Finland can have a big role in raising ambition in climate work

The level of ambition in global climate work needs to be improved already before 2020 in order that the objectives of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to the level of 1.5–2°C can be achieved. This is the conclusion of the study Prospects after the Paris Conference and Finnish climate solutions, published on 19 December. There are many ways to raise the ambition.

Commitments to emissions reductions may be made by countries where these are still lacking, while other countries may expand or tighten their commitments. Emissions may be reduced in sectors not covered by the commitments. We can support international cooperation projects and speed up the introduction of climate solutions. The various forums to promote climate solutions and encourage to cooperation associated with the UN Convention on Climate Change can be reinforced. Finland can assume an active role in all these endeavours.

Finland can also multiply its own positive impact on the climate by offering emissions-reducing solutions to be used by the rest of the world. The report presents a hundred of such solutions, covering a broad spectrum of Finnish expertise from energy production to agriculture, technology to political guidance, and products manufactured by companies to projects undertaken by NGOs.

As a whole the Paris Agreement has been well received in the largest countries whose decisions have the greatest weight, international organisations monitoring the climate negotiations, and the media. Countries with the highest emissions have been happy about the equality aspects of the agreement and have only slight reservations as to its credibility. In the organisations and media, however, the reactions have been more varied.

There are considerable differences in the level of ambition of the objectives, emissions trends, standard of emissions estimates and policy actions between the 12 countries or regions with the highest emissions. Complications in making comparisons concerning the level of ambition in climate change policy are due to the poor reliability of emissions estimates in certain countries and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. Responding to these challenges is one of the main development tasks in future work on the Paris Agreement.

The study Prospects after the Paris Conference and Finnish climate solutions was conducted as part of the Government plan for analysis, assessment and research 2016. The report was drawn up by Oras Tynkkynen, Tommi Ekholm, Kati Kulovesi, Anna Laine, Tomi J. Lindroos, Riikka Siljander and Mika Sulkinoja.

Prospects after the Paris Conference and Finnish climate solutions (Report in Finnish)

The report is part of the project on the preparation for the obligations of the Paris climate change agreement led by GreenStream Network and implemented in cooperation between the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Tyrsky Consulting, Indufor and CC Law.

Further information about the Government’s analysis, assessment and research at tietokayttoon.fi.

Inquiries:

Oras Tynkkynen, Senior Advisor, Tyrsky Consulting, tel. +358 50 512 1584, oras.tynkkynen (at) tyrskyconsulting.fi

Tommi Ekholm, Senior Scientist, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, tel. +358 40 775 4079, tommi.ekholm (at) vtt.fi