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 2024
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 2025. The findings of the Annual Climate Report are based on instant preliminary data from Statistics Finland. This data will be revised in the coming months.
Key findings:
- Finland’s total greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 6% in 2024.
- In 2024, emissions in the emissions trading sector (ETS) fell by 14% from the previous year. The clean energy transition is progressing fast: coal use nearly halved and peat use decreased by over a third compared to the previous year. As a result of the act banning coal for energy use, Finland stopped using coal for energy production in spring 2025.
- In the effort sharing sector, emissions decreased by 1% from the previous year, and uncertainty continues about meeting the EU level obligations.
- The land use sector (LULUCF) was a net source of emissions in 2024, with 13.5 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent. Net emissions from the land use sector were around +13 Mt CO2-eq.
- In total, Finland’s net greenhouse gas emissions – the difference between the emissions and the carbon sinks that absorb them – fell slightly in 2024.
- Reaching the climate neutrality target by 2035 will require more action in the effort sharing sector, and especially in the land use sector, where the current trend does not support Finland’s climate targets.
Press release: Emissions from Finland’s energy production fell sharply, but more action is needed to meet climate targets (Ministry of the Environment, 27 June 2025)
Key policy measures to achieve the government’s climate targets
During 2025, Finland will update its Medium-term Climate Policy Plan and its Energy and Climate Strategy, both of which will include additional measures to help meet the targets set out in the Climate Act and fulfil EU obligations.
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)
Finland’s national climate and energy strategy (2022) is a medium-term action plan that covers all greenhouse gas emissions and removals achieved through carbon sinks:
Carbon Neutral Finland 2035 – national climate and energy strategy
National climate and energy strategy has been prepared in coordination with:
- Finland’s Medium-term climate change policy plan (2022) that applies to the effort-sharing sector, and
- Climate plan for the land use sector (2022) that includes specific measures taken to increase carbon sinks
Read more on the Climate Change Act 2022:
New Climate Change Act into force in July