Land use, agriculture and forests

In most parts of Finland, agricultural production is highly specialised in livestock production. The future development of the agri-food sector depends to a large extent not only on trends in domestic demand and diets, but also the development of export demand and the success of the food industry in export markets. So far, there is no indication that the focus on livestock is declining. This project will involve assessing the potential for Finland to move towards more climate-efficient agriculture and food production. This could mean both a shift towards a more varied, plant-based diet and crop production in line with demand, and the production of livestock products with significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions. The aim is to form an overall picture of how Finnish agriculture as a whole could change if realistic opportunities for and obstacles to climate-efficient agriculture, as identified by operators, are taken into account. This project supports much-needed discussion on options for future food production and agriculture. Project results estimated to be complete: April 2026 Panel member responsible: Research Professor Heikki Lehtonen Involved in the project: Natural Resources Institute Finland, the Finnish Environment Institute and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Projects

Climate-efficient agriculture

From the perspective of Finland’s and the EU’s climate goals, it is important that agriculture becomes more climate efficient. The aim of climate-smart agriculture is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration while simultaneously improving agricultural sustainability and productivity.
Projects

The future of BioCO2

The aim of this project is to set out future scenarios regarding the use of coal originating from forest biomass in Finland and to assess these scenarios’ effects in terms of climate impacts (mainly CO2), energy demand and the national economy.
Projects

MetsäSken2050 – Forest use scenarios and carbon sink development to 2050

In Finland, scenario calculations have been used to set carbon sink targets for forests and support decision-making in the forest sector by estimating the carbon sink potential of forests, either through maintaining past levels of wood use and felling or by estimating the maximum sustainable logging level in terms of wood production. However, the scenario calculations lack an analysis of different options, including lower logging levels than in the past.
Projects

Monimetsä – Analysis of forest use in relation to safeguarding sinks and protecting biodiversity

The Panel’s previous studies have not examined the impacts of conserving biodiversity on the targeting of felling and the carbon sinks in managed forest land. At the provided level of logging, strict conservation will lead to pressure for felling being targeted in a smaller forest area than before, which may be assumed to reduce the carbon sink. On the other hand, the protected areas act as carbon sinks, which will reinforce the sink. The selection of conservation areas will also have an effect: If some of the areas for conservation are established on forest land where felling has been performed, the costs will be lowered and the young forest may offer a better starting point for climate change adaptation.
News

Finnish Climate Change Panel memorandum and report: Achieving climate targets requires rapid corrective action in the LULUCF sector

The Finnish Climate Change Panel's latest publications deal with Finland's pathway to carbon neutrality and the situation in the land use, or LULUCF, sector. Meeting the 2030 commitment set by the EU is an important step towards carbon neutrality by 2035. The challenges in the LULUCF sector must be resolved if we are to avoid other sectors having to bear more of the load when it comes to climate actions. Forest use must change if Finland is to meet its national climate targets and those jointly agreed within the EU.
News

The Finnish Climate Change Panel’s memorandum: Carbon neutrality 2035 is a legitimate and achievable goal

While the transformation of forests from sinks to emission sources undoubtedly makes it more difficult to achieve the target of carbon neutrality enshrined in Finland's Climate Act, it does not make it impossible. By pursuing carbon neutrality, Finland is doing its fair share to mitigate climate change and maintain its attractiveness as a country for clean investment. There is a wealth of research data available to decision-makers to help them find immediately actionable ways to achieve the carbon neutrality target.
Kivinen ranta talvella iltavalossa.