Updating sectoral low-carbon roadmaps responds to the challenges of the time
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment began to update the low-carbon roadmaps together with the sectors in autumn 2023. In accordance with the Programme of Prime Minister Orpo’s Government, the roadmaps from 2020 have now been updated to correspond to the changed operating environment and technological development of sectors and companies. This time, 14 sectors systematically investigated ways to decarbonisation.
A publication seminar organised by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on 6 June 2024 examined the completed roadmaps as well as the updates still under preparation. Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen opened the seminar.
“The roadmap work shows the multiplier effects of clean electricity production in the emission reduction paths. The roadmaps seem to emphasise the role of the hydrogen economy even more than before. I am pleased that the combined capacity of the current investment plans will pave the way for Finland to be a European leader in the hydrogen economy throughout the value chain. However, the large number of plans does not guarantee that the projects will proceed. What we need are concrete investments, above all,” Mykkänen said.
“I also look forward to finding out whether the roadmap process can create new, synergic cooperation between the sectors. A smart energy system is a theme that I expect to hear more about. I am also interested in the views of the sectors on the potential offered by technical sinks and the recovery of bio-based carbon dioxide in Finland,” Mykkänen adds.
Sectors and companies participate in the low-carbon work voluntarily. The work promotes a dialogue within the sectors and speeds up cooperation between the sectors in solving sustainability challenges. Such implementation ensures that the companies in the sector consider the roadmaps relevant and easy to commit to. All sectors essential for reducing emissions have been involved in the work.
“The update of the low-carbon roadmaps continues the fine and productive cooperation between sectoral organisations and the Ministry to reduce emissions and speed up investments in the clean transition,” says Juhani Tirkkonen, Senior Ministerial Adviser at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
Electrification, hydrogen economy and importance of digitalisation are new themes in the updates
The energy transition and geopolitical changes are shaping companies’ operating environments in an unprecedented manner. The roadmaps describe the different sectoral paths towards a low-carbon economy. They enable the sectors to present their views on the development and opportunities in a changing world.
The updates have identified new information needs, especially with regard to artificial intelligence, skills needs, the carbon handprint and the availability of critical raw materials. According to preliminary data, several roadmaps highlight electrification, and intertwined with it, the hydrogen economy and digitalisation as major themes. Some sectors have also examined the emissions from companies’ value chains (scope 3 emissions), which has drawn more attention to the importance of cooperation between the sectors. The summary appended to this press release provides more information about the sectoral highlights.
The roadmaps offer the government estimates of the sectoral development in the future. They also help to create a more accurate picture of the scale, costs and preconditions of the necessary measures and increase awareness of the opportunities created by carbon neutrality. The roadmaps are an internationally unique form of dialogue between business and industry and the central government. The results are used in the preparation of the energy and climate strategy and the industrial policy strategy, and in this way, they support policy preparation.
The roadmaps provide the central government with assessments of sectoral development, which makes it easier to formulate policy measures to reduce emissions, to allocate research and development funding and to demonstrate the potential for exports and international growth offered by low-carbon solutions.
Sectors to publish their updates in summer and early autumn – Seven sectors to publish by 11 June
The aim is for most updates to be completed by summer 2024. The roadmaps have already been published by Finnish Energy (16 May), Technology Industries of Finland (5 June) and Service Sector Employers Palta (5 June), Bioenergy Association of Finland (7 June) and Finnish Commerce Federation (10 June). Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries RT and Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation will publish their roadmaps on 11 June. Other sectors involved in the roadmap work include Chemical Industry Federation of Finland, Finnish Forest Industries, Finnish Hospitality Association MaRa, Finnish Textile & Fashion, Finnish Sawmills Association, Finnish Property Owners Rakli and Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners MTK, which will publish their updates later.
Inquiries:
Juhani Tirkkonen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 50 365 3412 (Energy Department)
Antti Valle, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 060 140 (Innovations and Enterprise Financing Department)
Katja Tuokko, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 660