On Tuesday, Finland announces support for several climate initiatives at Glasgow Climate Change Conference
Finland joins Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use

Finland has joined the Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use of the Glasgow Climate Change Conference, whereby more than one hundred countries commit to stopping deforestation by 2030. President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö will speak at the publication event of the Declaration on Forests in Glasgow on Tuesday.

Among the signatories of the Declaration are Brazil, Russia, China and the USA. Finland considers multilateral cooperation as highly important to achieve the international targets related to forests. By this Declaration, the countries also commit to promoting sustainable development on the global scale, including the sustainable management and use of forests, and to strengthening local economies: small farmers, indigenous peoples and local communities whose livelihoods are dependent on forests need stronger support from others for the sustainable management and use of their forests.  

Breakthrough Agenda aims at clean electricity, emission-free transport, zero-emission steel and low-carbon hydrogen by 2030

On Tuesday Finland will also announce its support for the Breakthrough Agenda that consists of the four Glasgow Breakthroughs. The Breakthrough Agenda outlines the global goals to 2030. According to the Agenda, by that time clean energy should be cost-effective and accessible all over the world, and emission-free vehicles should be the new normal. A further goal is that near zero-emission steel will be the most popular option in the global market and that affordable renewable and low-carbon hydrogen will be globally available by 2030.

The implementation of these breakthroughs would reduce emissions and contribute to developing new business models, creating new jobs and reaching different environmental objectives. Finland is already a member or otherwise involved in processes that will be in a key position in implementing and monitoring the Breakthrough Agenda. These include the International Energy Agency IEA, International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA, Mission Innovation MI and Clean Energy Ministerial CEM.

Global Methane Pledge aims at 30% reduction in human-caused methane emissions by 2030

In addition, on Tuesday Finland will also join the Global Methane Pledge announced by the EU and United States that aims to reduce the global human-caused methane emissions by 30% by 2030. After carbon dioxide, methane is the most significant greenhouse gas that causes climate change.

Finland has for a long time been active in several international processes concerned with methane, including the Climate and Clean Air Coalition CCAC, Global Methane Initiative GMI and work done in the Arctic Council. The pledge introduces a quantitative target that will support the work done in these processes as well.

Finland’s national methane emissions decreased by more than 40% in 1990-2019, and the decrease is expected to continue until 2030. The main sources of methane emissions in Finland are waste, agriculture and energy production.

Inquiries

Declaration on Forests
Vesa Kaarakka
Senior Adviser on Development Policy
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
+358 295 350 963
[email protected]

Lotta Heikkonen
Chief Specialist
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
+358 295 162 074
[email protected]

Breakthrough Agenda
Juho Korteniemi
Chief Specialist
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
+358 295 047 054
[email protected]

Global Methane Pledge
Kaarle Kupiainen
Senior Specialist
Ministry of the Environment
+358 295 250 232
[email protected]