Funding for measures in the Road Map for Fossil-Free Transport

Ministry of Transport and Communications
Publication date 8.4.2022 10.06
Press release
Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harkka (Photo: Laura Kotila/Prime Minister's Office)
Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harkka (Photo: Laura Kotila/Prime Minister's Office)

On 7 April 2022, the Ministerial Working Group on Preparedness decided on the green transition package for 2022 and 2023. As part of the package, funding was allocated to measures included in the Roadmap for Fossil-Free Transport.

The Roadmap aims to halve transport emissions by 2030. A Government Resolution on the Roadmap was adopted on 6 May 2021. The purpose of the measures is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road transport in particular.

"This week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, called for more effective reductions in emissions. It reminds us that the climate change will not stop because of war. That is why the Government is committed to supporting environmentally friendlier transport also financially," says Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka.

"Russia's invasion made it clear that we must phase out fossil fuels. At the same time, we will increase Finland's energy self-sufficiency and security of supply and create successful markets for Finnish expertise," Minister Harakka says.

The measures included in the Roadmap for Fossil-Free Transport are promoted in the administrative branches of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

For 2022-2023, additional funding of EUR 13 million will be reserved for purchase support to fully electric cars (Ministry of Transport and Communications) and EUR 30 million for charging infrastructure support to housing companies (Ministry of the Environment). A total of EUR 21.5 million will be reserved for supporting the public distribution infrastructure for transport electricity and gas (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment).

A total of EUR 4.5 million will be reserved for purchase support for electric and gas fuelled vans and EUR 4 million for purchase support for electric and gas fuelled trucks (Ministry of Transport and Communications).

In addition, the Ministerial Working Group on Preparedness decided that the obligation to distribute fuels be temporarily lowered by 7.5 percentage points in 2022 and by 7.5 percentage points in 2023. The distribution obligation means the amount that must be renewable of the fuel sold by petrol and fuel distributors.

"The distribution obligation is an important part of transport emissions reductions. I hope the temporary lowering of the obligation will result in more short-term benefits than long-term harm," says Minister Harakka.

The ministerial working group also decided on 7 April 2022 that for the administrative branch of the Ministry of Transport and Communications a total of EUR 20 million be reserved for improving private roads and EUR 40 million for terminal landings. These are part of short-term measures to ensure the security of energy supply.

Inquiries

Johanna Juselius, Special Adviser to Minister Harakka, tel. +358 295 342 141, [email protected]

Timo Harakka