Environmental Sustainability
#3Key Findings
Finland places within the top group internationally (rank 3) with regard to environmental sustainability.
Finland has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. A Climate Change Act sets emissions reduction targets of 60% by 2030, 80% by 2040 and at least 90% by 2050 relative to 1990 levels. Estimates indicate that the 2030 target is feasible.
A swift phaseout of fossil fuels in the electricity and heat production sectors is anticipated in the coming years, potentially surpassing initial expectations. However, some recent decisions, such as making gasoline more affordable, have contradicted climate goals.
A new National Biodiversity Strategy aims to halt biodiversity decline by 2030 and reverse it by 2035. Climate change is one of five key focus areas within the country’s development aid programs.
Finland has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. A Climate Change Act sets emissions reduction targets of 60% by 2030, 80% by 2040 and at least 90% by 2050 relative to 1990 levels. Estimates indicate that the 2030 target is feasible.
A swift phaseout of fossil fuels in the electricity and heat production sectors is anticipated in the coming years, potentially surpassing initial expectations. However, some recent decisions, such as making gasoline more affordable, have contradicted climate goals.
A new National Biodiversity Strategy aims to halt biodiversity decline by 2030 and reverse it by 2035. Climate change is one of five key focus areas within the country’s development aid programs.
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How committed is the government to the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050?
10
9
9
The government is clearly committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
8
7
6
7
6
The government is largely committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
5
4
3
4
3
The government is only somewhat committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
2
1
1
The government is not at all committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
Finland is dedicated to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035, as per its government program and the Climate Change Act of 2022. Effective from 2022, this act establishes emissions reduction targets for 2030, 2040 and 2050, with a specific focus on carbon neutrality by 2035. The act – a cornerstone of Finland’s climate policy – now encompasses emissions from the land use sector and includes a novel target focusing on enhancing carbon sinks (State Treasury 2021).
Emissions reduction goals in the Climate Change Act are derived from recommendations issued by the Finnish Climate Change Panel aiming for a 60% reduction by 2030, 80% by 2040 and at least 90% – with an aspiration of reaching 95% – by 2050, relative to 1990 levels. The revamped Climate Change Act reaffirms these emission reduction targets for the specified years. The targets are binding in the sense that they are expressed in law. They have been broken down into specific areas.
The strategy and designated policies regarding the aforementioned goals are comprehensive. The Annual Climate Report for 2022 documented a roughly 4% decline in Finland’s emissions. However, additional measures are deemed necessary, particularly to fortify the carbon sink in the land use sector.
The government monitors progress through the independent climate council, the Finnish Climate Change Panel, which uses a set of indicators to assess progress.
Current estimates suggest that achieving the 60% emissions reduction target by 2030 will be feasible. Notably, the emissions trading sector witnessed a substantial 6% decrease in 2022, primarily attributed to changes in energy use, including a halving of natural gas consumption due to rising prices and the discontinuation of Russian imports. A swift phaseout of fossil fuels in the electricity and heat production sectors is anticipated in the coming years, potentially surpassing initial expectations.
The land use sector became a minor carbon sink in 2022, but fell short of the targeted level. The forest carbon sink’s size fluctuates yearly; however, it has notably decreased in recent years due to increased forest harvesting, slowed forest growth and heightened soil emissions from peatlands.
The achievement of the EU-mandated effort-sharing sector’s obligations remains uncertain, with a 3% decrease in emissions in 2022. However, emissions from transport and agriculture – the sector’s largest emissions sources – remained largely unchanged from the previous year. The EU’s agreed-upon target for Finland is a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030.
To achieve its ambitious climate targets, the Finnish government is focusing on a clean transition and industrial investments. The emphasis is on doubling clean electricity production, increasing the share of renewable energy, and phasing out fossil fuels in heat and electricity production by the 2030s.
However, as part of the 2023 government program, it was decided to make gasoline more affordable, undermining climate goals. Currently, public procurement is not aligned with the climate action strategy. The courts do not review the achievement of climate targets.
Citations:
State Treasury. 2021. “Carbon Neutral Finland 2035.” https://www.treasuryfinland.fi/investor-relations/sustainability-and-finnish-government-bonds/carbon-neutral-finland-2035/
Emissions reduction goals in the Climate Change Act are derived from recommendations issued by the Finnish Climate Change Panel aiming for a 60% reduction by 2030, 80% by 2040 and at least 90% – with an aspiration of reaching 95% – by 2050, relative to 1990 levels. The revamped Climate Change Act reaffirms these emission reduction targets for the specified years. The targets are binding in the sense that they are expressed in law. They have been broken down into specific areas.
