The “Adaptive and Climate-Resilient Companies and Properties in Uusimaa Region” (SIRU) project supports businesses and property owners in adapting and preparing for climate change. This is achieved by gathering and sharing information on climate risks and adaptation measures.
Objective
The effects of climate change are already visible in our cities. extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, storms, floods, droughts, and heatwaves, are becoming more frequent and intense. These impact residential areas, urban blocks, and buildings. For businesses and properties to adapt and prepare effectively, better information on climate risks and adaptation actions is needed, alongside more robust cooperation between the city, property owners, commercial tenants, and insurance providers.
The aim of the SIRU project is to make adaptation and preparedness simpler and clearer for businesses across the Uusimaa region. What does adaptation and preparedness mean for a company or a property? Who is responsible for these measures? Who pays for adaptation and any potential damages? The project tackles these questions, amongst others.
Through the SIRU project, data regarding climate risks to buildings is made easily accessible to businesses and property owners via an online tool. The project maps the adaptation schemes of businesses in target areas, builds a business network in Uusimaa, and shares best practices for preparedness and adaptation. The target areas include sites of nationally significant built cultural heritage, such as those in Helsinki city centre.
Furthermore, the project compiles data for target businesses on the potential costs arising from climate risks, encouraging better preparedness. Simultaneously, the project strengthens the dialogue between businesses, property owners, local government, and insurance companies. The project also identifies companies providing adaptation solutions and carries out agile pilots for innovative adaptation products or services at City of Helsinki sites.
Duration, Partners, and Funding:
- Duration: 1 January 2026 – 31 March 2028
- Lead Partner: Forum Virium Helsinki
- Total Budget: €370,192
- Funding: Funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Häme Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre).
The Role of Forum Virium Helsinki
Forum Virium Helsinki is responsible for coordinating the entire project as the sole delivery partner.
Benefits for Helsinki
Whilst climate change adaptation has been widely discussed at a strategic level in Helsinki, practical, business-led adaptation work is still in its infancy in the capital region and Uusimaa. The SIRU project brings a much needed change to this. Thanks to the project, adaptation schemes are put into practice, and risk management becomes more straightforward.
Self-motivated preparedness by businesses and property owners is crucial for maintaining the city’s vitality as extreme weather events become more common and severe. When businesses are prepared, service delivery remains resilient despite disruptions. At the same time, property adaptation measures reduce the strain on the city’s wider infrastructure.
Sustainability
The SIRU project provides property owners and target businesses with concrete ways to anticipate and manage extreme weather, helping to mitigate the risks posed by climate change. The agile pilots conducted and the digital tools utilised in the project support preparedness and adaptation measures while strengthening overall resilience. The project offers target businesses the opportunity to test and develop solutions for climate risk adaptation by providing testing environments, data, and tools.
The project reinforces and increases the awareness of target businesses and property owners regarding climate risks and preparedness, while simultaneously enhancing the environmental expertise of the target groups. The lessons learned from the project are available to all businesses and Research and Innovation actors in Uusimaa through public events and open resources.
Cultural sustainability is a key factor in the selection of target areas. These consist of nationally significant built cultural heritage sites, whose climate resilience the project actively supports.
Photo: Helsinki Partners – Marjaana Malkamäki / Keksi