Government’s climate policy: carbon-neutral Finland by 2035
According to Sanna Marin’s Government Programme in 2019 Finland will be carbon-neutral by 2035, and the world’s first fossil-free welfare society. This requires faster emissions reductions in all sectors and strengthening our carbon sinks.
Climate change, loss of biodiversity and overconsumption are different aspects of the same sustainability crisis, which is why the Government has adopted a comprehensive approach to their root causes. The means to achieve the target include new decisions on climate policy and nearly emissions-free electricity and heat production by the end of 2030s, as well as reducing the carbon footprint of building, promoting a circular economy, and a climate-friendly food policy. In taxation, the focus will shift even more to taxes on environmentally harmful activities. The decline in biodiversity will be halted by reforming the nature conservation legislation, increasing the funding for the protection of biodiversity and promoting a sustainable use of natural resources.
The work on this is led and guided by the Ministerial Working Group on Climate and Energy Policy, chaired by Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Krista Mikkonen. Work on the Government’s policy will be done in an open and transparent manner, including public consultations to hear the citizens’ views. Emissions reductions will be implemented in a way that is fair and just, both socially and regionally.
Key projects
- Reform of the Climate Change Act
- Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment: Energy and climate strategy
- Medium-term climate plan
- Climate programme for the land use sector
- Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment: Low-carbon roadmaps for specific sectors
- Roadmap to fossil-free transport (in Finnish)
- Roadmap to low-carbon building (in Finnish)
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry: Climate-friendly food production and consumption
- Habitats protection, restoration and management programme ‘Helmi’
- Roadmap to sustainable taxation (in Finnish)
- Reform of energy taxation (in Finnish)
- Reform of taxes and payments in sustainable transport (in Finnish)
- Round table on climate policy
- Programme to promote a circular economy
- Reform of the land use and building act (in Finnish)
- Wood building programme
Ministerial working group
Chair
Krista Mikkonen
Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
Members
Timo Harakka
Minister of Transport and Communications
Ville Skinnari
Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade
Mika Lintilä
Minister of Economic Affairs
Jari Leppä
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
Li Andersson
Minister of Education
Thomas Blomqvist
Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality
General Secretary
Outi Honkatukia
Senior Environmental Adviser, Ministry of the Environment
More information
Outi Honkatukia, ympäristöneuvos
Ministry of the Environment, Environmental Protection Department, Climate Environment Council Telephone:0295250272 [email protected]
Riikka Yliluoma, Special Adviser to the Minister
Ministry of the Environment, Ympäristö- ja ilmastoministerin esikunta Telephone:0295250091 [email protected]
Riikka Lamminmäki, Head of Communications
Ministry of the Environment, Information and Communications Environment Council Telephone:0295250343 [email protected]
News
Ministerial Working Group on Climate and Energy Policy discussed the reform of the Climate Change Act and procurement of low-emission vehicles
On Wednesday 23 September, the Ministerial Working Group on Climate and Energy Policy discussed the reform of the Climate Change Act and preparation of legislation on the public procurement of low-emission vehicles.
According to the Government Programme, the Climate Change Act will be amended in such a way that the carbon-neutrality target to 2035 will be achieved. In particular, the Ministerial Working Group discussed how the climate policy planning system under the Climate Change Act should be reformed. The present planning system is composed of three elements: the medium-term plan concerning sectors not covered by the emissions trading scheme, the long-term plan to reduce all emissions, and the plan on climate change adaptation. The emissions trading sector is not covered by the planning system of the present Climate Change Act. The ministers pointed out that the planning system needs to be clarified.
“The climate neutrality target has wide support in Finland. It is important that we plan our climate actions in such a way that the whole package is understandable for the people and it is easy to follow the progress towards the carbon neutrality target. The impacts of our policy must be monitored from the perspective of all emissions. This means that clear and unambiguous planning that covers all emissions and trends in carbon sinks is in a key position,” says Krista Mikkonen, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and chair of the Ministerial Working Group on Climate and Energy Policy.
The government proposal for the amended Climate Change Act is to be submitted to Parliament during 2021.
Boost to public procurement of zero- and low-emission vehicles
A working group of the Ministry of Transport and Communications is working on the implementation of the EU Directive concerning the public procurement of clean vehicles. The aim is to increase the percentage or zero- and low-emission vehicles in the public procurement of vehicles and transport services.
The Ministerial Working Group stressed that swift reduction of emissions from transport is in a key position to achieve a carbon-neutral Finland, and the State should lead the way in this. Public procurement is an effective way to introduce new vehicle technology and reduce emissions from transport. The use of fossil fuels will be decreasing and there will be a growing demand for alternative fuels such as electricity, gas and biofuels when the legislation enters into force. The ministers also highlighted the need to take into account the different circumstances of municipalities and regions in implementing the Directive. The requirements set out in the Directive will be applicable from August 2021. The government proposal will be circulated for comment within the next few weeks.
The task of the Ministerial Working Group on Climate and Energy Policy is to guide and direct the implementation of the Government Programme with respect to promoting the carbon neutrality target, strengthening of carbon sinks and decision-making on climate and energy policy, while also taking into account social justice and international competitiveness.
Inquiries:
Riikka Yliluoma, Special Adviser to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, tel. +358 50 414 1682, [email protected]
Reform of the Climate Change Act
Gateway to Information on Government Projects: Government proposal for an Act on Procurement of Clean and Energy-Efficient Road Transport Vehicles (LVM051:00/2019) (In Finnish)