The government approved Finland’s Annual Climate Report on Friday morning and submitted it to Parliament. Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala (NCP) unveiled the report at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
According to the latest edition of the legally required report, reaching Finland’s target of being carbon-neutral by 2035 will require more action. In particular, it points to the land-use sector, including agriculture and forestry, where emissions increased in 2024 compared to the year before.
Multala: “Work left for the next government”
The main problem in Finland’s climate policy is that the forest sector is no longer a net absorber of emissions. The collapse of forest carbon sinks must partly be resolved by the next government, said Multala.
That issue emerged towards the end of the term of the previous government, led by Sanna Marin (SDP).
“There will certainly be a significant amount of work left for the next government,” Multala told Yle. The current right-wing cabinet, led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP), has less than two years left in its legislative term.
It has been repeatedly criticised by opposition politicians, environmental NGOs and researchers for its lack of action on the climate – and moves to benefit drivers of traditional combustion-engine cars, for instance.
Purra: 2035 target is “absurd”
In the past, forests and land use sequestered other climate emissions, and therefore played a crucial role in achieving Finland’s own carbon neutrality target and its EU commitments.
The 2035 carbon neutrality target, enshrined in law under the Marin administration, is based on the assumption that sinks would remove as much carbon as there are remaining emissions. Under the EU climate law, Finland has committed to maintaining the carbon sink of its forests at a certain size.
The Orpo government has pledged to present measures to tackle the excess emissions in its climate and energy strategy. A draft of that long-delayed strategy is to be finally published next week.
The four-party coalition government is sharply divided over climate and environmental issues, though.
Finns Party leader and Finance Minister Riikka Purra has called for repealing the Climate Act, even though the government programme agreed in 2023 included a commitment to it. Earlier this year, she dismissed the 2035 target as “absurd”.