Background information

Finland implemented a new Climate Act 2022/423 [Ilmastolaki] which has the objective to ensure that Finland is climate neutral by 2035. In connection to this target, the government of Finland assigned sectoral representatives to create low carbon road maps for selected sectors. The initial maps were completed in 2020. The road maps have been updated recently by request of the Minister of Environment, recognising that the external conditions have changed a lot since 2020 due to shocks such as the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, the energy crisis and inflation.

Content of measure

The low-carbon roadmaps are to describe the sectoral paths towards a low-carbon economy. Having separate roadmaps prepared for each sector help ensure that the sector’s companies consider them relevant and easy to commit to. The low-carbon roadmaps provide the central government estimates of anticipated sectoral development and support policy preparation. These may include greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, as well as timetables for the deployment of new technologies.

The updated low-carbon roadmaps show that work with decarbonisation has proceeded faster than expected, assisted by availability of low-carbon energy. With the help of the updated roadmaps, sectors have an opportunity to present their views on the challenges and progress in their sector in light of the changes of recent years.

Use of measure

Sectoral employers’ organisations have created roadmaps for the Energy industry, Chemical industry, Forest industry, Technology industries, Construction industry, Agriculture, Bioenergy industry, Food and drink industry, Hospitality sector, Property owners, Sawmill industry, Service sector, Commerce, and the Textile and fashion sector.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Sector specific set of companies	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Employers' organisations	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal	Direct consultation outside a formal body

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only employers' organisations
• Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level

Involvement

Employer’s organisations and business associations have taken the lead in preparation of the sectoral road maps, whereas trade union representation has not been included throughout. Only in commerce was the sectoral trade union PAM invited to comment upon the roadmap draft.

Views and reactions

Peak-level trade union SAK notes that several sectors have outlined the skills needs at a general level in their roadmaps and that a just transition requires staff to receive continuous training alongside their work. SAK also states that workers have been left behind in the preparation and updating of the roadmaps.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 30 October 2024: Summary of Sectoral Low-Carbon Roadmaps 2024 (julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi)
• 31 October 2024: Lack of skilled labour jeopardises the success of emission reductions [Osaavan työvoiman puute vaarantaa päästövähennysten onnistumisen] (www.sak.fi)
• 16 December 2024: Low-carbon roadmaps (tem.fi)