Three targets for the future:
- According to the government programme, the Finnish Government is committed to reaching carbon neutrality in 2035 followed by carbon negativity.
- The new Climate Change Act that entered into force in 2022 sets the emission reductions targets for 2030, 2040 and 2050 and laid down the target of carbon neutrality in 2035.
- Finland’s obligation under EU law is to halve the effort sharing sector’s greenhouse gas emissions (non-ETS) by 2030 (from 2005 levels) and to maintain the net sink of the land use sector. The target for period 2021-2025 is that the land use sector causes no net emissions (emissions are equal to removals). Furthermore, the minimum net removal level set for Finland’s carbon sink is -17.8 million tonnes of CO² equivalent by 2030.
Key pillar of Finland’s climate policy is the Climate Change Act. The scope of the Act was extended to cover emissions from the land use sector (i.e. land use, forestry and agriculture) and for the first time the Act includes a target to strengthen carbon sinks.
The emission reduction targets in the Climate Change Act are based on the recommendations of the Finnish Climate Change Panel. The emission reduction targets are -60% by 2030, -80% by 2040 and at least -90% but aiming at -95% by 2050, compared to the levels in 1990.
Annual Climate Report: Finland’s emissions decreased by 6% in 2025
An annual way of monitoring the development of Finland’s emissions and progress towards emission reduction targets is the Annual Climate Report. The latest release is from June 2026. The findings of the Annual Climate Report are based on preliminary data from Statistics Finland.
Key findings:
- Finland’s total greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 6% in 2025.
- In 2025, emissions in the emissions trading sector (ETS) fell by 11% from the previous year. The reduction in emissions was driven especially by the end of coal use in energy production, but also by the decreased consumption of peat, oil, and natural gas. Finland stopped using coal for energy production in spring 2025.
- In the effort sharing sector, emissions decreased by 5% from the previous year. The trend in emissions from transport turned downward again, and emissions from agriculture also fell slightly. Finland can meet its 2021–2030 effort‑sharing obligations with the planned measures and flexibilities, even if emissions exceed the annual quotas.
- The land use sector (LULUCF) was a net source of emissions in 2025 with 9.4 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent. Emissions from this sector nevertheless fell by 3% compared with the previous year.
- In total, Finland’s net greenhouse gas emissions – the difference between the emissions and the carbon sinks that absorb them – fell by 6% in 2025.
- Reaching the climate neutrality target by 2035 will require major additional measures in all sectors, and especially in the land use sector, where the current trend does not support Finland’s climate targets.
Press release: Finland’s net emissions decreased by six per cent from previous year but there is still way to go to reach carbon neutrality (Ministry of the Environment, 26 June 2026)
Key policy measures to achieve the government’s climate targets
Government’s work to reduce emissions and strengthen carbon sinks is guided by the Energy and Climate Strategy and the Medium-Term Climate Plan published in autumn 2025.
The Finnish government has a strong focus on promoting the clean transition and investments in industry. Finland seeks to strengthen its competitiveness and attractiveness as an investment target for renewable industries by doubling its production of clean electricity. More information can be found on the Government Programme: Finland and clean energy.
Further reading:
Read more about the Government’s climate policy:
Finland’s national climate policy (Ministry of the Environment)
Read more on the Climate Change Act 2022:
New Climate Change Act into force in July