The built environment is a major contributor to global emissions, accounting for significant portions of those from construction, heating, and resource use. Rapid urbanization exacerbates this challenge across the planet, and particularly in fast-developing emerging economies undergoing transformative growth. Africa, for instance, home to 18% of the global population, is expected to triple its urban population by 2050. Without new approaches, this growth risks replicating unsustainable patterns seen elsewhere, leading to catastrophic consequences for the planet.
The seminar aims to provide a platform for inspiration, networking and mutual learning to reverse and modify this development. The goal is to identify innovative ways to approach upcoming urbanization challenges by turning them to opportunities to foster climate and society sensitive urbanization pathways.
Programme |
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| 13:00 | Welcome and introduction Chair: Olli Varis, professor, Aalto University, Finnish IIASA Committee |
| Welcome address Floora Ruokonen, executive director, Research Council of Finland |
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| Setting the scene John Schellnhuber, director general, IIASA |
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| 13:30 | Issues: Urbanizing planet towards 2075 |
| Changing environment and climate' Timothy Carter, Finnish Environment Institute |
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| Demographic and societal projections Roman Hoffmann, research group leader, IIASA POPJUS |
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| Environmental consequences of urban growth Adriana Gomez, senior research scholar, IIASA ECE |
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| Discussion | |
| 14:30 | Coffee Break |
| 15:00 | Solutions: Sustainability transformation for what? |
| What needs to be done differently? Matti Kuittinen, professor, Aalto University |
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| What policy opportunities emerge? Teppo Lehtinen, director general, Ministry of the Environment |
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| What innovation and business opportunities emerge? Piia Pessala, executive director, Sweco Finland Oy |
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| How can our generation do better? Joaquín de la Barra, doctoral candidate, Aalto University, IIASA YSSP 2025 |
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| Discussion | |
| 16:15 | Closing of the seminar John Schellnhuber and Olli Varis |
| 16:30- 18:00 |
Networking with refreshments |
Suomen Akatemia on tieteen ja tutkimuksen asiantuntijaorganisaatio, joka rahoittaa korkealaatuista tieteellistä tutkimusta, toimii tieteen ja tiedepolitiikan asiantuntijana sekä vahvistaa tieteen ja tutkimustyön asemaa. Akatemia toimii opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriön hallinnonalalla.
The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) is an international research institute that advances systems analysis and applies its research methods to identify policy solutions to reduce human footprints, enhance the resilience of natural and socioeconomic systems, and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Aalto-yliopistossa tiede ja taide kohtaavat tekniikan ja talouden. Rakennamme kestävää tulevaisuutta saavuttamalla läpimurtoja avainalueillamme ja niiden yhtymäkohdissa. Samalla innostamme tulevaisuuden muutoksentekijöitä ja luomme ratkaisuja maailman suuriin haasteisiin.
Marsio events are tailored for simultaneous on-site and online participation. The venue has robotic cameras that cover the whole event area. Please note that the audience might appear in the live stream and recordings.
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Haku syksyn 2026 näyttelyyn on nyt auki! Etsimme mukaan tutkijoidemme ja opiskelijoidemme inspiroivia kokeiluja, prototyyppejä, keksintöjä ja tapahtumia.
