Towards a carbon neutral Northern Ostrobothnia

Greenhouse gas emissions are monitored according to the effort-sharing sector and the emissions trading sector. From the beginning of 2021, the LULUCF sector is also included in the national reporting. 

The effort-sharing sector includes transport, part of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, emissions from separate heating of buildings, machinery, waste management and fluorinated greenhouse gases.

In the EU, emissions trading regulates emission allowances. The system covers large industrial installations, large electricity and heat production installations and intra-EU air transport.

The LULUCF sector includes emissions from the land use sector (carbon sinks and emissions from land use, land use change and forestry).  

In the roadmap, greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ostrobothnia are examined mainly in accordance with the Hinku limits of the regional calculation model (ALas) produced by the Finnish Environment Institute. The calculation mainly concerns emissions from the effort-sharing sector and the factors that can be influenced in municipalities. Carbon neutral municipalities (Hinku) aim to reduce emissions by 80% from 2007 to 2030. The figures in the ALas calculation model do not include emissions trading for industry nor LULUCF sector. In the figure is the situation in 2018.

When setting goals, it is essential to know which actions have an impact and whether the objectives are achievable. More detailed studies were carried out on sectors significant to North Ostrobothnia in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the carbon offsetting effect of onshore wind power projects was assessed.

The reports of how measures in transport, agriculture and the energy use of peat affect greenhouse gas emissions, but also the regional economy can be found here (in Finnish):  http:pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi/popilmasto/selvitykset 

The climate roadmap includes seven key themes, not forgetting adaptation to climate change. In total, almost 130 measures, in which each actor can find their own to be carried out. Northern Ostrobothnia has every opportunity to reach its goal of being a carbon neutral region.

There is no reason to bury our head in the bush, but it is time for action!

Below are the key themes at the main level. Read more about the 130 measures:  Northern Ostrobothnia Climate Roadmap - 2021-2030 - Towards a carbon neutral Northern Ostrobothnia. 

Northern Ostrobothnia has abundant natural resources. The bioeconomy benefits the region in a diverse way; The main sectors are agriculture, forestry, forest industry and the food industry. 

In the future, investing in the circular economy will ensure that nothing ends up as waste anymore, but the material is always a resource for some operator.

With a sustainable bioeconomy, we can get rid of fossil-based raw materials and produce products that bind carbon for a long time and have a high added value.

Northern Ostrobothnia is the region of renewable and low-emission energy, and the leading wind power producer in Finland. Nearly 40 % of the country's wind power is produced here. Different technologies, such as gas, wind, solar energy and bioenergy, will be developed, utilised and promoted. It is also important to support energy-efficiency.

Northern Ostrobothnia is strongly involved in the development of future energy sources and in solving the challenges caused by the transformation of the energy economy.

In long-distance Northern Ostrobothnia, low-emission motion power is important. In the future, lower-emission vehicles will be used in our region; such as electric and gas cars. The public sector sets a good example in its procurement.

The need for mobility is reduced by planning land use and service structure. Sustainable mobility and efficient transport of goods are enabled through transport system planning that takes climate aspects into account.

The measures include developing and using public transport, increasing the shared use of mobility and machinery as well as combined transports. Telecommunications connections, that enable remote work and location-independent work reducing mobility and emissions, are to be promoted.

In reducing transport emissions, cooperation between different sectors is emphasised.

Northern Ostrobothnia is a nationally important agricultural region. The main production lines are beef and milk production. In crop cultivation, potato cultivation is characteristic of the region. Organic farms are some of the largest in the country and their number is rising.

Agriculture already plays an essential role in climate change mitigation as a carbon sink. Agriculture will become an increasingly important carbon sink in the future.

The goal in the region is clean food, well-being of animals, producers and the environment. It is also in the farmers’ own interest to try to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. 

In agriculture, the utilisation of side streams create new business opprotunities. Biogas production is one potential business in the region.

Proactive and well-considered land and spatial planning creates the conditions for a low-carbon and sustainable transport system and the use of renewable forms of energy. Land use solutions play a role in adapting to climate change. The regional plan steers e.g. wind power, peat production, the location of renewable energy and bioeconomy and circular economy areas.

Land use planning is the everyday work of municipalities.

The transition of construction to low-carbon production is important in the fight against climate change, as half of the world's raw materials are used in the construction sector.

The fight against climate change is a cross-cutting theme in the reform of the Land Use and Building Act, so these issues are now even more important.

The forests and bogs of Northern Ostrobothnia are large carbon sinks. They committed €1.8 million tCO2e greenhouse gas emissions in 2018. Forestry and the forestry industry are significant employers – wood as a substitute for fossil raw materials, long-term carbon-sequestering products and exports, as well as regional energy.

The region's forests and their products and ecosystem services are used actively, economically, ecologically, socially and culturally sustainably. Peat is used sustainably.

Measures in the forest sector promote carbon sequestration in forests, carbon stocks and the preservation of biodiversity.

Forests have many roles!

Cooperation between the regions and different sectors creates vitality and business opportunities. Cooperation takes place between companies, the public sector and the third sector.

The region and various programmes serve as a platform for climate work. The ICT sector should be integrated into the solutions to challenges in order to obtain up-to-date and correct information as a basis for decisions. The measures include strengthening information, communication and training as well as creating diverse networks and new sources of funding.

We need more than technological expertise to mitigate and adapt to climate change!

Adaptation to climate change will prevent or mitigate the negative impacts of change but also capitalise on the positive impacts of change.

More information:  National Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2022 

In the region, climate work is active and the actors have good discourse with each other. Good practices multiply and the challenges are resolved together. But long-term approach is still needed, as the visible effects will require decades.

The Council of Oulu Region coordinates the meetings of the  Advisory Council  (2022-2025) established by the Board of the Regional Council. The Advisory Council will convene together with the Canemure Regional Cooperation Group 2–3 times a year. Canemure project will run until 2024. The roadmap will be updated in 2023/2024. 

In order to achieve the climate objectives as set out in broad cooperation, we need shared leadership, commitment and joint action by actors as well as financial resources and the full use of these resources.

The EU’s Green Deal, EU regional and structural policy programmes and national funding allocate significant resources to climate action.

 The calculation of greenhouse gas emissions , which is updated annually by the Finnish Environment Institute, is used to assess the effectiveness of the measures.