Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000375/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Li Andersson (The Left)
Recent data showing that Finland’s forests are changing from carbon sinks to sources of CO2 emissions are threatening to scupper the very foundations of Finland’s climate policy and mean that Finland will not meet its EU climate policy obligations.
Preliminary data for 2023 from Finland’s Natural Resources Institute show that the land‑use sector was a significant emitter, with net emissions of 1.12 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Forest land that previously served as a net carbon sink became a source of emissions as long ago as 2021.
This is mainly due to an uptick in CO2 emissions from the soil, a slowdown in tree growth, increased logging and problematic logging practices. Logging is the most significant explanatory factor and experts maintain that to resolve the situation there needs to be less logging.
The carbon sink provided by the trees is no longer sufficient to cover forest soil emissions, which are being exacerbated by global warming and changes in forest structure.
It is important to ensure that the carbon sequestration capacity of forests is restored, including through improved forest management practices, the mitigation of soil emissions and the coordination of sustainable rates of logging.
The situation in Finland shows that the accuracy of inventory and calculation methods is crucial in monitoring the effectiveness of climate action. At the same time, these methods reveal the need to reassess the sustainability of forestry and logging levels and the impact they have on the EU’s climate objectives.
- 1.If Finland fails to meet its binding EU-level targets for the land‑use sector, what will the costs of that be for Finland?
- 2.Excessive logging is a key reason why the land‑use sector has become a source of emissions. What responsibility does the forestry industry bear for any costs incurred if Finland fails to meet its targets in the land‑use sector?
Submitted: 28.1.2025