Carbon handprint of Finnish exports grew to 22 million tonnes – Minister Multala: “Finland is reducing emissions fast and taking clean solutions to the world”

According to the new report, Finnish companies are reducing their emissions globally by substituting for more polluting alternatives. At the publication event of the report on the positive carbon handprint, Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala stressed that the export of clean solutions is both a climate action and a growth opportunity for Finland.

The report of the Finnish Environment Institute explores how much the Finnish products and services reduce emissions as they substitute for more polluting alternatives abroad.

According to the most recent calculations, the climate handprint of Finnish exports is about 22 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Co₂-eq) a year. The total impact is the strongest in China and in other Asian and Pacific regions, in Russia and in the Middle East. The largest carbon handprint comes from the chemical, forest, metal and electronics industry solutions.

“The possibilities for increasing the positive carbon handprint are exceptionally good in Finland: we have an almost emission-free electricity system, high-level technology expertise, and companies that develop solutions for the growing global need. This work strengthens both our actions towards the climate target and the economy,” Minister Multala says.

Green transition investments reflect growing demand

In her speech Minister Multala pointed out that the interest in green transition investments is exceptionally high and large amounts of investments are being prepared in Finland. The list maintained by the Confederation of Finnish Industries has more than 1,300 projects, of which investments worth more than EUR 27 billion have already been completed. Investment decisions have been made for more than EUR 17 billion, and the total amount of the investment projects exceeds EUR 300 billion.

“The green investment projects that are being planned in Finland are a signal of a growing trust in a clean economy. Investments strengthen our climate targets but they also create work and competitiveness far into the future,” Multala says.

The Government aims to further strengthen the environment for investments, and will ensure that as many of the projects as possible are also carried through. The aim is to boost the domestic growth of the clean economy and substitute for fossil solutions internationally through Finnish technology exports.

“It has been a great pleasure to see how Finnish companies are grasping the opportunities and investing in clean technologies. This work is highly important as we are building a low-carbon economy, both in Finland and for the world,” Multala says.

Inquiries

Juuso Kilpinen
Special Adviser to Minister Multala
tel. +358 29 525 0128
[email protected]