Proposed EU’s climate policy worries Finland

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä on Thursday sent a letter to the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker to express Finland’s concerns relating to the way the land use sector is proposed to be included in the EU’s climate policy.

Finland is particularly concerned about the way forests are to be handled, said a government press release.

Finnish forests are a significant sink for greenhouse gases. However, based on the calculations in the regulation that is now being negotiated (the LULUCF Regulation), forests could become a source of greenhouse gas emissions, which would be a burden for Finland. Because of this Finland should reduce emissions in other sectors such as transport more than has been proposed.

This would also complicate Finland’s efforts to promote the bioeconomy, which is a key objective for the Finnish economy.

“Finland is fully committed to the EU’s climate policy and strongly supports the implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Finland aims for a carbon-neutral society that is based on renewable energy,” the Prime Minister wrote in the letter.