Government’s climate policy: climate-neutral Finland by 2035

The objective of the Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government is for Finland to be carbon-neutral and the first fossil-free welfare society by 2035. This requires even faster emissions reductions in all sectors and stronger carbon sinks.

Climate change, loss of biodiversity and overconsumption are different aspects of the same sustainability crisis, which is why the Government will adopt a comprehensive approach to their root causes. The means to achieve the target include the new climate policy decisions, nearly emissions-free electricity and heat production by the end of the 2030s, and reducing the carbon footprint of building, promoting a circular economy and pursuing a climate-friendly food policy. The focus of taxation will shift towards the taxation of environmental harm. The decline in biodiversity will be halted by reforming the nature conservation legislation, increasing the funding for the protection of biodiversity and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.

Work towards this target is led and guided by the Ministerial Working Group on Climate and Energy Policy, chaired by Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Maria Ohisalo. As outlined by the Government, climate policy work will take place in an open and transparent manner, including public consultations to hear the citizens’ views. Emission reductions will be implemented in a way that is fair and just, both socially and regionally.

Decisions on necessary further actions made in spring 2022

In spring 2022 assessments were conducted concerning the adequacy on the Government’s climate actions from the perspective of carbon neutrality. Four research institute were commissioned to assess the adequacy of the measures of the Medium-term Climate Change Policy Plan. Based on these, the Government decided on further actions to be taken.

• Government agreed on measures to strengthen climate action (18 March 2022) 

• Research institutes: stronger climate actions needed in the effort sharing sector (11 February 2022)

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

Maria Ohisalo
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

Antti Kurvinen
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry

Hanna Sarkkinen
Minister of Social Affairs and Health

Thomas Blomqvist
Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality

General Secretary

Jarmo Muurman
Senior Environmental Adviser, Ministry of the Environment