The strategy and designated policies regarding the aforementioned goals are comprehensive. The Annual Climate Report for 2022 documented a roughly 4% decline in Finland’s emissions. However, additional measures are deemed necessary, particularly to fortify the carbon sink in the land use sector.
The government monitors progress through the independent climate council, the Finnish Climate Change Panel, which uses a set of indicators to assess progress.
Current estimates suggest that achieving the 60% emissions reduction target by 2030 will be feasible. Notably, the emissions trading sector witnessed a substantial 6% decrease in 2022, primarily attributed to changes in energy use, including a halving of natural gas consumption due to rising prices and the discontinuation of Russian imports. A swift phaseout of fossil fuels in the electricity and heat production sectors is anticipated in the coming years, potentially surpassing initial expectations.
The land use sector became a minor carbon sink in 2022, but fell short of the targeted level. The forest carbon sink’s size fluctuates yearly; however, it has notably decreased in recent years due to increased forest harvesting, slowed forest growth and heightened soil emissions from peatlands.
The achievement of the EU-mandated effort-sharing sector’s obligations remains uncertain, with a 3% decrease in emissions in 2022. However, emissions from transport and agriculture – the sector’s largest emissions sources – remained largely unchanged from the previous year. The EU’s agreed-upon target for Finland is a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030.
To achieve its ambitious climate targets, the Finnish government is focusing on a clean transition and industrial investments. The emphasis is on doubling clean electricity production, increasing the share of renewable energy, and phasing out fossil fuels in heat and electricity production by the 2030s.
However, as part of the 2023 government program, it was decided to make gasoline more affordable, undermining climate goals. Currently, public procurement is not aligned with the climate action strategy. The courts do not review the achievement of climate targets.
Citations:
State Treasury. 2021. “Carbon Neutral Finland 2035.” https://www.treasuryfinland.fi/investor-relations/sustainability-and-finnish-government-bonds/carbon-neutral-finland-2035/
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How committed is the government to protecting the public from environmental health risks?
10
9
9
The government is clearly committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
8
7
6
7
6
The government is largely committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
5
4
3
4
3
The government is only somewhat committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
2
1
1
The government is not at all committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (MSAH) is responsible for identifying, preventing and eradicating health hazards arising from the environment. This includes the oversight of health protection, the formulation of relevant legislation and the supervision of chemical control programs to avert health risks. Additionally, the MSAH monitors the use of gene technology, supervises biotechnology and ensures the sector’s responsible development, considering the impact of biotechnology both on human health and the environment (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health n.d.).
As the supreme supervisory and guidance authority, the MSAH spearheads the assessment of health hazards associated with nanomaterials and nanotechnology. It also leads efforts to protect the population from harmful radiation. The ministry actively engages in coordinating environmental healthcare at the municipal level. Strategic priorities for environmental health promotion include integrating health hazard assessments into planning and decision-making; ensuring safe drinking water access; enhancing authorities’ capacity to investigate food and waterborne epidemics; and addressing the potential health effects of nanomaterials, endocrine disruptors and combined chemical exposure.
The MSAH prioritizes intensified collaboration between municipalities in the context of environmental healthcare, ensuring chemical safety on the market, contributing to healthy indoor environments with other ministries and guaranteeing societal functioning in special environmental health situations. The ministry is dedicated to researching and implementing regulations addressing environmental health risks associated with gene technology and biotechnology, thereby providing guidelines for the safe application of new technologies.
Water pollution remains a significant challenge in Finland, particularly due to nutrient emissions from farms. While efforts have successfully reduced emissions from large industrial facilities and cleaned polluted lakes and rivers, approximately 1,500 lakes still require active restoration measures to combat eutrophication. Despite the lack of a specific prevention strategy with defined goals, ongoing activities within the MSAH help prevent environmental pollution and associated health risks. The ministry implements effective policies to support initiatives focused on protecting environmental health.
Citations:
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. n.d. “Environmental Health.” https://stm.fi/en/environmental-health
As the supreme supervisory and guidance authority, the MSAH spearheads the assessment of health hazards associated with nanomaterials and nanotechnology. It also leads efforts to protect the population from harmful radiation. The ministry actively engages in coordinating environmental healthcare at the municipal level. Strategic priorities for environmental health promotion include integrating health hazard assessments into planning and decision-making; ensuring safe drinking water access; enhancing authorities’ capacity to investigate food and waterborne epidemics; and addressing the potential health effects of nanomaterials, endocrine disruptors and combined chemical exposure.
The MSAH prioritizes intensified collaboration between municipalities in the context of environmental healthcare, ensuring chemical safety on the market, contributing to healthy indoor environments with other ministries and guaranteeing societal functioning in special environmental health situations. The ministry is dedicated to researching and implementing regulations addressing environmental health risks associated with gene technology and biotechnology, thereby providing guidelines for the safe application of new technologies.
