The Finnish Climate Change Panel is an independent scientific advisory panel mandated law to support planning and decision-making related to climate policy. The role and tasks of the Panel were defined for the first time in the 2015 Climate Act. The reformed Climate Act entered into force in 2023.
See the Climate Act (Finlex, in Finnish)
According to the Act, the Government appoints an independent scientific expert body – the Finnish Climate Change Panel – to support climate policy making. The Panel is tasked with produce, compile and analyse scientific information and identify information needs concerning climate change mitigation and adaptation for climate policy planning, implementation, monitoring and decision-making.
The Government Decree contains more provisions on the appointment of the Panel and the selection of its members.
See the Government Decree (Finlex, in Finnish)
Prior to the Climate Act of 2015, the Finnish Climate Change Panel operated as an expert panel appointed by the Ministry of the Environment.
You can read more about the operation of the Panel on our website under The Finnish Climate Change Panel. The Finnish Climate Change Panel’s reports and other publications are available in the publications search, while statements are available under statements search. The members for the current term are introduced in more detail on our website, and you will also find a list of the Panel’s members from every previous term below.
Read more about the Finnish Climate Change Panel
The Finnish Climate Change Panel 2024–2027
The Panel’s third term as a scientific advisory body appointed in accordance with the Climate Act.
Presiding officers
Jyri Seppälä, Chairperson of the Finnish Climate Panel, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)
Antti Arasto, Vice Chair of the Finnish Climate Change Panel, Research manager, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Raisa Mäkipää, Vice Chair of the Finnish Climate Change Panel, Research Professor, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
Members of the Panel
Lassi Ahlvik, Assistant Professor, University of Helsinki
Jaana Halonen, Senior Researcher, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Paula Kivimaa, Research Professor, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)
Kati Koponen, Special Researcher, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Hannele Korhonen, Research Professor and Branch Director, Finnish Meteorological Institute (1 Jan 2024–30 Sep 2025)
Kati Kulovesi, Professor, University of Eastern Finland
Jarek Kurnitski, Docent, Aalto University and Professor, Tallinn University of Technology
Heikki Lehtonen, Research Professor, Natural Resources Institute Finland
Heikki Liimatainen, Professor, Tampere University
Sampo Soimakallio, Development Manager & Leading Researcher, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)
Risto Soukka, Professor, Lappeenranta University of Technology
Anne Toppinen, Vice Dean & Professor, University of Helsinki
The Finnish Climate Change Panel 2020–2023
The Panel’s second term as a scientific advisory body appointed in accordance with the Climate Act. The reformed Climate Act entered into force in 2023.
Presiding officers
Markku Ollikainen, Chairperson of the Finnish Climate Panel, Professor emeritus, University of Helsinki
Hannele Korhonen, Vice Chair of the Finnish Climate Change Panel, Research Professor, Finnish Meteorological Institute
Peter Lund, Vice Chair of the Finnish Climate Change Panel, Professor, Aalto University
Members of the Panel
Antti Arasto, Research manager, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Ari Ekroos, Professor, Aalto University
Jouni Jaakkola, Professor, University of Oulu
Sirkku Juhola, Professor, University of Helsinki
Paula Kivimaa, Research Professor, Finnish Environment Institute
Jarek Kurnitski, Professor, Aalto University
Jukka Käyhkö, Professor, University of Turku
Kristiina Lång (formerly Regina), Research Professor, Natural Resources Institute Finland
Heli Peltola, Professor, University of Eastern Finland (from 13 August 2020)
Tuula Packalen, Research Professor, Natural Resources Institute Finland (1 Jan 2020–12 Aug 2020)
Jyri Seppälä, Professor, Researcher, Finnish Environment Institute
Annukka Vainio, Assistant Professor, University of Helsinki
Timo Vesala, Research Professor, University of Helsinki
The Finnish Climate Change Panel 2016–2019
The Panel’s first term as a scientific advisory body appointed in accordance with the Climate Act.
Markku Ollikainen, Chairperson of the Finnish Climate Panel, Professor, University of Helsinki
Antti Asikainen, Research Professor, Natural Resources Institute Finland
Marja Järvelä, Professor, University of Jyväskylä
Markku Kanninen, Professor, University of Helsinki
Maria Kopsakangas-Savolainen, Research Professor, University of Oulu
Kati Kulovesi, Professor, University of Eastern Finland
Timo Lanki, Senior Researcher, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Marita Laukkanen, Senior Economist, VATT Institute for Economic Research
Heikki Liimatainen, Assistant Professor, Tampere University of Technology
Lassi Linnanen, Professor, Lappeenranta University of Technology
Ilkka Ratinen, Assistant Professor, University of Lapland
Kristiina Regina, Research Professor, Natural Resources Institute Finland
Jyri Seppälä, Professor, Finnish Environment Institute
Yrjö Viisanen, Research Manager, Finnish Meteorological Institute
Miimu Airaksinen, Research Professor, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (resigned mid-term)
The Finnish Climate Change Panel 2014–2015
The Finnish Climate Change Panel operated as an independent scientific panel appointed by the Ministry of the Environment Prior to the Climate Act of 2015.
Markku Ollikainen, Chairperson of the Finnish Climate Panel, Professor, University of Helsinki
Miimu Airaksinen, Research Professor, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Hannele Cantell, University lecturer, University of Helsinki
Sirkku Juhola, Assistant Professor, Aalto University and University of Helsinki
Marja Järvelä, Professor, University of Jyväskylä
Markku Kanninen, Professor, University of Helsinki
Kai T. Kokko, Professor, University of Helsinki
Kati Kulovesi, Professor, University of Eastern Finland
Heikki Liimatainen, Postdoctoral Researcher, Tampere University of Technology
Pirjo Peltonen-Sainio, Professor, MTT Agrifood Research Finland (currently Natural Resources Institute Finland)
Jyri Seppälä, Professor, Finnish Environment Institute
Sanna Syri, Professor, Aalto University
Petteri Taalas, Director General, Finnish Meteorological Institute
Timo Vesala, Professor, University of Helsinki
The Finnish Climate Change Panel 2011–2013
The Finnish Climate Change Panel operated as an independent scientific panel appointed by the Ministry of the Environment Prior to the Climate Act of 2015.
Markku Kulmala, Chairperson of the Finnish Climate Panel, Professor, University of Helsinki
Miimu Airaksinen, Research Professor, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Hannele Cantell, University lecturer, University of Helsinki
Sirkku Juhola, Researcher and Climate team leader, Aalto University
Marja Järvelä, Professor, University of Jyväskylä
Markku Kanninen, Professor, University of Helsinki
Kai T. Kokko, Professor, University of Lapland
Markku Ollikainen, Professor, University of Helsinki
Pirjo Peltonen-Sainio, Professor, MTT Agrifood Research Finland (currently Natural Resources Institute Finland)
Ilkka Savolainen, Research Professor, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Jyri Seppälä, Professor, Finnish Environment Institute
Sanna Syri, Professor, Aalto University
Petteri Taalas, Director General, Finnish Meteorological Institute