Climate policy

The rise of greenhouse gas content in the atmosphere warms up the earth and changes the global climate system. By 2080 the average temperature in Finland is expected to rise by 4-6 °C, while precipitation should increase by 15-25 per cent. Extreme weather events (storms, droughts, heavy rains) will become increasingly common.

The UN Convention on Climate Change was adopted in 1992. As set down in the Kyoto Protocol and burden-sharing agreement of the EU, Finland will restrict emissions to the level of 1990 in 2008-2012.

Finland's National Climate Strategy was adopted in 2001 and it was revised in 2005.

Finland's National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change was completed in 2005.

Climate policy in agriculture and forestry

Greenhouse gases (especially carbon dioxide) become stored in plants and soil, which we thus refer to as carbon sinks. Forests and soil ecosystems are highly significant as carbon sinks. Unrenewable energy sources, raw materials or products can be replaced by renewable biomass, such as wood-derived products and arable biomass.

Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture have decreased by about a fifth from 1990 and the positive trend is expected to continue. This means that the agri-environmental measures have been highly successful.

Finland's National Adaptation Strategy

The Adaptation Strategy presents in great detail the anticipated impacts of climate change in different sectors and measures to be taken until 2080. The objective of the Strategy is to improve the capacity of society to adapt to the changes ahead. Through mainstreaming, both the Government and other stakeholders will take further action to promote adaptation. The Strategy is part of the National Energy and Climate Strategy adopted in 2006.

The preparation of the Adaptation Strategy was coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The work was carried out in broad cooperation between representatives of the relevant Ministries and scientific institutions in 2003-2004.

Priorities identified for better adaptation capacities include:

  • mainstreaming the impacts and adaptation into sectoral policies
  • addressing long-term investments
  • coping with extreme weather events
  • improving observation systems
  • strengthening the research and development base
  • international cooperation

The Strategy covers the following sectors:

  • Agriculture and food production
  • Fisheries
  • Reindeer husbandry
  • Game management
  • Water resources
  • Biological diversity
  • Industry
  • Energy
  • Transport and communications
  • Land use, communities, buildings and construction
  • Health
  • Tourism
  • Recreational use of nature

The Strategy is implemented in 2005-2012 primarily through sector-specific strategies and programmes. It will be evaluated in 6 to 8 years. A five-year research programme for 2006-2010 has been launched to address the need to strengthen policy-relevant research and development questions