The Finnish Climate Change Panel criticized the government led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo for not doing enough to combat the climate emergency. The panel urged the government to implement effective climate measures, such as reducing emissions from peatlands without imposing costs on farmers and reducing logging volumes to protect carbon sinks.
The experts highlighted the high cost of climate inaction, estimated by the World Meteorological Organisation at 1,266 trillion US dollars in 2025–2100. The panel stressed the importance of taking immediate and determined action to meet the legally binding objectives set forth in the Climate Act and Finland’s EU obligations.
The government’s decisions, such as lowering the distribution obligation for renewable fuels and slashing taxes on fossil fuels, were criticized for increasing emissions in the transport sector. Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen’s focus on technical solutions, including carbon-capture and small modular reactor technologies, has been met with skepticism.
While emissions in energy generation have decreased, the panel emphasized the need for action to promote carbon sinks and reduce transport emissions. The government’s efforts to grow the national “climate handprint” through climate-friendly exports were acknowledged but deemed insufficient in addressing the climate crisis.