Driving Decarbonization:
Accelerating Co-Learning
WALCC workshop
Old Student House (Vanha), Helsinki
November 22nd, 2022 (9:00-17:00)
Driving Decarbonization: Accelerating co-learning
November 22nd, 2022 – Old Student House (Vanha) Helsinki
In May 2022, the World Alliance for Low Carbon Cities brought together a diverse group of speakers and experts to celebrate its 10th Anniversary with a Forum filled with insightful discussions on how to integrate decarbonization and resilience.
The discussions during the WALCC Forum paved the way for a more in-depth dialogue around the concrete projects which have been carried out in the spring and summer. Building on the strong support expressed by attendees for intensifying the efforts by the WALCC to drive these discussions, we now welcome you to join us in November for the next joint event.
The need for co-learning is ever more relevant now, even more so than we could have foreseen when settling on this theme in May. The “Driving Decarbonization: Accelerating Co-Learning” workshop will create opportunities for the exchange of opinions through concrete efforts mobilized by WALCC members and partner organizations.
See our latest newsletter for an introduction to the event.
Agenda
09:00-09:30 | Welcome and Introduction Jyrki Alkio, Chief Specialist at Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland Mikko Kosonen, Chair, Aalto University |
09:30-10:30 | What means do we have to change urban mobility? Case Lahti – 15min. introduction by Elina Ojala, Environmental Director, City of Lahti Mikko Veikkolainen, CTO, Kempower 45min. small-group discussions |
10:30-11:00 | Coffee break |
11:00-12:00 | How can cities orchestrate their own ecosystems? Case Vaasa – 15min. introduction by Tomas Häyry, Mayor, City of Vaasa Petri Helo, Professor, University of Vaasa, Chair of the board, Wapice 45min. small-group discussions |
12:00-13:00 | Lunch |
13:00-13:30 | Why is public-private collaboration now more important than ever? Panel discussion with WALCC Board members & discussion with the audience Chair Pasi Mikkonen, Vice President, Investments, Fortum Vice-Chair Peter Lindgren, Vice President, Drives, ABB Toni Tuomola, District Manager, Skanska Finland Elina Ojala, Environmental Director, City of Lahti Pekka Sundman, Director of Regional Cooperation, City of Turku |
13:30-14:30 | Collaboration in urban planning Case Tampere – 15min. introduction by Markus Laine, Senior lecturer, TUNI Toni Tuomola, District Manager, Skanska Finland 45min. small-group discussions |
14:30-15:30 | What does the changing energy landscape mean for cities? Case Espoo – 15min. introduction by Elina Wanne, Development Manager sustainable development – energy, the City of Espoo Mikko Blomqvist, Development Manager, Fortum 45min. small-group discussions |
15:30-16:00 | Coffee break |
16:00-16:30 | Transcending public-private collaboration aiming for Viability Advantage Mikko Kosonen, Chair, Aalto Yliopisto |
16:30-17:00 | What next? Concluding discussion on accelerating co-learning in decarbonization Johan Wallin, Honorary Chair, WALCC Markku Markkula, Chair of the Board, Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council |
Confirmed Speakers

Mikko Kosonen
Chairman of the Board, Aalto University
Mikko Kosonen has been elected to the board of Aalto University in 2015, Mikko Kosonen has served as President of Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, from 2008 to 2019. Before that, he served in different positions at Nokia, for example as senior vice president of strategy and as a senior advisor. He received his doctoral degree from the Helsinki School of Economics and has written several books on strategy.

Elina Ojala
Environmental Director, City of Lahti
Elina Ojala is the Environmental director of the city of Lahti, the European Green Capital 2021. In Lahti has also an ambitious climate-neutrality target for year 2025, which is 10 years ahead of Finland’s national target. Elina’s team is coordinating the measures to meet the climate-neutrality target and the team is also in charge of the city’s environmental policy as a whole. Elina holds a degree of Master of Science (Tech.) in environmental engineering and has specialized in water resources management.

Kari Lahti
General Manager, Fortum eNext
Kari Lahti has over 30 years of experience in the energy sector, from optimizing power plant operations and providing solutions for emission reduction, to developing solutions for decarbonizing energy systems. He holds a M.Sc. Degree in Power Plant Engineering.

Toni Tuomola
District Manager, Skanska Finland
As the District Manager Toni Tuomola is responsible for residential and urban area development for Tampere and Jyväskylä. He supervised the design and construction of projects in Härmälänranta, Luminary and Ranta-Tampella, driving future-proof, sustainable development for highly livable urban environments. Skanska is a value driven company and supports health, well-being and promotes green solutions and runs operations in a green way. Tuomola has led several sustainable studies and projects.

Pasi Mikkonen
Vice President, Investments, Fortum
Alongside his role as Vice President of Investments at Fortum, Mikkonen has served as the Chairman of the Alliance’s Board since 2019.

Peter Lindgren
Vice President, System Drives, ABB
Vice President in the System Drives division at ABB, Lindgren also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Alliance’s Board, a position to which he was appointed in 2020.