stronger climate action is needed in the area of effort sharing
Several research institutes have completed the assessments they were asked to make on the adequacy of the measures contained in the explosive medium – term climate change plan. According to estimates, stronger measures are needed so that Finland can achieve its climate goals with sufficient certainty.
At its autumn budget session, the Government decided that the adequacy of the measures included in the climate change policy plan will be assessed in March on the basis of assessments by ministries, relevant research institutes and the Climate Panel.
The medium-term climate change plan is one of the Finnish government’s three climate plans. In the investment sector, it describes measures to achieve the EU’s emissions reduction target by 2030 and to achieve a carbon-neutral Finland target by 2035. The distribution sector includes emissions from transport, agriculture, heating per building, mobile machinery and waste management, and F-gas emissions. Assessments of the adequacy of the measures in the draft climate change policy plan were requested from the Climate Change Panel, the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), the Natural Resources Agency (Luke), the Finnish Meteorological Institute and VTT. . The role of agriculture and the transport sector was considered to be particularly important in the evaluations.
Evaluations from research institutes support the feedback received from the consultations
Assessments of the adequacy of the measures contained in the medium-term climate change plan support the feedback from the negotiations. The draft formula has been distributed for comments from December to January. A total of 210 opinions were received, most of which drew attention to the adequacy of climate action, with particular emphasis on agricultural and transport themes. Other commonly raised themes were the carbon footprint of consumption, climate work in municipalities and regions, and building-specific heating.
The issues considered positive in the draft plan were a broad perspective on potential sites and activities where emissions could be reduced, as well as a large number of new measures included in the measures, including those promoting structural change. However, a key concern in the responses was that the uncertainties associated with the package of a large number of small-scale actions could be difficult to manage.
The ministerial working group on climate and energy policy will decide on the package in March
The next step for the Ministerial Working Group on Climate and Energy Policy will be to discuss the feedback from the research institutes’ assessments and consultations.
“The government is committed to pursuing a science-based policy and discussing a draft climate change policy plan based on research institutes’ assessments. We will read the assessments carefully and discuss possible changes to ensure that the necessary emission reductions are achieved while reducing uncertainties,” said the environment and climate minister. Emma Karileading the ministerial working group.
The assessments will also be discussed at the climate policy round table on 22 February. The Climate Policy Roundtable will be chaired by the Prime Minister and will be composed of representatives of key stakeholders: trade unions, municipalities, scientists, industry, stakeholders, young people and NGOs.
The Ministerial Working Group on Climate and Energy Policy will issue an opinion on the assessment of the adequacy of the draft measures for the medium-term climate change policy by mid-March. The focus of the Ministerial Working Group in assessing the adequacy of the measures will be in this plan. Two other key climate change policies, the Climate and Energy Strategy for the Emissions Trading Sector and the Land Use Climate Change Plan, will be commented on later this spring. The government will present a proposal for a new climate law at the end of February.
Evaluations by research institutes (in Finnish):
- Finnish Climate Panelqueries: Markku OllikainenChair, tel. +358 50 415 1201, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- VTT VTTqueries: Tiina KoljonenHead of the Research Group, tel. +358 50 359 9549, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Finnish Environment Institutequeries: Jyri SeppäläProfessor, tel. +358 295 251 629, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Natural Resources Centerqueries: Kristiina LångResearch Professor, tel. +358 295 326 474, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- weather Institutequeries: Hannele KorhonenDirector of the Climate Research Program, tel. +358 295 392 135, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Summary of statements on medium – term climate change policy (In Finnish)
Source: Ministry of the Environment