Objectives of Climate Act evaluated: Finland’s objectives are in line with international agreements and EU obligations

The evaluation explored the objectives of the Climate Act and the means to achieve these from the perspectives of impact, cost-effectiveness and acceptability. The process was led by the Ministry of the Environment. Meeting the objectives requires additional measures, especially in the land use sector.

One of the key objectives of the national Climate Act is a carbon neutral Finland by 2035 and carbon negativity after that. Emission reduction targets have been set for 2030, 2040 and 2050. Carbon neutrality means that anthropogenic emissions do not exceed the level of the carbon sinks.

The studies conducted to support the evaluation emphasise that current actions are not sufficient to reach carbon neutrality. Additional measures will be needed in all sectors, and technical carbon sequestration and international flexibilities allowed by the Paris Agreement can also contribute to achieving the targets. The cost-effectiveness, fairness and acceptability of the actions must also be ensured. 

The objectives of the Climate Act are based on the estimated fair share of Finland of the global emission budget. Besides this, the European Union obliges Finland to reduce emissions, strengthen carbon sinks and proceed towards carbon neutrality. Now the legislative framework of the European Union extends to 2030. With respect to the land use sector, in particular, the EU targets concerning Finland are highly significant in terms of the whole picture. Changing the national targets would require legislative amendments.

The decision concerning the evaluation of the objectives was made in 2022 when the reformed Climate Act was adopted. The process to conduct the evaluation as part of official duties was led by the Ministry of the Environment, and it was based on a plan presented to the ministerial working group. The background group was composed of public officials representing the relevant ministries. The final report was submitted to Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala, and it was also given to the Ministerial Working Group on Clean Energy, the Environment and Security of Supply.

Emission reductions must continue while carbon sinks are strengthened

In the emissions trading sector emissions have decreased faster that was expected, and quite good progress has also been made in the effort sharing sector. The situation in the land use sector is challenging. According to the Finnish Environment Institute, measures concerning the land use sector are effective and their costs are often lower than in the other sectors. Comparability in terms of cost effectiveness and reliability between different sectors should, however, be improved. There is still uncertainty regarding data related to the carbon sinks and stocks in the land use sector.

During this government term considerable amounts of research funding have been targeted to developing observation and monitoring models for carbon sinks. The first outcomes of the project should be ready towards the end of 2026.

Effective measures promoted during this government term include the prevention of forest damages, promotion of forest fertilisation and expansion of the forest area.

Development needs in climate policy planning system

The planning system for climate policy guides the work to reduce emissions, strengthen sinks and adapt to climate change in such a way that the national and international climate objectives will be reached.

According to the evaluation, the climate policy planning system should be simplified. Besides this, up-to-date and research-based information on climate policy scenarios and impact assessments are needed already for the negotiations on the government programme so that the climate plans can be adopted earlier during the parliamentary term and their implementation started soon enough. 

Report: Evaluation of the Climate Act’s objectives (in Finnish)
Gateway to Information on Government Projects: Evaluation of the Climate Act's objectives (in Finnish)

Inquiries 

Outi Honkatukia
Director of the Climate and Chemicals Unit
tel. +358 295 250 272
[email protected]

Karoliina Anttonen (from 9 April)
Senior Ministerial Adviser, Legislative Affairs
tel. +358 295 250 065
[email protected]