Finland calls for more stringent EU climate targets

Finland is among the 11 EU Member States that support the new climate target proposed by the European Commission, which aims to reduce emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030. The countries have issued a joint statement on the matter. Combating climate change is one of the topics on the agenda at the European Council meeting taking place on 15–16 October in Brussels.

According to the joint statement, the EU should commit to a target of at least 55 per cent when the parties to the Paris Agreement update their emissions reduction targets by the end of this year. This would make it possible to achieve the objective of a climate-neutral EU by 2050, as agreed by the European Council in December 2019. At the moment, the EU is committed to reducing its emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2030 compared to the levels in 1990. According to the Commission’s assessment, we stand to outperform this target with our current measures.

With this in mind, the EU leaders who have signed the joint message feel it is possible to achieve a more stringent emissions reduction target in a socially just manner. Funds have been earmarked for this work in the EU’s multiannual financial framework and in the recovery instrument, which aims to boost recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and facilitate the transition to a carbon-neutral society. The authors of the joint statement also point out that an ambitious climate policy will stimulate sustainable economic growth, create new jobs and improve global competitiveness.

Inquiries: Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for European Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 5949, Tuulia Pitkänen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 231, Prime Minister’s Office

Full text of the joint statement PDF 208kB(Link to another website.)
More information on EU climate policy(Link to another website.)
More information on Finland’s climate policy(Link to another website.)