Water pollution remains a significant challenge in Finland, particularly due to nutrient emissions from farms. While efforts have successfully reduced emissions from large industrial facilities and cleaned polluted lakes and rivers, approximately 1,500 lakes still require active restoration measures to combat eutrophication. Despite the lack of a specific prevention strategy with defined goals, ongoing activities within the MSAH help prevent environmental pollution and associated health risks. The ministry implements effective policies to support initiatives focused on protecting environmental health.
Citations:
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. n.d. “Environmental Health.” https://stm.fi/en/environmental-health
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How committed is the government to preserving ecosystems and protecting biodiversity?
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9
9
The government is clearly committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
8
7
6
7
6
The government is largely committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
5
4
3
4
3
The government is only somewhat committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
2
1
1
The government is not at all committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
With approximately 48,000 animal and plant species, constituting around 30% of Europe’s described species, Finland is home to significant biodiversity. Despite the growth in the bear population, it remains a “near threatened” species due to hunting restrictions. The country’s diverse ecosystems – including vast forests, freshwater resources and extensive coastline – contribute to its rich biodiversity (State Treasury 2023).
A periodic assessment in 2019 revealed that 11.9% of evaluated species were threatened, with birds, reptiles and amphibians having the highest proportions of threatened species. Forest changes, such as the reduction of old-growth forests and large trees, forest management practices, and insufficient deadwood, pose a significant threat to species. Open habitat overgrowth and climate change – particularly affecting fell areas – are also concerns.
Finland is developing a new National Biodiversity Strategy and a corresponding action plan extending to 2030. This initiative considers domestic goals and aligns with the objectives outlined in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the recent EU Biodiversity Strategy (State Treasury, 2023).
The overarching aim of this strategy is to bolster biodiversity protection and facilitate the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems. Additionally, methodologies for measuring the impact of human actions will be developed. The strategy and action plan will be closely aligned with international and EU objectives.
The need for a new biodiversity strategy arises from the ongoing decline in the biodiversity of Finland’s natural environments, with the rate of decline accelerating, particularly in the case of threatened species. The strategy aims to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and seeks to reverse the trend by promoting recovery by 2035.
The previous National Action Plan for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (2013 – 2020) aimed to halt biodiversity loss in Finland by 2020. Emphasizing the economic and cultural values of biodiversity, the plan integrated environmental considerations into all societal sectors, engaged new stakeholders in nature conservation efforts, and underscored decision-making based on sound scientific knowledge (Ministry of the Environment n.d.).
The plan also acknowledged Finland’s global responsibility for natural environments, incorporated traditional knowledge from the Sámi people, and considered international and EU objectives. Successful aspects included communication and training, international cooperation, and monitoring. However, despite numerous completed measures, only a fraction resulted in clear improvements, often due to insufficient clarity or ambition. Effective measures involved cooperation, independent implementation, self-funding and efficient information production. The most impactful themes were communication, financial steering, legislation, zoning and land use, and habitat restoration and management.
Finland’s forests are its most valuable natural resource. The overall annual growth rate of trees in these forests exceeds the total timber harvest, a result of institutionalized protections. Despite these efforts, attempts to halt the ongoing decline in biodiversity have proved insufficient, even though the government has created networks of protected areas.
The environment and natural resources are among the responsibilities of 13 centers for economic development, transport and the environment. The Ministry of Employment and the Economy supervises the general administrative work of these centers.
Recent research suggests that in environmental matters where economic factors play a key role, there is a trend toward restricting citizens’ rights to be informed about and influence decisions.
Citations:
Ministry of the Environment. n.d. “Finland’s Biodiversity Policy.” https://ym.fi/en/national-biodiversity-policy
State Treasury. 2023. “Biodiversity in Finland.” https://www.treasuryfinland.fi/investor-relations/sustainability-and-finnish-government-bonds/biodiversity-in-finland/
Lyytimäki, J. 2007. “Environmental Protection in Finland.” http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=160041
A periodic assessment in 2019 revealed that 11.9% of evaluated species were threatened, with birds, reptiles and amphibians having the highest proportions of threatened species. Forest changes, such as the reduction of old-growth forests and large trees, forest management practices, and insufficient deadwood, pose a significant threat to species. Open habitat overgrowth and climate change – particularly affecting fell areas – are also concerns.
Finland is developing a new National Biodiversity Strategy and a corresponding action plan extending to 2030. This initiative considers domestic goals and aligns with the objectives outlined in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the recent EU Biodiversity Strategy (State Treasury, 2023).
The overarching aim of this strategy is to bolster biodiversity protection and facilitate the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems. Additionally, methodologies for measuring the impact of human actions will be developed. The strategy and action plan will be closely aligned with international and EU objectives.
