Finland climate emissions are facing a difficult crossroads. The latest government report confirms that progress on cutting emissions is slowing down and that the country’s forests are no longer absorbing more carbon than they emit. This shift is especially troubling because Finland’s path to carbon neutrality relies heavily on forest carbon sinks to balance out unavoidable emissions.
Environment and Climate Minister Sari Multala addressed the issue during a press briefing after the annual climate report was submitted to Parliament. She acknowledged that the collapse in forest sinks started under the previous administration but stressed that most of the burden will now fall to the next government.
Emissions from land use, especially agriculture and forestry, rose last year. This means that instead of helping to offset carbon dioxide, Finland’s land use sector is now adding to the problem. The government still has nearly two years left in its term, but its four-party coalition remains divided over climate policies.
Some members of the coalition continue to support fossil fuel car use, even while experts call for urgent action to cut carbon output. The 2035 carbon neutrality goal, established by the last government, is based on the assumption that carbon sinks like forests would keep working as a buffer. Without them, that target becomes much harder to reach.
The issue is not just about national goals. Under EU climate regulations, Finland is required to maintain a baseline level of carbon absorption through its forests. Falling below that line can trigger penalties and complicate Finland’s role in broader European climate planning.
Internal political pressure is also weakening momentum. Riikka Purra, Finland’s Finance Minister and leader of the Finns Party, has publicly criticized the Climate Act and called the 2035 target unrealistic. These public disagreements have slowed climate policymaking and delayed the release of the government’s next climate strategy.
That plan, which was supposed to include updated emissions reduction steps, is now expected sometime next week. Until then, Finland’s climate policy remains in limbo, with a shrinking carbon sink and rising emissions painting a bleak picture for the future.
