Sweden and Finland are urging the European Union to revisit its forestry-related climate targets, arguing that current goals are unrealistic. Under the EU’s Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) framework, Sweden is tasked with boosting forest carbon absorption by 4 million tonnes annually by 2030, while Finland’s target is about 3 million tonnes. Both governments warn that these ambitions are being undercut by slower tree growth due to climate change and rising demand for timber products, intensified by global market shifts following the war in Ukraine.
The Nordic neighbors, where forests cover nearly 70% of land area, warn that sticking to the existing rules could severely harm their economies and cost jobs. Forestry products account for nearly 20% of Finland’s exports and more than 10% of Sweden’s exports, making the sector a cornerstone of national income. They are calling for more flexible accounting methods to avoid “crippling restrictions” on forestry. Environmental scientists, however, stress that over-logging and monoculture practices are already weakening forests’ ability to capture carbon, cautioning that loosening rules could jeopardize Europe’s climate goals. More