Improving urban planning practices for the energy transition ̶ Insights on cities' role, data collection, and practical tools

This paper investigates how urban planning practices can support the energy transition, focusing on the role of Finnish cities, their data collection practices, and the tools currently used and those still needed to facilitate planning. Structured interviews were conducted with representatives from five Finnish cities—Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Lappeenranta, and Kerava—all committed to climate neutrality by 2030 or 2035, depending on the city.
The research explores how cities perceive their responsibilities in advancing climate goals, the challenges they face in coordinating with other actors, and the limitations in current planning processes. The findings reveal that while cities are actively pursuing carbon neutrality, their roles remain unclear, and institutional capacities are limited. A notable insight is the lack of coordination between national and municipal climate goals, which creates ambiguity in responsibilities and hinders effective planning.
Citizens and private actors are rarely involved in planning, despite their relevance. Energy and other city data are collected in various forms but not systematically exploited to support decision-making. Existing planning tools are often too detailed, fragmented, or narrowly focused, limiting their usability.
To address these challenges, the study presents prototype tools developed to support systemic energy transition planning and energy renovation decisions. These tools aim to bridge the gap between technical complexity and practical usability by integrating diverse data sources and supporting cross-sectoral dialogue.
The study concludes that clarifying actor roles, improving data governance, and fostering collaboration—especially across governance levels—are essential for cities to plan and implement effective energy transition strategies.