Urban Environmental Policy /

Research

The research done within the UEP group covers a variety of topics. Here you read more about our current research interests. We mainly concentrate on urban topics. The scale of our research varies from very local case studies to global scale statistical analysis.

Urban centres, emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases, play a significant role in global efforts to mitigate climate change. In addition, cities and their populations are vulnerable to different impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise, floods or heat waves, and need to have robust strategies for adapting to climate change. Cities are intricately linked with the surrounding countryside and, through globalisation, with other countries and regions. For instance, food and energy consumed within the cities are sourced and produced outside the city boundaries, and potential impacts of climate change on the supply of these commodities need to be identified and assessed.

Urban climate change policy
Water governance

Urban climate change policy

Green walls are one way to reduce urban heat and create more carbon sinks in the cities.

We look at the challenges of climate change in urban areas and different ways to adapt to them. We focus on current and future impacts taking into account the dynamics and interrelations between the socio-economic and biophysical drivers. Furthermore, we look at the development of climate policy facilitated by learning through climate networks, as well as the development of climate policy instruments that involve private sector and citizens. We use quantitative, qualitative and integrated/mixed methods, including stakeholder participation, content analysis, interview studies, social network analysis, statistical analysis, Delphi surveys, participatory mapping (semiqualitative/integration of qualitative and quantitative).   

Latest research projects deal with e.g. future climate risks in Helsinki, promoting climate actions through C40 in a large sample of cities, tracking/monitoring of adaptation progress in cities (statistical analysis of database over 400 cities, nested case study research in a large data set)

Our research promotes adaptation to climate change in the Finnish agricultural sector, as well as assesses cross-border risks from climate change to the energy supply chains of the Nordic countries. Hence, our research contributes to building climate resilient future.

Water governance

As many cities are built by a river, they often play important part in urban climate change adaptation.

Climate change and other environmental changes often manifest themselves through water, for instance in relation to changes in floods, droughts and water quality. To tackle water-related changes, risks and vulnerabilities, sustainable management of water resources is needed. We have analysed water governance and water-related changes especially in River Vantaa which is located in Helsinki metropolitan area but also in other areas across the globe. We are interested in the social impacts of flooding and water quality and how communities and societies are dealing with water-related changes. We have arranged participatory workshops and used analysed historical datasets and policy documents.