Free public evening in Tampere explores how nature boosts wellbeing and helps the city cope with heat and floods

Tampere will host a free public evening on nature and wellbeing at City Hall’s Näsijärvi Hall on Thursday 29 October 2026. The session is part of the city's 'Nature, Climate and Tampere' public evening series, which opened with a biodiversity session on 30 September, the city says.

Speakers include Tytti Pasanen, a specialist researcher in environmental health at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). She says even short 10–15 minute visits to nature improve mood and reduce stress. Planner Annika Kettunen will outline how biodiversity eases heat and reduces the impact of heavy rains made worse by climate change. Development specialist Emmi Nieminen will discuss the monetary value of nature's cooling, flood mitigation and recreation benefits. Harri Mannonen, a responsible property manager, will give practical examples of natural solutions in daycare yards. Nature ambassador Hanna Kemiläinen and project manager Roosa Ritola will talk about making housing company yards more biodiverse.

Before the programme, visitors can browse Tampere’s climate and nature guide, the State of the Environment portal and the Nature to Yards! guide. They can suggest ideas for next year’s nature trips and try a conversation with an AI “sparrow” about how technology could support people and nature living side by side. The evening ends with a Q&A session with the experts.