Greenpeace accuses Finland of climate inaction

A statement from the six organizations said Finland had set “one of the most stringent net-zero climate targets among industrialized nations” in 2022 and committed to becoming climate neutral by 2035 and achieving net negative emissions thereafter.

In their lawsuit before Finland's Supreme Administrative Court, the groups argue that the right-wing Finnish government's “lack of adequate climate action” constitutes a violation of the country's climate law.

“Our government is failing to implement solutions, cancelling agreed measures and refusing to revise Finland’s outdated climate plan for land use and forestry,” said Kaisa Kosonen, senior policy adviser at Greenpeace.

“This is a violation of climate law and therefore it is our duty as NGOs to take legal action,” she said.

According to the organizations, Finland is not on track to achieve its emissions reduction targets, mainly due to excessive deforestation and a lack of efforts to reduce emissions in the agricultural and transport sectors.

The organizations said the case builds on an earlier ruling by a Finnish court and a recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that found Switzerland had violated the human rights of a group of elderly women by not doing enough to combat global warming.

“Government inaction on climate change is jeopardising the realisation of many human rights, such as the right to life and health and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment,” said Elina Mikola, climate and environment adviser at Amnesty International Finland.

The lawsuit was filed on August 2 by the Finnish Nature Conservation Association, Greenpeace Norden, Amnesty International Finland, Grandparents for Climate, the Finnish Nature League and the Finnish Sami Youth.

Finland's first climate trial ended last year with the Supreme Administrative Court ultimately dismissing a lawsuit against the Finnish state for inadequate climate protection measures.