The Finnish Government has appointed the Finnish Climate Change Panel for a new four-year term from 2024 to 2027. The panel is a 15-member independent scientific advisory council that operates based on the national climate act. LUT University’s Professor of Sustainability Science Risto Soukka has now been appointed to the panel, which will be chaired by Professor Jyri Seppälä from the Finnish Environment Institute.
Reports and advice by the panel are used for policy- and decision-making related to the climate. The panel’s members represent different fields of science related closely to mitigating and adapting to climate change, such as transportation, energy, agriculture, forestry, and land usage. Professor Soukka’s contribution to the panel includes expertise in the life cycle impacts of technical systems and the reduction of emissions by technological means.
“My membership in the Finnish Climate Change Panel provides an opportunity to convey knowledge produced at LUT to decision-makers and society. We study areas such as energy solutions and their effect on greenhouse gas emissions. We address technology-related challenges, compare alternatives, and make statements on steering mechanisms that can promote measures such as the adoption of renewable energy sources,” Soukka describes.
Finland aims for climate neutrality by 2035. The goal is challenging but offers opportunities for Finnish industry and business and thus affects the larger society.
“The most important thing is to boost awareness of climate issues in all decision-making. Climate change has progressed to the point that it needs to be taken seriously,” Soukka emphasizes.
“We at LUT develop ways to reduce emissions or sidestep challenges related to the sustainability or safety of technical solutions. The Finnish Climate Change Panel can provide more visibility and, hopefully, more funding for this high-level research. Moreover, understanding of climate change will grow as a result of the interaction between panel members from different research fields,” Soukka points out.
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