Govt says carbon neutrality by 2030 still feasible

A statement by Ministry for Economic Affairs and Employment on Friday assured that carbon neutrality of Finland can still be reached by 2035, but only if "comprehensive and consistent cutbacks of emissions" will be carried out in all sectors.

The latest research commissioned by the government indicates that the carbon sink value of Finnish forests has shrunk to slight above a half of earlier expectations.

Last spring the ministry commissioned VTT, the technological research center of Finland, to produce updated figures on the carbon sinks. The work was done together with the Natural Resources Institute of Finland (Luke). Results were published at a government seminar on Friday.

The calculations now published include the option for one new pulp plant during the years ahead. If two new plants would be constructed, the carbon sink value of forests will shrink further, the report notes. However, there are currently four commercial plans, at various stages of development, for new pulp producing plants.

Tiina Koljonen, the leading researcher at the VTT, told national radio Yle that next year the forest carbon sinks would suck down 40 percent of the carbon emissions of Finland, but in 2030 the figure would be under 30 percent.

The researchers note that due to the decline of the forest sink, Finland must rely more on the electrification of transport and on the reduction of the burning of peat. That would not be enough though, and additional measures would have to be applied to industries and agriculture. VTT does not give specified policy suggestions.

Reacting to the news, the Finnish Forest Industry Association noted that in Finland forests "grow annually more than they are being consumed". But the association acknowledges that new measures are needed to secure the carbon sinks.