Recipes for Systemic Change - Helsinki Design Lab

While there are many policy options on the table, few have been adoptedby the central government. An October 2009 Deutsche Bank (DBCCA) surveyof worldwide climate change policies cites three targets in Finland:➢ Kyoto Protocol: 0% change in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990levels for the period 2008-2012 under EU burden sharing agreements.➢ EU Renewable Directive 2001/77/EC: 31.5% of gross electricity generationfrom renewable sources by 2010 (2008 renewable energy share was28% suggesting Finland is on track to meet its target (Statistics Finland);DBCCA found no likely penalties for non-compliance even though thedirective requires the Commission to begin infringement proceedings ifthe Member State does not meet its target).➢ EU Directive 2009/28/EC: 38% of gross final energy consumptionfrom renewable sources by 2020.While the overall rate of policy adoption in Finland is comparable tothose of other EU states, all three of these policies originated from externalsources. The lack of internally driven policies is indicative of the extentto which Finland has looked externally for guidance on how to direct itsclimate change activities.However, these Directives have instigated the internal development ofmeasures aimed at reaching compliance. The EU Renewable Energy Source(RES) Directives resulted in supportive policy actions that are highly ratedby the DBCCA. These include tax exemptions, investment subsidies, feed-intariffs for wind and national grid access for all users and plants.The Prime Minister’s Foresight report and the 2008 Long-term Climateand Energy Strategy have provided new focus for the conversationin Finland. However, for all of the policy papers and reports, few systemicimpacts have been made. Comprehensive public policies, investments andactivity in the public and private sectors remain at inadequate levels toachieve an 80 percent emissions reduction.215