Finland receives significant EU funding for accelerating climate efforts
An extensive network of Finnish research institutes, public administration, companies and foundations was successful in an application for funding for climate projects under the EU LIFE Programme. The project ‘Accelerating Climate Efforts and Low-carbon Investments’ (ACE) will get started in the beginning of 2024 with a budget of EUR 20 million. The funding will support climate investments in Finland, with the aim to further increase these.
Press release of the Ministry of the Environment and the Finnish Environment Institute
The task of the ACE project is to support Finland in reaching carbon neutrality in line with the EU climate commitments, especially in the effort-sharing sector. The focus will be on emission reduction targets in the processes of agriculture, heavy transport and industry that have been recognised as difficult.
The solutions to be generated in the project include developing the value chains of paludiculture, plant proteins and biogas, promoting actions related to energy efficiency in heavy transport and non-road mobile machinery and introduction of clean fuels, and boosting smart electrification of the production processes of small and medium-sized industry. The project supports the work to meet the emission reduction obligations in Finland by producing proposals and tools for more effective policy actions and climate funding.
“Finland can succeed in the clean transition by being active in the development of new technologies and markets. Investments aimed to phase out fossil fuels will improve the competitiveness of Finnish business life. With this project funding, we can implement clean investments and boost emission reduction actions in these challenging sectors,” says Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen.
The project will implement different kinds of pilots and investments that should be scaled up significantly in Finland to achieve carbon neutrality. For example, a distribution station for electricity and biomethane for heavy-duty vehicles, including services, will be built in Naantali. Electricity and biogas for transport operations in forest and food industry will be tested in southern and central Finland, and an electric timber truck will be tested in Arctic conditions in Lapland. Processes of medium-sized industry will be electrified in Kajaani and Kangasala. In south-eastern Finland paludiculture, i.e. wetland farming, will be expanded together with farmers and landowners, and a growth medium produced from hygrophytes (plants growing in wet or waterlogged soil) will be tested.
“Finland must boost climate investments to reach the climate targets. The investments in pilots and demonstrations to be implemented in the project are very important as they will produce information and tools for more effective policy and funding measures. The work will take place in influential collaboration in a network of more than 50 members, including companies, foundations, researchers and representatives of public administration and NGOs,” says Karoliina Auvinen, Senior Specialist at the Finnish Environment Institute and leader of the ACE project.
Climate action boosted together with public administration, research institutes, companies and foundations
The ACE project will be implemented in 2024–2030. The project will be coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute, and the other organisations that will receive EU funding are Ahola Transport Oy, the network of climate experts of the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, University of Eastern Finland, Kajaanin Romu Oy, Kiteen Mato ja Multa Oy, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Linkosuon Leipomo Oy, the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), LUT University, Metsä Group, Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd, Metsäteho Oy, Plugit Finland Oy, Pohjaset Oy, Stora Enso, Tiina and Antti Herlin Foundation, Toijala Works Oy, Tuoretie Oy, UPM, Ministry of the Environment and WWF Finland.
The ‘Accelerating Climate Efforts and Low-carbon Investments’ (ACE) project will strengthen the implementation of the Medium-term Climate Plan to meet the emission reduction obligations for the effort sharing sector by 2030.
You can register to the list of project stakeholders or to receive information on the projects here. Information material to be sent includes news items, publications and invitations to events. By registering as a stakeholder you can show your interest in representing your organisation in the cooperation networks of the project.
Inquiries
Karoliina Auvinen
Leader of the ACE project, Senior Specialist
Finnish Environment Institute
tel. +358 295 251 235
[email protected]
Miia Berger
Senior Specialist
Ministry of the Environment
tel. + 358 50 477 0882
[email protected]
ACE project website (in Finnish)