Finland for more ambitious EU climate policy

Finland is one of the countries in a group of member states that is preparing further measures for a more stringent climate policy.

Finland proposed that heating in individual property be included in emissions trading. Altogether 75 per cent of all heating in the EU region relies on fossil fuel, said an official press release.

“Finland has been very active in environmental matters and in taking concrete action during this government’s term. I too have encouraged the EU to take global leadership in environmental issues,” said Prime Minister Juha Sipilä at an event organised by Energiateollisuus in Helsinki.

“Minister of the Environment and Energy Kimmo Tiilikainen will put forward the goal to develop emissions trading in Paris today, where a group of EU member states have convened to advocate more action for mitigating climate change. It is a good thing that Finland is in this group, which will continue to be a frontrunner in formulating major goals and actions in climate policy,” observed Sipilä.

France, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal and Luxembourg are currently convening in Paris. To better promote the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement, the group aims to encourage the European Commission to submit an ambitious proposal for a strategy to reduce emissions in the long term.

“During this government’s term, Finland has set the objective of reaching a carbon-neutral society by 2045. We have decided to cut emissions from transport by one half. We will increase the share of renewable energy in energy use by 50 per cent. We will stop burning coal altogether before 2030. These are significant climate actions that have also been noted internationally,” said Sipilä.

He said, “I will need to discuss further measures for mitigating climate change with my colleagues in the European Council too, and this is what I plan to do.”