Preparation of emissions trading in the national road transport sector starts – working group appointed

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has appointed an cross-sectoral working group of public officials to prepare for and assess the implementation of an emissions trading scheme for the national road transport sector. The work is part of the process to prepare the Roadmap to fossil-free transport.

The working group is chaired by Niko-Matti Ronikonmäki, Chief Specialist at the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The members are Senior Ministerial Adviser Matleena Kurki-Suutarinen and Senior Specialist Tuuli Ojala from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Chief Specialist Outi Ampuja and Director Jarno Ilme from the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, Chief Specialist Johanna Pakkala from the Energy Authority, Senior Ministerial Adviser Juhani Tirkkonen from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Senior Specialist Ilari Valjus from the Ministry of Finance and Senior Specialist Ville Laasonen from the Ministry of the Environment.

The Roadmap aims to halve transport emissions by 2030. The measures of the Roadmap concern the road transport sector, which accounts for the majority of transport emissions.

The task of the working group is to draw up a comprehensive report that assesses and prepares the measures required for the national implementation of emissions trading, including a timetable for their implementation. Emissions trading in the road transport sector would be needed for a situation where the first and second phase measures of the Roadmap to fossil-free transport would not be adequate to achieve the emission reductions set as the target.

In autumn 2021, the Government will assess whether the decisions made at the EU level and the means presented in the Roadmap are sufficient to halve the greenhouse gas emissions of the transport sector by 2030. If it seems that the target will not be achieved, the Government will take decisions on the third phase measures that will be needed.

At the moment there is no EU legislation in place to regulate emissions trading in the road transport sector within Member States. There is also no national legislation on emissions trading in the sector.

What next?

The term of the working group on emissions trading in the national road transport sector is 3 March-1 December 2021.

The Government will issue a resolution on the Roadmap to fossil-free transport in spring 2021.

Inquiries:

Niko-Matti Ronikonmäki, Chief Specialist, chair of the working group, tel. +358 50 514 2493, Twitter @ronikni