Finland, one of the world’s richest countries, has decided to set an example to other wealthy states in the West by pledging to go carbon neutral by 2035, setting one of the world’s earliest timelines for reaching that mark.
Unlike neighboring Norway, which has set an even earlier 2030 carbon neutral target, Finland does not intend to rely on buying credits for carbon-cutting projects in other countries. Environmentalists welcomed the program, which includes energy tax reforms, investment in railways and nature conservation, and sustainability rules for generating energy from burning wood. At the same time, the country will need to phase out fossil fuels, turning to more renewable energy sources such as agricultural waste and forest residues, to ensure sustainability.
