Lahti is a pioneer in the 360- degree turn towards sustainability transformation. Environmental education and the inclusion of citizens are an important part of the goals of this green city. The regional environment week has been introduced since 1997, and it encourages the companies and residents of the city to take green actions together. A new waste management system based on source separation was introduced way back in 1998. The separation of biowaste, energy waste, cardboard, paper and mixed waste started on properties with at least 10 apartments. The separate collection of energy waste and its use in energy production increased the waste recovery rate and decreased the amount of waste going to the landfill. Lahti has also stopped using coal in the spring of 2019, when the new bioenergy plant Kymijärvi III replaced the coal-fired Kymijärvi I power plant. The city is now heated with recycled fuel. Lahti has received the honour of becoming the European Green Capital of 2021. Both of Lahti’s ambitious goals to become carbon neutral by 2035 and carbon negative by 2050, and the city government’s practical steps to support and introduce the latest technologies to make the city greener and more efficient, make this small town in southern Finland an example for all world cities to follow. Can a New India turn any of its towns or cities to become the Asian Green Capital?

Finding somewhere to watch live music can be a challenge during the Coronavirus pandemic, but a southern Californian hotel has found a solution by holding ‘rooftop concerts’ that allow guests to social distance while watching from their balconies. Is any star hotel in India going to launch such rooftop concerts so that their guests can watch them, without deviating from social distancing norms, from their room’s balconies?

Food waste is a bigger problem than many people realise. In fact, nearly one-third of all food produced in the world is discarded or wasted for various reasons. That means nearly 1.3 billion tons every year. Did you know that about 40 per cent of the food produced in India is wasted? Despite adequate food production, the UN has reported that about 190 million Indians remain undernourished. It is further estimated that the value of food wastage in India is around Rs 92,000 crore per annum. The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to push food wastage further high. India might have registered even higher food wastage during the Coronavirus lockdowns, because of disrupted supply chains and people hoarding food. Shutdowns and movement restrictions have led to an enormous wastage of perishable food items like vegetables and fruits in India. Mountains of food, including eggs, milk and vegetables, are going to waste. Transformative reforms are needed in food storage, supply chains and recycling systems.