Megan DarbyPublished on 03/06/2019, 2:10pm
Incoming prime minister Antti Rinne presented the climate goal as part of a package with increased welfare spending on MondayFinland will go carbon neutral by 2035, under a coalition deal published on Monday, setting one of the world’s earliest timelines for reaching that mark.
After more than a month of negotiations, five parties agreed on the goal championed by incoming Social Democrat prime minister Antti Rinne.
Rinne told reporters it was time to “invest in the future”, presenting the climate strategy as part of a package with increased welfare spending.
The new government said it would legislate the target and then review it in 2025.
In a gesture of openness, members of the newly formed cabinet took the tram to the press conference in a public library, tweeted Finnish journalist Heli Suominen.
Unlike neighbouring Norway, which has an even earlier 2030 carbon neutral target, Finland does not intend to rely on buying credits for carbon cutting projects in other countries – although that is subject to review in 2025.
The target is a compromise between greens and leftists and the previously dominant Centre Party. The former group wanted to reach net-zero emissions sooner, arguing Finland had a responsibility to lead as a rich country. The latter raised concerns about the impact on energy and forestry interests.
Environmentalists welcomed the programme, which includes energy tax reforms, investment in railways and nature conversation, and sustainability rules for generating energy from burning wood.
Finland to be carbon neutral by 2035. One of the fastest targets ever set – Climate Change News
Megan DarbyPublished on 03/06/2019, 2:10pm Incoming prime minister Antti Rinne presented the climate goal as part of a package with increased welfare spending on Monday Finland will go carbon neutral by 2035, under a coalition deal published on Monday, setting one of the world’s earliest timelines for reaching that mark. After more than a month… [Read More]
