Finland: Just transition must be considered more systematically in sectoral low-carbon plans

NordenBladet — The Climate Policy Roundtable met on 8 February to discuss low-carbon roadmaps for individual sectors. The meeting highlighted that there is a need to take a more comprehensive account of just transition and to update and coordinate the sectoral roadmaps.In accordance with the Government Programme, 13 different sectors have drawn up a roadmap towards carbon reduction. Most of the roadmaps were completed last summer, and they identify a good number of ways to reduce emissions.

“It is most important that the Finnish industry and other sectors take an active part in building a carbon-neutral Finland. Roadmaps are a key tool as we aim for more effective climate policy and economic recovery after the coronavirus crisis”, said Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who chairs the Roundtable.An analysis by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland shows that the roadmaps have helped sectors to better understand their possibilities to reduce emissions and make it easier for them to commit to the common goal. However, it is difficult to compare individual sectors’ roadmaps because of differences in starting points, targets and approaches. Just transition was hardly discussed in the roadmaps.

“The sectoral roadmaps mainly focus on technical means to reduce emissions, and touch on innovation, research and development, all of which are essential elements of low-carbon goals. From now on the sectors should expand their roadmaps so that citizens, employees, organisations and others would feel they have been heard and that just transition would be included in the roadmaps,” said Tiina Koljonen, Research Team Leader at VTT.

“Justness is a condition for a successful transition to a low-carbon economy. Employees must have better opportunities for upskilling and reskilling. The social security system, too, must support a just transition, and we must ensure people’s livelihoods and faith in the future,” said Jarkko Eloranta, President of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK).The Climate Policy Roundtable noted that many sectors continue to work on their roadmaps. It emphasised that individual sectors should take a more systematic approach to examining not only the social dimensions of climate measures, but also their effects on biodiversity and resource efficiency. A cross-cutting and cross-sectoral approach should be taken to matters of social justice.

Finland has the chance of a bigger carbon handprint by offering solutions internationallyThe Climate Policy Roundtable agreed that the sectoral low-carbon roadmaps are internationally groundbreaking. It also highlighted that Finland can increase its global influence by growing the positive climate impacts of its measures, its carbon handprint.“We have world-class expertise in a number of fields, including smart energy systems, fossil-fuel free industrial processes and energy-efficient construction,” said Helena Soimakallio, Executive Director at Technology Industries of Finland.

The Roundtable emphasised the need to integrate the sectoral roadmaps and the export potential of Finnish solutions into the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland and into European and global coronavirus recovery efforts.To follow the work of the Roundtable in social media use #ilmastonpyöreäpöytä and #hiilineutraali2035. To follow the discussion on low-carbon roadmaps use #tiekartat.