Cooling Down in Central Helsinki: Mist and Plants Offer Relief from the Heat

Climate change is already affecting living conditions in the Helsinki region in a way that calls for heatwave adaptation. A cooling point has opened under the canopy of Helsinki Central Library Oodi for the month of August. The public cooling point uses fine water mist and greenery to lower the surrounding air temperature by up to 10 degrees.

Climate change is making heatwaves longer and more intense. Temperatures in urban areas are reaching extreme highs more frequently, directly affecting residents’ health and well-being. This year was no exception, with sweltering heat hitting Europe throughout the summer. Consequently, construction and public services must better account for prolonged heat periods going forward. Providing cool, green spaces is one effective way to adapt.

In Helsinki, the cooling benefits of plants and water mist are on full display this August at Helle Kannila Square, right outside Helsinki Central Library Oodi. Implemented by the city’s innovation company Forum Virium Helsinki and the EU funded Regions4Climate and Adaptive and Climate-Resilient Companies and Properties in the Uusimaa Region projects, this resting area combines climate change adaptation with lush vegetation, public seating, water mist, and shade.

The aim is to spark discussion about the need for adaptation and to show that it is required also in Finland. Therefore, the cooling point also acts as a discussion opener. The expertise exists to build something like this quickly, boosting Finland’s resilience.

Free Cooling Attracts Visitors

The free, publicly accessible cooling spot arrives at a crucial time, as Helsinki has seen a growing demand for places where residents can escape the heat in recent years. In previous summers, some local supermarkets even hosted overnight stays for elderly residents and children near their air-conditioning units.

“We’ve noticed that during heatwaves, older Helsinki residents arrive at the library first thing in the morning with packed lunches. They find seats close to the air conditioning and stay through the hottest hours of the day,” says Kari Lämsä, Service Manager at Helsinki City Library.

While the library naturally welcomes visitors seeking relief from the heat, the city clearly needs more dedicated cooling spaces for its residents during summer heatwaves. Helsinki is currently exploring and testing various adaptation methods, and the cooling station also serves to raise public awareness about climate change and its localised impacts.

“Solutions like this are common in Southern Europe, but so far they remain rare in Finland,” says Senior Project Manager Heli Ponto.

Ponto leads the EU-funded Regions4Climate project, which focuses on climate adaptation and funded the cooling point. As part of the project, a demonstration tool was previously developed to make climate risks easily understandable on an interactive map, digital twin demo tool. The tool illustrates how issues like heat and flooding affect different neighbourhoods and how these changes impact residents across various socio-economic groups.

The cooling point provides information for the Adaptive and Climate-Resilient Companies and Properties in the Uusimaa Region (SIRU) project by collecting and disseminating knowledge on localised climate threats and mitigation strategies. This data assists local enterprises and real estate stakeholders in managing climate-induced risks. This way, the SIRU project strengthens regional preparedness for future weather extremities.

About the InitiativeThe cooling point is brought to you by Forum Virium Helsinki, the City of Helsinki’s innovation company, alongside the EU-funded projects Regions4Climate and Adaptive and Climate-Resilient Companies and Properties in the Uusimaa Region. The installation was created and implemented by InnoGreen and Wau Efekti.

Photo: Aino Nurmi