City of Joensuu
About
The City of Joensuu is the dynamic capital of North Karelia in Eastern Finland, located near the EU’s eastern border. With a population of approximately 78,000, Joensuu is a forward-looking university city known for its innovation and ambitious climate goals.
Joensuu is a proud member of the HINKU network (Towards Carbon Neutral Municipalities), which brings together municipalities committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2030 compared to 2007 levels. Joensuu has gone even further by setting its own target: to become carbon neutral by 2025—one of the most ambitious climate goals among Finnish cities.As of 2023, Joensuu had already achieved a 53% reduction in emissions, demonstrating strong progress toward its target.
Joensuu’s economy is driven by several strategic sectors, with strong expertise in forest bioeconomy, photonics, events, and sports.
15-minute City
Circular Urban Economies
Positive Energy Districts