Finland is aiming to be the world’s first fossil fuel free society, becoming completely carbon neutral by 2035.

The announcement comes as Finns prepare to take over the rotating EU presidency from Romania in July, with a wider 2050 EU climate deal on negotiating table.

“It’s a good day for Finns! People demanded faster climate action and that’s what we’re going to get. Building the world’s first fossil free, sustainable society is going to require much more than nice words on paper, but we’re determined to make it happen. It’s an exciting journey we want to embark on”, commented Sini Harkki, programme manager of Greenpeace Nordic in Finland.

The government programme, where carbon neutrality, sustainability and circular economy are overriding themes, follows a historical election where tackling climate crisis became the number one election topic. According to Climate Barometer, a survey carried out ahead of the election, 70 per cent of Finns wanted climate solutions to be among the next government’s priority themes.

The government programme release today still needs to be formally approved by the parties forming the government, namely the Social Democratic Party, the Center Party, the Greens, the Left Alliance and the Swedish People’s Party.

Norway has already set goals to carbon neutrality by 2030 but Finland is determined to achieve this goal without having to purchase international carbon credits and offsets, possibility because of Norway’s dependence on oil.

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