Carbon sinks do not compensate emissions

Finland aims to become carbon neutral by 2035. This means that by then, forests and other carbon sinks should absorb as much carbon dioxide as is emitted through climate-related emissions in Finland. To achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, emissions must be significantly reduced and carbon sinks strengthened rapidly.

The greenhouse gas balances of the land use sector are also subject to binding climate obligations set by the EU, which currently extend until 2030. According to an assessment published by Finland’s Climate Panel in spring 2025, Finland risks falling short of these obligations by nearly 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over the periods 2021–2025 and 2026–2030 combined.

The carbon sink capacity of forests has weakened, and annual variation is considerable

Forests absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, storing it in both biomass and forest soil. Logging removes carbon from forests along with harvested wood, most of which is released quickly when wood and wood products are burned. Currently, only a small portion of the carbon harvested from forests ends up in long-lived wood products.

Over the past 15 years, logging in Finland has increased significantly. At the same time, the annual growth of forests has declined, and emissions from the soil of peatlands have risen. Together, these factors have turned forests in Finland from a major carbon sink into a source of emissions. The annual carbon sink or emission fluctuates strongly, mainly due to variations in logging.