauhava is committed to building a sustainable future through concrete actions and close cooperation.