Zero Emissions Day (ZED) is an international concept that aims to give the planet a break from fossil fuel emissions and raise awareness about the damage caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Although Focused on a single day of action, ZED, celebrated globally on September 21, aims to spark long-term behavioral change. It encourages everyday people to make more sustainable choices that have an impact that extends far beyond that specific date.

This concept initiated by Ken Wallace in Nova Scotia, Canada in 2008 and brought to Finland in 2017 by the organization Climate Leadership Coalition (CLC). CLC, Europe’s largest non-profit climate business network, is made up of around 90 member companies, startups, universities, cities, foundations and organisations. CLC believes that a deep transition to a sustainable world is economically viable and financeable. With its network enabling multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration, it was intuitive for CLC to bring together different actors for the Zero Emissions Day.

The key to reducing emissions: Ordinary citizens

The everyday choices made by ordinary people are key to efforts to reduce emissions and find more sustainable solutions. According to the report IPCC Working Group III "Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change" Demand-side measures, which include socio-cultural and behavioral changes, can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions from consumption by 40 to 70 % by 2050.

The main sources of citizen-related emissions include:

1. Housing and energy consumption: it includes electricity, heating and cooling, as well as the construction and maintenance of homes.
2. Mobility: includes daily commuting, private vehicle use and air travel.
3. Food and drinks: Emissions come from agriculture, processing, packaging, transportation and waste, with the impact of meat and dairy products being particularly significant.
4. Other goods and services: including emissions from the production and transportation of clothing, furniture, electronics and entertainment.

Call for action in different sectors

There is no central authority on ZED; actors and their partners are determine the scope of their actions and how these actions relate to their context. Organizations and communities can define their goals and agree on impact criteria such as uniqueness, innovation, scale, and measurability.

Cities and towns They can support ZED by promoting public transport and offering free or discounted transport or bike/scooter rentals. They can also declare a car-free day, serve low-carbon meals in schools, or turn off non-essential lighting in public buildings.

Workplaces and companies are key partners. They can motivate employees to commute in low-emission ways, such as by bicycle or public transport, by providing free bicycle maintenance, or by organizing “Emission-Free Commuter of the Day” competitions. They can also serve low-carbon meals in cafeterias and reduce business air travel. Companies should also promote the low-emission solutions they offer to customers, thereby increasing their positive carbon footprint (carbon handprint)For example, CLC awarded the first Carbon Handprint Award in 2021.

Schools, universities and research institutions can integrate climate education into their curricula and organize workshops or challenges. An example is Otaniemi Upper Secondary School, which has been actively involved in ZED since 2018, organizing youth-led events, workshops, and inviting companies to showcase their most positive climate actions.

Zero Emissions Day serves as a powerful platform for creative and collaborative campaigns that raise awareness and inspire real action. It highlights the importance of adopting sustainable practices across all sectors of society, while recognizing that the more actors and actions get involved, the greater the impact #ZeroEmissionsDay will have in Europe. JRi