The need for a new biodiversity strategy arises from the ongoing decline in the biodiversity of Finland’s natural environments, with the rate of decline accelerating, particularly in the case of threatened species. The strategy aims to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and seeks to reverse the trend by promoting recovery by 2035.
The previous National Action Plan for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (2013 – 2020) aimed to halt biodiversity loss in Finland by 2020. Emphasizing the economic and cultural values of biodiversity, the plan integrated environmental considerations into all societal sectors, engaged new stakeholders in nature conservation efforts, and underscored decision-making based on sound scientific knowledge (Ministry of the Environment n.d.).
The plan also acknowledged Finland’s global responsibility for natural environments, incorporated traditional knowledge from the Sámi people, and considered international and EU objectives. Successful aspects included communication and training, international cooperation, and monitoring. However, despite numerous completed measures, only a fraction resulted in clear improvements, often due to insufficient clarity or ambition. Effective measures involved cooperation, independent implementation, self-funding and efficient information production. The most impactful themes were communication, financial steering, legislation, zoning and land use, and habitat restoration and management.
Finland’s forests are its most valuable natural resource. The overall annual growth rate of trees in these forests exceeds the total timber harvest, a result of institutionalized protections. Despite these efforts, attempts to halt the ongoing decline in biodiversity have proved insufficient, even though the government has created networks of protected areas.
The environment and natural resources are among the responsibilities of 13 centers for economic development, transport and the environment. The Ministry of Employment and the Economy supervises the general administrative work of these centers.
Recent research suggests that in environmental matters where economic factors play a key role, there is a trend toward restricting citizens’ rights to be informed about and influence decisions.
Citations:
Ministry of the Environment. n.d. “Finland’s Biodiversity Policy.” https://ym.fi/en/national-biodiversity-policy
State Treasury. 2023. “Biodiversity in Finland.” https://www.treasuryfinland.fi/investor-relations/sustainability-and-finnish-government-bonds/biodiversity-in-finland/
Lyytimäki, J. 2007. “Environmental Protection in Finland.” http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=160041
Graph View
To what extent is the government committed and credible in designing and promoting global environmental protection regimes and policies?
10
9
9
Government policy and institutions are fully aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
8
7
6
7
6
Government policy and institutions are largely aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
5
4
3
4
3
Government policy and institutions are somewhat aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
2
1
1
Government policy and institutions are not at all aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
Development aid in Finland has five emphasis areas: the rights and status of women and girls, quality inclusive education, sustainable economies and decent work, peaceful and democratic societies, and climate change and the sustainable use of natural resources. There is no specific road map for environmental cooperation.
In the realm of climate policy, Finland is committed to fulfilling the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The country actively contributes to international climate and environmental finance efforts, activities supporting environmentally sustainable development, and measures helping vulnerable nations adapt to climate change. In this way, Finland contributes to capacity-building and skills development in developing countries, with the aim of assisting them in formulating and implementing sustainable environmental plans.
While Finland is committed to observing many multilateral and bilateral environmental agreements concerning climate change and air pollution, it is not among the primary agenda-setters for advancing international regimes.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has developed guidelines for organizing environmentally sustainable meetings, conferences and seminars.
To some extent, Finland engages in the development, transfer and dissemination of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favorable terms. Finland invests in research and clean energy solutions.
Monitoring in the development aid area is mostly focused on the potential misuse of funds (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland n.d.). Apart from Agenda 2023 indicators, there are no other indicators to measure capacity-building outcomes.
Citations:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. n.d. “Monitoring, Oversight and Risk Management of Development Cooperation.” https://um.fi/monitoring-of-development-cooperation
In the realm of climate policy, Finland is committed to fulfilling the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The country actively contributes to international climate and environmental finance efforts, activities supporting environmentally sustainable development, and measures helping vulnerable nations adapt to climate change. In this way, Finland contributes to capacity-building and skills development in developing countries, with the aim of assisting them in formulating and implementing sustainable environmental plans.
While Finland is committed to observing many multilateral and bilateral environmental agreements concerning climate change and air pollution, it is not among the primary agenda-setters for advancing international regimes.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has developed guidelines for organizing environmentally sustainable meetings, conferences and seminars.
To some extent, Finland engages in the development, transfer and dissemination of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favorable terms. Finland invests in research and clean energy solutions.
Monitoring in the development aid area is mostly focused on the potential misuse of funds (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland n.d.). Apart from Agenda 2023 indicators, there are no other indicators to measure capacity-building outcomes.
Citations:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. n.d. “Monitoring, Oversight and Risk Management of Development Cooperation.” https://um.fi/monitoring-of-development-cooperation