The Research Council of Finland is an expert organisation in science and research. We fund high-quality scientific research, provide expertise in science and science policy and strengthen the position of science and research. We are a government agency within the administrative branch of the Finnish Ministry of Education, Science and Culture.
Built Environments for a Cooler Planet: Sustainable Urbanization Pathways for the World of 2075
The event brings together academics, university students, government officials, and business representatives from Finland and abroad to identify innovative solutions, competence needs and opportunities for climate-sensitive urban growth. Speakers include representatives from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), a globally leading independent research institute that conducts policy-oriented research on global challenges.
The built environment is a major contributor to global emissions, accounting for significant portions of those from construction, heating, and resource use. Rapid urbanization exacerbates this challenge across the planet, and particularly in fast-developing emerging economies undergoing transformative growth. Africa, for instance, home to 18% of the global population, is expected to triple its urban population by 2050. Without new approaches, this growth risks replicating unsustainable patterns seen elsewhere, leading to catastrophic consequences for the planet.
The seminar aims to provide a platform for inspiration, networking and mutual learning to reverse and modify this development. The goal is to identify innovative ways to approach upcoming urbanization challenges by turning them to opportunities to foster climate and society sensitive urbanization pathways.
Programme |
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| 13:00 | Welcome and introduction Chair: Olli Varis, professor, Aalto University, Finnish IIASA Committee |
| Welcome address Paula Eerola, president, Research Council of Finland |
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| Setting the scene John Schellnhuber, director general, IIASA |
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| 13:30 | Issues: Urbanizing planet towards 2075 |
| Changing environment and climate Markku Kulmala, professor, University of Helsinki |
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| Demographic and societal projections Roman Hoffman, research group leader, IIASA POPJUS |
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| Environmental consequences of urban growth Adriana Gomez, senior research scholar, IIASA ECE |
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| Discussion | |
| 14:30 | Coffee Break |
| 15:00 | Solutions: Sustainability transformation for what? |
| What needs to be done differently? Matti Kuittinen, professor, Aalto University |
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| What policy opportunities emerge? Teppo Lehtinen, director general, Ministry of the Environment |
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| What innovation and business opportunities emerge? Piia Pessala, executive director, Sweco Finland Oy |
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| How can our generation do better? JoaquÃn de la Barra, doctoral candidate, Aalto University, IIASA YSSP 2025 |
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| Discussion | |
| 16:15 | Closing of the seminar John Schellnhuber and Olli Varis |
| 16:30- 18:00 |
Networking with refreshments |
Organisers
The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) is an international research institute that advances systems analysis and applies its research methods to identify policy solutions to reduce human footprints, enhance the resilience of natural and socioeconomic systems, and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Aalto University
Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges.
By merging three leading Finnish universities in 2010, Aalto was founded to work as a societally embedded research university. In a short space of time, we have since become a forerunner in our key areas. We are renowned for our sense of community and culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Marsio events are tailored for simultaneous on-site and online participation. The venue has robotic cameras that cover the whole event area. Please note that the audience might appear in the live stream and recordings.
Privacy notices
How to get to Marsio?
- Marsio is close to the the Aalto University metro station and tram 15 stop. The street address is Otakaari 2, 02150 Espoo, Finland
- Directions on | |
Designs for a Cooler Planet
Aalto University’s biggest annual exhibition presents cross-disciplinary experiments. Come explore students’ and researchers’ acts of change.