Helsinki [Finland], July 15: Finland may miss its 2035 carbon neutrality target unless additional measures are implemented, according to the country's 2022 annual climate report which the cabinet submitted to the parliament on Friday.
In 2022, Finland's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by approximately 4 percent. However, the land use and forestry activities became a minor source of emissions in 2021 after previously acting as a carbon sink.
According to the report, increased forest harvesting, slower forest growth, and increased emissions from peatlands contributed to the reversal.
Forests and soil are significant carbon sinks within the land use sector, but the size of the forest carbon sink in the country has declined in recent years.
On a more positive note, the report predicts that Finland is likely to achieve a 60 percent emission reduction by 2030 from 1990 levels, a target defined in the National Climate Act.
It also expects that Finland will be able to phase out fossil fuels in electricity and heat production in the coming years. Natural gas consumption halved in 2022 due to rising energy prices and a halt in Russian imports.
OutiHonkatukia, director of the climate department at the Ministry of Environment, told a press conference that she was confident about Finland's ability to achieve its neutrality goal by 2035.
She emphasized the urgency of taking significant measures in the land sector, considering the EU targets for 2021-2025.
Friday's report is the fifth edition and is done according to the provisions detailed in the country's climate act.
Source: Xinhua