Tampere's aim is to be carbon neutral by 2030 and to protect biodiversity. More than 25% of the climate emissions generated by Tampere residents' consumption come from food.
– What we eat has an impact on nature and the climate in Finland and elsewhere in the world. We encourage Tampere residents to add more plant proteins and vegetables to their plates, says Tiina Leinonen, program manager for the Carbon Neutral Actions development program.
Information published by Sitra in the summer on how the average consumption of Finns affects nature also encourages people to eat a plant-based diet. More than 40% of Finns' biodiversity footprint is caused by food choices; red meat and dairy products alone account for 27%. The biodiversity footprint describes the damage caused to biodiversity.
The national nutritional recommendations also take into account the environmental impact of food choices. The recommendation is to eat at least 500–800 grams of vegetables, berries, and fruit per day. About half of this amount should be vegetables and root vegetables, with the rest being berries and fruit. Root vegetables, cabbage, onions, and wild berries grown in open fields are particularly recommended from a climate perspective. Instead of meat, they suggest eating legumes and legume products.
Potatoes are a good choice for both your health and the environment. They're a key source of many vitamins and minerals.
– You don't need pick sides here. You can start by eating vegetarian food once or twice a week. Schools in Tampere also offer two meal options every day, one of which is vegetarian. You can have both vegetarian and meat dishes on the same plate, says Tiina Leinonen.
Pirkanmaan Voimia, a subsidiary of the City of Tampere, serves 10 million meals a year in Tampere's daycare centers and educational institutions. Rice imported from abroad is increasingly being replaced by domestic potatoes and barley in Tampere's schools.
The "Vartissa vastuullista" (Responsible food in 15 Minutes) campaign challenges Tampere residents through joy and positivity to add more vegetables and plant-based proteins to their plates. What we eat has an impact on both biodiversity and the climate in Finland and elsewhere in the world. There's no need to pick sides here.
Cook vegetarian food yourself and share your experiences and recipes on social media using the hashtags #VartissaVastuullista, #ClimateNeutralTampere2030 and #Biodiversity.
Over the next couple of weeks, Tampere-based social media influencers will also be challenging their followers on Instagram to cook responsible vegetarian food and share tips with others.
