Finland

Finland ranks 29th in the CCPI, up eight spots from last year. The country receives a high rating in Renewable Energy, medium in Climate Policy and GHG Emissions, and very low in Energy Use.

In greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the CCPI country experts highlight the role of the Climate Change Act, which includes the ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2035 and clear intermediate targets for specific sectors and the entire country. The experts also welcome the clear coal phase-out timeline. However, criticism arises around land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF) emissions. Such emissions greatly impact the country’s overall GHG emissions, as boreal coniferous forests cover a large share of the country. Generally, carbon sinks are undergoing drastic decline in Finland; a status traceable to developments linked to global warming and exacerbated by continued extensive logging. Despite existing limitations and regulations for logging, these regulations remain largely ineffective and fail to adequately protect carbon sinks. Woody biomass accounts for more than a quarter of the country’s primary energy consumption, further complicating the political background of biomass policy. However, a considerable portion of biomass is also a by-product of industrial production (paper, sawn wood, etc.). The experts also note the issue of peat extraction, the lack of sustainable, climate-friendly forestry practices, and the respective detrimental impact on carbon sinks.

Energy per capita remains very high and in need of political attention, though EVs and efficiency standards are advancing

Low-carbon electricity continues to be the norm in Finland, with nuclear power plants playing an essential role in Finnish electricity production and with the opening of the Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant in 2023. Next to hydropower and nuclear, wind farms have been expanding rapidly over the last couple of years, contributing to the closure of the Salmisaari coal plant near Helsinki in April 2025. Some of the experts fear the increased consumption of woody biomass and ramp-up in logging connected to this may curb actual progress and the positive change from renewable energy expansion. A perceived lack of indigenous peoples’ participation opportunities, especially the Sami people, also sparked concern about the impact of energy, and mining projects on local populations’ traditional lifestyles and minority rights.

Energy use continues to be the category in which Finland greatly lags. Despite relatively high electrification, total primary energy supply (TPES) per capita remains very high, leading to the very low rating in the Energy Use category. The experts affirm that this partly results from the topic not ranking high on politicians’ agendas and the focus being placed on other areas of energy policy. Public transportation, for example, continues to use inefficient internal combustion buses, which is impeding efficiency gains. Overreliance on combustion engines in the private fleet, however, continues to be the central challenge in the transport sector.

High EU energy efficiency standards for appliances and the rollout of electric vehicles (EVs) are still noted as positive signals, marking a potential turnaround moment. A backsliding of policy incentives for EVs must be averted in the current political context. The experts demand the implementation of even better energy efficiency standards, especially in heavy industry, and call for the building of a low-carbon transport infrastructure, as well as strengthened fiscal and regulatory incentives for the implementation of circular economy models.

A progressive international player, but climate finance has been reduced under the current government

Within the EU, Finland has been in the progressive camp during the debate around EU intermediate targets and the publication of NDC 3.0. Also, Finland actively participates in initiatives such as the Global Methane Pledge. Climate finance, however, has been cut substantially since the government under Prime Minister Petteri Orpo took office in 2023. EU regulations on forest protection have been the target of Finnish interventions aimed at a watering down the language in these drafts.

The experts stress the positive examples many municipalities set regarding stronger regulations and local transformation processes in sectors such as transport and building.

Some of these developments can also be attributed to ambitious decarbonisation targets and their consistent implementation within individual companies. Significant GHG emissions reduction has resulted in sectors such as the process industry.

Overall, the experts call for a stronger focus on restoring the country’s once vast carbon sinks, stricter guidance on forestry practices, stronger carbon sequestration, and speeding up of the transition process in the transport sector.

Key Outcomes

CCPI Experts

• Kirsi Vuorinen (Third Rock Finland Oy)