Environment
- Transport and environment
- Regulations
- Reducing transport-induced environmental damage
- Monitoring environmental work
- Transport environmental programmes and policy
- Climate Policy Programme for the Ministry of Transport and Communications’ administrative branch
1. Transport and environment
The most significant environmental challenges for the transport
sector are climate change, the degradation of air quality, noise,
pollution of ground water, the use of natural resources, waste
production and the decline of biodiversity.
Transport causes about 20 per cent of Finland’s greenhouse gas
emissions. Of what are known as traditional emissions, transport
accounts for 20–60 per cent, depending on the compounds. In
addition to exhaust gases, transport increases impurities in the
air mechanically, e.g. street dust.
The noise and vibration from traffic degrades the quality and
comfort of living environments and also has an adverse effect on
people’s well-being.
The construction and maintenance of roads consume natural
resources and generate waste. In addition, roads and other
structures needed for transport require a significant amount of
space.
In many ways, transport also affects biodiversity and the
condition of the Baltic Sea region.
2. Regulations
A large part of the legislation that concerns transport
environmental questions comes directly from EU Directives. The
Ministry of Transport and Communications participates in the
preparation of these Directives and incorporates them into Finnish
legislation.
In addition to legislation, the Ministry’s officials and its
administrative representatives take part in the preparation of
international agreements concerning the environment and
transport.
3. Reducing transport-induced environmental damage
The Ministry of Transport and Communications deals with the
reduction of the harmful effects of transport as part of overall
transport policy. The Government Programme proposes that transport
emissions be reduced by, for example, supporting public transport,
the rejuvenation of the motor stock and favouring applications of
low-emission vehicle technology.
The Ministry’s role is to monitor its administrative operations
regarding environmental legislation as well as the implementation
of its national and international environmental obligations. The
Ministry directs and monitors the administrative branch’s agencies
and participates in research and development work related to the
topic.
The Finnish Transport Agency is responsible for environmental work
related to the construction and maintenance of road infrastructure
as well as the overall functioning of the transport system. The
Finnish Transport Safety Agency is responsible for the
environmental safety of transport services. The Finnish
Meteorological Institute produces observation and research data on
the atmosphere and seas and also provides society with services
based on this information. The Finnish Communications Regulatory
Authority is building a functional information society which in
turn reduces people’s need to travel.
4. Monitoring environmental work
The environmental effects of the Ministry’s operations have been monitored systematically since 1995. Other administrative organisations also monitor their own operations and collect data about related effects. An independent evaluation of the environmental systems was carried out in 2004.
5. Transport environmental programmes and policy
Within the Ministry, environmental issues are an essential part
of planning, development, implementation and monitoring of the
transport sector. The work is guided by the Government Programme
valid at the time, along with transport policy strategies.
Important aids in implementing the work are the environmental and
climate policy programmes of the Ministry and the administrative
branch which detail the measures, responsibilities and schedules
required to achieve the objectives.
6. Climate Policy Programme for the Ministry of Transport and Communications’ administrative branch
The Climate Policy Programme for the Ministry of Transport and
Communications’ administrative branch (ILPO) was completed in March
2009. The objective of the programme is to cut the level of
traffic-induced greenhouse gas emissions estimated for 2020 by 2.8
million tonnes. At the same time, preparations are made to maintain
transport services at their current level at the minimum, in spite
of the increase in extreme weather phenomena.
The ILPO programme comprises five different sets of measures to
reduce emissions:
- The vehicle fleet will be renewed.
- Energy efficiency in transport will be improved.
- The growth of passenger traffic volumes in urban areas will be directed to more environmentally friendly transport modes.
- The attainment of Finland’s climate policy objectives will be supported by information society and communications policy.
- A decision will be made in 2012 on the financial steering methods used in the transport sector.
Renewal of the private car fleet
The target is that the specific emissions of new cars sold in
Finland in 2020 is close to the EU targets (95 g/km) and that the
car stock is renewed at an annual rate of about seven per cent.
The central measures are monitoring the effects of the car tax
reform, influencing the choices of cars, and research into and
promotion of different technical and fuel alternatives.
Improving transport energy efficiency
The objective is to improve transport energy efficiency. The approach will be to use energy efficiency agreements for mass transport and freight transport.
Directing the growth of passenger traffic volumes in urban areas to more environmentally friendly transport modes
The target is that in 2020 there will be 100 million more mass
transport journeys and 300 million more journeys by foot and
bicycle than today, which means an increase of about 20 per cent in
these journeys.
Measures include the coordination of transport and land use, the
promotion of mass transport, walking and cycling as well as travel
control.
Supporting the attainment of Finland’s climate policy objectives by information society and communications policy
Information society and communications policies support the achievement of Finland’s climate objectives. Information society services reduce emissions in business operations, administration and the day-to-day life of citizens.
Deciding on the financial steering methods in the transport sector
If the climate objectives are not achieved through soft control measures, such as information dissemination, economic steering could be used to pursue them. Examples of economic measures include transport fuel taxes or road user taxes. A decision on the possible adoption of economic measures will be made in 2012 at the latest.