Sustainable everyday life

We in Ii, a city of 10,000 residents, are committed to reducing carbon emissions, recycling and avoiding waste, and using shared resources within the Earth's carrying capacity. In addition to financial savings, energy and climate work diversify the regional economy and promote the well-being of residents and visitors.

More detailed information on the carbon footprint of municipal consumption than before - In Ii, private and public consumption of goods and services is the lowest among the comparison municipalities.

The municipality of Ii has participated in the third time in determining the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the consumption of its residents, i.e. the carbon footprint. The carbon footprint of consumption has been calculated using the Kulma model (in collaboration with Sitowise Oy and the Natural Resources Institute of Finland). The carbon footprint of consumption consists of energy consumption, construction, transportation, food and the purchase of goods and services.

Carbon footprint of Ii consumption, results 15.5.2025

What does sustainable everyday life mean to you?

Since 2012, Ii has been searching for solutions to stop climate change together with local residents, businesses and associations. Watch the video to see our steps towards a low-carbon community.

Awards

2019: Winner of the Innovation in Politics Awards 2019
2017: EU Regio Stars Awards 2017 – Europe's best in the Climate Actions category – involving citizens in climate work
2017: Youth Agenda 2030 awards the municipality of Ii with a special award for sustainable development
2016: Ii was selected as one of the 25 best Nordic bioeconomy examples by the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Bioeconomy Panel.
2014: Nominee for the Nordic Council Nature and Environment Prize
2013: Finnish Environment Institute HinkuTeko for its exemplary activity in promoting renewable energy and reducing emissions.

Energy efficiency contracts

Ii municipality is one of the Finnish Environment Institute's Towards a carbon-neutral municipality (ITCH) - network members and committed to savings in accordance with the Energy Efficiency Agreement 2017-2025. Ii was elected as a member in February 2016 FISU (Finnish Sustainable Communities) a network whose members strive for carbon neutrality, zero waste and globally sustainable consumption by 2050.

In November 2017, Ii was selected to join Cirwaste - Towards a circular economy network, which aims to recycle at least 55 percent of municipal waste, utilize at least 70 percent of construction and demolition waste as material, and reduce waste to the level of 2000.

The municipality of Ii is committed public sector energy efficiency agreement for the period 2026-2035.
In the previous agreement period (2017-2025), the municipality of Ii increased its energy use by 3,037 MWh/year, which corresponded to achieving 128% of the set target (2,373 MWh/year). The target for 2035 is 10% (2,339 MWh).