The Vaasa Climate Commitment Carbon Neutrality Ecosystem project (2025-2026) aims to involve businesses and educational institutions in the region in achieving the carbon neutrality target and to create an ecosystem between the city, educational institutions and businesses to promote the measures required by the carbon neutrality target. This project will create an ecosystem that will allow a more systematic cooperation utilising the higher education RDI skills and the young talents for the developmental needs of both the city and businesses in the region. Vaasa has a strong culture of cooperation, that will be highlighted and harnessed to promote carbon neutrality through project measures. An important overarching theme of the project is to show that we are an internationally relevant energy technology development region, and carbon neutral. The project receives funding from the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, Sustainable urban development ecosystem agreement (ERDF) and it is coordinated by the City of Vaasa in cooperation with its project partners: Vaasa Region Development Company (VASEK), Vaasa University of Applied Sciences (VAMK) and University of Vaasa.
Energy Technology students networking with Circular Economy developing organisations
The Vaasa Climate Commitment project launch started before noon at Vaasa City Hall during the Circular Economy Seminar on Tuesday March 18th hosted by the City of Vaasa and VASEK. The project launch continued during that afternoon with a Circular Economy theme session From Trash to Treasure hosted by VASEK. The purpose of the afternoon event was to engage companies in the circular economy by identifying their contributions to sustainability. The event aimed to highlight how businesses are integrating sustainable practices into their operations, including the use of recyclable materials and waste reduction strategies.
Seven Energy Technology students from VAMK volunteered to work as an event team to promote the Vaasa Climate Commitment and to interview the participating companies to gather insights on their sustainability efforts, recyclable materials. In addition to these nine companies, students also interacted with other companies that attended the event, encouraging them to register for the project and actively participate in circular economic initiatives.
The event successfully engaged local companies in discussions about circular economic practices and material sustainability. The companies shared valuable insights into their recyclability efforts, and many expressed interests in further participation in the Vaasa Climate Commitment project. The event highlighted the importance of collaboration in achieving carbon neutrality goals. Additionally, several other companies who visited the event showed interest in learning more about sustainable practices and were encouraged to join the Vaasa Climate Commitment initiative by scanning the QR code. Vaasa Climate Commitment project continues to activate and involve also VAMK’s students for the carbon neutrality efforts in ecosystem collaboration with companies.
