The following statement was submitted to the Finnish Parliament's Commerce Committee on the 16th of February 2026 regarding Government Report on the Long-Term Climate Plan.

We at Climate Leadership Coalition (CLC) welcome the opportunity to comment on the Government Report on the long-term climate plan. We believe that starting this work early is excellent, as a stable and predictable policy environment is the most critical factor for attracting the long-term industrial investments Finland needs. However, while the report provides a useful framework, we argue that the current scenarios are too cautious and do not fully reflect Finland’s true economic potential.

Finland’s competitive advantage relies on rapid electrification, yet the report’s most optimistic scenarios for electricity consumption reach only about 60% of the levels projected by Fingrid. We stress that current plans do not sufficiently account for the more than €300 billion in clean energy investments already in the pipeline. To avoid limiting our role in the green transition, we urge the government to adopt more proactive scenarios that maximize Finland’s carbon handprint and accelerate the development of hydrogen and carbon-removal markets.

We highlight that the 2035 carbon neutrality target is a key driver for investment and growth, yet it is currently achieved in only one of the four scenarios. We call for the 2035 goal to be the starting point for multiple pathways, utilizing a broader range of measures, such as stronger electrification, technical sinks (BECCS), and the proactive development of carbon sequestration markets, rather than relying primarily on harvest adjustments.

Overall, our statement emphasizes that Finland has immense potential to lead the clean transition, but success requires avoiding overly cautious planning. By setting more ambitious background scenarios now, we can better secure Finland's future economic well-being and its position as a global frontrunner.

Read and download the full statement below (in Finnish)