events

Sitra following the Climate Change Conference in Poland

We have compiled a series of climate solutions whose application would enable the attainment of more ambitious climate goals. Here you can find Sitra's experts on climate change and the side events at the Climate Change Conference that we participate in.

Kuvituskuva, jossa sähköauton kyydissä erilaisia ilmastoratkaisuja — Kuva: Topias Dean / Sitra

December 2, 2018 at 12:00 am - December 14, 2018 at 12:00 am
Poland, Katowice

As the Climate Change Conference in Poland continues, there is more demand than ever for setting more ambitious climate goals, and Finland could play a much larger role than its relative size as a nation may merit in the development of climate solutions. The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra has compiled a series of climate solutions whose application would enable the attainment of these more ambitious goals.

World leaders and decision-makers have been convening for the UN Climate Change Conference in Poland, taking place between 2 and 14 February, to negotiate the rules under which the Paris Agreement will be implemented. The aim is to agree on common practices for reporting and monitoring emissions cuts and the evaluation and promotion of the impact of climate solutions in different countries. Current measures are not enough to keep the rise in average temperature within the limits agreed on in the Paris Agreement.

Side events we participate in

Tuesday 4 December

Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency: potential and opportunities for transformative global climate action
Time: 12:30-14:00
Venue: EU Pavilion
Oras Tynkkynen as a speaker in the event.

Renewable Energy for cities: achieving the 1.5°C goal
Time: 16:30-18:00
Venue: WWF Pavilion
Oras Tynkkynen as a speaker in the event.

Friday 7 December

Circular Cities Combating Climate Change
Time: 9:30-11:00
Venue: Benelux Pavilion
Oras Tynkkynen as a speaker in the event.

Nordic Council of Ministers project meeting
Time: 11:00-12:30
Venua: Nordic Pavilion
Oras Tynkkynen as a participator in the event.

A Circular Economy transition as a catalyst for combatting global Climate Challenges
Time: 11.30-13:00
Venue: Benelux Pavilion
Kari Herlevi as a speaker in the event.

Monday 10 December

Upscaling clean energy from fossil fuel subsidies swaps
Time: 10:15-11:45
Venue: Nordic Pavilion
Oras Tynkkynen as a speaker in the event.

Baltic-Nordic solutions and scenarios to meet the Paris targets
Time: 13:15-14:30
Venue: Nordic Pavilion
Oras Tynkkynen as a speaker in the event. View the event flyer here.

Tuesday 11 December

Smart cities – Smart finance
Time: 16.30-18.00
Venue: EU Pavilion
Oras Tynkkynen as a speaker in the event.

Thursday 13 December

Nordic Talanoa Dialogue
Time: 14:30-16:00
Venue: Nordic Pavilion
Oras Tynkkynen leads the dialogue.

Sitra’s experts reporting on the UN Climate Change Conference

Sitra’s experts reporting on the UN Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland

Oras Tynkkynen (in Poland on 2-15 December)
Climate policy, climate solutions and international climate negotiations
Tel. +358 50 512 1584, oras.tynkkynen@sitra.fi

Tuuli Hietaniemi (in Poland on 10-15 December)
Climate policy and international climate negotiations
Tel. +358 50 516 8115, tuuli.hietaniemi@sitra.fi

Kari Herlevi (in Poland on 7 December)
Circular economy
Tel. +358 50 463 9397, kari.herlevi@sitra.fi

Sitra’s experts reporting on the UN Climate Change Conference in Finland

Mari Pantsar
Carbon-neutral circular economy as a solution to climate change
Tel. +358 50 382 0755, mari.pantsar@sitra.fi

Janne Peljo
Climate solutions and innovations
Tel. +358 40 528 5754, janne.peljo@sitra.fi

Saara Tamminen
Economic policy related to climate change, ecological tax reform and competitive strength
Tel. +358 50 516 8135, saara.tamminen@sitra.fi

Outi Haanperä
Economic policy related to climate change and emissions trade
puh. +358 50 572 2169, outi.haanpera@sitra.fi

Mariko Landström
Climate change mitigation and technological solutions
Tel. +358 45 845 0075, mariko.landstrom@sitra.fi

Press contacts

Sanna Autere, Communications specialist, Tel. +358 50 331 7510, sanna.autere@sitra.fi
Samuli Laita, Communications specialist, Tel. +358 40 536 8650, samuli.laita@sitra.fi

news

These Finnish solutions help cut global emissions

Aspects of climate solutions

A more ambitious climate policy is required to guarantee Finland’s future success. For example, in its long-term climate strategy published on 28 November, the European Commission emphasised how essential it is to pair conventional methods of cutting emissions with new climate solutions, in which Finland is a global forerunner: the circular economy, bioeconomy, carbon sinks and capture, and sustainable consumer choices. More extensive implementation of these practices to attain the climate goals set by the EU may, in the best-case scenario, mean a competitive advantage for Finnish solutions.
Finland can reduce its emissions cost-effectively
The message of the IPCC special report Global Warming of 1.5 °C, published in October, is clear: the whole world must take rapid and decisive action to reduce emissions, and measures are necessary in all sectors. According to a recent Sitra report, Finland will be able to reduce its emissions in a cost-efficient manner by 60 per cent by 2030, which is in line with its Paris Agreement commitments: .
Green to Scale
Emissions can be reduced considerably by adopting existing climate solutions on a broader scale. Read more about Green to Scale solutions that are applicable in different countries.
International study: Nordic climate solutions have large potential in Poland
Nordic climate solutions have major potential in countries such as Poland, the host country of the UN Climate Change Conference. By adopting 10 low-carbon solutions (for example, for wind power, electric cars and energy-efficient construction), Poland could reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 71 million tonnes by 2030.
Halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030: Roadmap shows what’s needed in each sector
Global emissions can be halved by 2030, but this requires consistent policies, effective climate leadership and the harnessing of digital revolutions as drivers of low-carbon industries, as explained in the report commissioned by Sitra and Future Earth, a network of environmental think tanks. The roadmap lists essential measures in different sectors.
Study: local authorities more ambitious than central government in their climate targets and measures
Local authorities in Finland have taken a more ambitious approach to their climate goals and actions than central government. The most common target year named by municipalities by which they will achieve carbon-neutrality is 2030, whereas central government has set the target date at 2045.
The cost of climate change for Finland is estimated to be one billion euros. Climate change is already generating costs, and these costs are expected to rise substantially if global warming is not stopped.
Ground-breaking analysis finds that the circular economy could make it possible to keep global warming below 2°C
The goals of the Paris Agreement will remain unattainable unless a circular economy for the four largest material groups – plastics, aluminium, steel and concrete – is successfully introduced. Circular business models, the recirculation of materials and the greater material efficiency of products are the keys to building a competitive, net-zero emissions industrial economy in Europe.
Ten things you need to know about the new climate report
Last October, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, published its long-awaited report on the limiting of global warming to 1.5 °C. Sitra’s senior advisor Oras Tynkkynen has compiled a list of the main points from the report and recommendations on what to do next.