The public park party in the Töölönlahti Park and on the Kansalaistori Square mark the opening of Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 8 July. The summer day’s programme is abundant and its main theme is sustainability. The opening event is also the kick-off for the Töölö Bay activity event, where the participants walk, jog or run together around the world in 180 days for the Baltic Sea.

With more than 75% of Europeans living in urban areas, ‘urbanisation’ is no longer a trend, it is a fact of how we organise our society. Cities are the place where the fight against climate change becomes real, where technological innovation can help boost the digital transformation, and where we can build equal and inclusive societies that leave no one behind. 

The cities and universities can be the best and the most productive partners when science and practice meet in the everyday urban planning, development and testing processes. The cities and universities can also sometimes be working in parallel worlds if there is not enough interaction and sharing of knowledge.  In the Helsinki Capital Region, the cities and universities have for over 20 years now very actively worked towards better collaboration structures in urban research and development.

By signing the Paris agreement nations around the world agreed, that in order to maintain a livable planet for future generations, we need jointly agreed, clear climate targets. The shared goal is not to exceed 1,5 degrees warming. Should temperatures rise above that, our entire human civilisation is at risk.

As the main stage for Finland’s EU Presidency period from July to December 2019, Helsinki shall be hosting around 20 000 EU delegates. Welcome to the most functional metropolis in the world, where it is easy to move around and sense good daily life!

Cities have always been at the forefront of problem solving and carried forward revolutionary innovations. Cities have always been and continue to be centres of education and civilization. In history, cities have been states, cities have declined, yet today we are in an era of cities being the power centres and, what I believe, drivers of change. As cities continue to grow and will soon be home to nearly 70% of the world’s population, the 21st Century will serve as 3rd coming of the cities.

The Helsinki Impact Conference celebrates the Finnish EU Presidency and the city driven future of the European community. The Conference calls for the empowerment of European cities as global impact makers in creating better urban futures for us all. Cities are the glue that holds the European Union together.