The current climate policy of the European Union divides greenhouse gas emissions into three main categories: the ETS (emissions trading system) sector, the non-ETS sector and the land-use sector (LULUCF). The first two sectors have been given EU-level emissions targets for 2030 but the role of the land-use sector is still unresolved. For Finland, the land-use sector is relevant because Finnish forests are an important carbon sink and wood-based energy constitutes an integral part of the Finnish energy system.
The research report published on 9 June by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland ltd, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Finnish Environment Institute and Government Institute for Economic Research discusses options for the climate and energy objectives to be set by the EU for 2030 and their impacts from the viewpoint of Finland, especially with regard to the land-use sector. The research report describes how the use of forests, the energy system and greenhouse gas emissions interact in various EU-level climate policy frameworks proposed and how the various options affect the forest industry, use of energy, greenhouse gas emissions and more broadly the Finnish economy. The research makes part of the implementation of the government plan for analysis, assessment and research for 2014.
On the basis of the results, future demand of final products of the forest industry will have a considerable effect on the carbon sink of forests in 2030 and the uncertainty related to the realisation of a carbon sink scenario will make it difficult to set targets for the sector. Combining the land-use target with the other sectors' targets could somewhat improve cost efficiency and flexibility, while at the same time increase uncertainty related to the setting and attainments of targets. The impacts on the actors in various sectors might turn out to be conflicting. The level of knowledge on the future development of the sink, and on the possibilities to affect or increase the sink in practice, is currently too thin for setting well-grounded climate targets.
EU 2030 climate and energy framework – assessment of the opportunities and inconsistencies relating to the inclusion of the LULUCF sector – research report (in Finnish)
Further information on the Government’s analysis, assessment and research activities
Inquiries: researchers: Tommi Ekholm, Senior Scientist, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, tel. +358 40 775 4079, [email protected], Jussi Uusivuori, Professor, Natural Resources Institute Finland, tel. +358 295 325 505, [email protected], Johanna Pohjola, Senior Researcher, Finnish Environment Institute, tel. +358 295 251 518, [email protected] and Juha Honkatukia, Head of Unit, Government Institute for Economic Research, tel. +358 40 304 5561, [email protected] and Juhani Tirkkonen, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, tel. +358 50 365 3412 and Sari Löytökorpi, Project Manager (Government analysis, assessment and research activities), Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 295 160 187
