Sustainability report assesses infrastructure and mitigation of climate change

The second sustainability report of the Ministry of Transport and Communications emphasises sustainable infrastructure and mitigation of climate change. The three most effective projects in 2022 raised by the report were the national 12-year transport system plan, i.e. Transport 12, the Roadmap for Fossil-free Transport and Finland's Digital Compass.

“Promotion of sustainable development is observed in all activities of the Ministry. Digital connections, transport and communications play a key role in the transformation towards sustainability,” says Permanent Secretary Minna Kivimäki.

“Sustainability means that everyone needs to continuously improve their own activities and assess them from the perspective of future generations,” she says.

Three Agenda 2030 goals

The sustainability reporting instructed by the State Treasury is based on the UN Agenda 2030 sustainability goals of which the Ministry of Transport and Communications selected three:

1.    Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. 
2.    Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. 
3.    Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. 

The reporting is guided by two concepts: handprint and footprint. The focus is on the handprint of an organisation's activities, i.e. the positive impacts achieved through its own activities. The handprint of a ministry is especially visible in legislation and coordination of government funding.

Transport 12 directs towards a more sustainable transport system

The transport system sustainability has partly developed in line with the goals of the Transport 12 plan. Carbon dioxide emissions have decreased, the share of alternative power sources has increased and their distribution network has expanded.

In accordance with Transport 12, a basic plan, a planning programme and an investment plan that are to be updated regularly, have been drawn up for transport infrastructure management. The biggest challenges in the implementation of the Transport 12 Plan are insufficient funding and increased costs.

Roadmap to Fossil-free Transport describes how to halve emissions

The most important tool for mitigating the impacts of climate change is the Roadmap to Fossil-free Transport, which defines how to halve greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 2030. It includes measures to replace fossil fuels, renew the vehicle fleet and improve the efficiency of the transport system. 

The three-stage roadmap is now in its implementation phase. What makes it more difficult to achieve the planned emission reduction measures is the lack of sufficient funding.

Digital Compass paves the way for the digital green transition

Finland's Digital Compass, which was completed last year, is a new tool that promotes an economically, socially and ecologically sustainable digital green transition. 

Digital services and the digitalisation of society must be based on people's needs. We want to keep everyone on board and foster the freedom to learn, innovate and pursue entrepreneurial ambitions.

Finland’s Digital Compass is based on the EU’s digital compass and the Digital Decade 2030 policy programme. Finland is the first EU Member State to draw up a digital compass. 
Its implementation plan is underway. 

Inquiries:

Inquiries and requests for interviews with Permanent Secretary Minna Kivimäki
Susanna Niinivaara, Communications Director, tel. +358 295 342330, [email protected]