Completed in March 2023, the BAU (business-as-usual) scenario of Helsinki's emissions was prepared by WSP’s experts, together with the city’s climate unit. The report provides the city with an overview of the emissions generated in the city area and around it as a result of the city's operations. The scenario was prepared using the business-as-usual model, i.e., it provides an overall estimate of the amount of emissions where only predetermined measures and the current legislation are taken into account.
The survey enables a region-based comparison
Cities and municipalities have different models of climate assessment, thus requiring different calculation methods to perform the work. The BAU scenario of emissions supports the vision initiated by the city of Helsinki in achieving carbon neutrality. It helps to create a better understanding of the different sources of emissions – both current and future.
WSP’s calculation model is an open and comparison-based methodology that allows the examination of the city's emissions. In addition to the Scope 1 and 2 emissions categories, it enables for the first time an area-based comparison of Scope 3 emissions, both in the current situation and in terms of estimates based on BAU development in the cross-sectional years 2030, 2040 and 2050. The calculation model takes into account international standards and is tailored to the needs of a large city. Before creating the method, we made a separate report on traffic emissions in Helsinki and assessed the adequacy of emission reduction measures in relation to the set goals.
The results of the report are indicative for all emissions categories and show the scale between different emissions categories more than absolute emissions. The method still has room for development, and has been made open so that the initial data can be confirmed and, if necessary, corrected.
