Finland Times

The government has set up a parliamentary committee to prepare roadmaps on energy security and climate change impact up to 2050, an official release said Friday.

The committee chaired by Minister of Economic Affairs Jan Vapaavuori, has two representatives from each party with seats in the parliament. The panel will work until May 30, 2014 to prepare the strategy on two crucial matters.

The committee is tasked to prepare an energy and climate roadmap for 2050 containing analysis of the means and costs for the construction of low-carbon society and an 80 to 95 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases from the level of 1990 by 2050.

It will assess the objectives and position of Finland in relation to European energy and climate policies and broader international development. 

Assessment of impact of different measures on competitiveness and welfare in society are also felt necessary. The committee was asked to report back to the Government's Ministerial Working Group on Climate and Energy Policy by latest in spring 2014.

In the committee, the National Coalition Party is represented by minister Vapaavuori and Marjo Matikainen-Kallström, MP; the Social Democratic Party by minister of Labour Lauri Ihalainen and Sirpa Paatero, MP; the Finns Party by MPs Pirkko Mattila and Kaj Turunen; the Centre Party by MPs Mauri Pekkarinen and Mirja Vehkaperä; the Left Alliance by MPs Silvia Modig and Jari Myllykoski; the Swedish People's Party by minister of Defence Carl Haglund and Christina Gestrin, MP; the Green League by minister of the Environment Ville Niinistö and Oras Tynkkynen, MP, and the Christian Democrats by MPs Sauli Ahvenjärvi and Sari Palm.

The official release said that Finland's long term objective is a carbon-neutral society, which can be achieved by following a strategy-based roadmap for 2050 aiming at the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emission in all sectors, improving energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy.