In this online course, we have explored the climate impacts of parish and shared services operations, as well as various ways of reducing emissions. Our shared roadmap describes concrete measures and goals to which the entire Parish Union is committed to. Everyone can be a part of this change, and all of us are needed to make it happen.
Climate and carbon neutrality work does not rely on a single person or a single solution – we need everyone involved, and all possible actions must be taken.
Here’s how to get involved:
- Join the Environment-themed Teams group open to the entire staff!
- Environmental work in Helsinki’s parishes and shared services (Sinfo)
- Information on environmental issues on external pages (in Finnish)
What have we already achieved?
Year 2025 was an important step forward on the path to carbon neutrality. We have already achieved a lot:
- The objectives of the environmental programme have progressed well.
- The carbon neutrality roadmap (in Finnish) has been completed and the training project has been launched.
- A new environmental working group has been established, and communication has been improved.
- Concrete actions:
- Procurement study for a low-carbon crematorium (in Finnish) was completed (summary report in English)
- Improvements in waste management
- Energy saving measures and geothermal heating projects
- Employee bicycle benefits and support for public transport
- Carbon footprint calculations have been tested out in projects, and sustainability reporting has been expanded (in Finnish).
These achievements demonstrate that the roadmap is not just a piece of paper – it is already being put into practice.
The work does not end here
The year 2030 is an important milestone, but not the end point. There is still much work to be done, and every step brings us closer to a carbon-neutral future.
What is next?
- We will continue implementing the roadmap and seeking new solutions.
- We will strengthen collaboration and share expertise.
- We will monitor progress and ensure that climate work is visible in everyday work.
Your role is central. Every small action, every idea, and every decision takes us forward. The question is: what can you do next?
If you need reading tips and experiences from a colleague to boost your own thinking, listen to Heidi Granström’s reflections on the importance of climate issues in her own work. The video is 4:41 minutes long.
Points to reflect on at the end of the course
You can decide how to complete the final task of the course: share something new you have learned about carbon neutrality or the actions of the roadmap with a colleague, a parishioner, a client, or even your supervisor. Together, discuss how this could be put into practice in your own work and what new opportunities it could bring. You can start the reflection with the following two questions – there are no single correct answers:
- Which of the carbon neutrality themes are the most interesting or relevant to your work?
- What measures would you like to be involved in?