Finland's greenhouse gas emissions increased by 2%

Last year was not the best in Finland when it comes to the fight against climate change. The country had managed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in 2017, but in 2018 they rose again.

The total emissions of greenhouse gases in 2018 correspond with 56.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2). According to Statistics Finland preliminary data, emissions grew by 2% compared to the previous year. The statistical office also emphasized that this amount is 14.9 million tonnes less than in 1990.

The growth in emissions was most affected by increased consumption of natural gas and peat. Emissions not included in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) remained at last year’s level and were 0.3 million tonnes above the emission allocations set by the EU.

*LULUCF refers to the land use, land use change and forestry sector. Source: Statistics Finland

Higher increase in energy sector

In the energy sector, emissions grew by 3%, the growth was most affected by increased consumption of natural gas and peat. Emissions from industrial processes and product use remained on level with 2017, emissions from agriculture declined by 1% and emissions in the waste sector by 2% from 2017 to 2018.

The net sink of the land use, land use change and forestry sector (LULUCF) was -9.8 million tonnes of CO2 in 2018, or 43% lower than in the year before. Record high felling affected the decrease in the net sink.