Steering group on fossil-free transport started its work

On 4 February 2021, the Ministry of Transport and Communications appointed an interministerial steering group on fossil-free transport. The steering group has representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Finance. The group is tasked to promote the implementation of the Government Resolution on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from domestic transport.

Comments for the Roadmap for fossil-free transport are invited by 19 February. The Roadmap is an outline of how greenhouse gas emissions in the domestic transport sector will be halved by 2030 and brought to zero by the end of 2045.

It includes several means to reduce emissions from transport, which is why coordination across administrative branches is needed. State Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Communications Pilvi Torsti will chair the steering group. The members of the group are Kimmo Tiilikainen, State Secretary to the Minister of Economic Affairs, Maria-Kaisa Aula, State Secretary to the Minister of Finance, and Terhi Lehtonen, State Secretary to the Minister of the Environment. All the participating ministries have appointed their representatives to the group.

The steering group held its first session on 4 February. At the meeting, the group discussed the division of work for implementing the measures included in the Roadmap. During the first phase in spring 2021, decisions would be made on subsidies and incentives that will promote the transition to fossil-free transport. In the spring, the Ministry of Transport and Communications will assess the measures on which more information will be needed in terms of their preconditions and impacts before decisions are made. Examples of these include remote work and new transport services. 

Next steps

Comments on the Roadmap for fossil-free transport, which is a Government Resolution on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from domestic transport, are invited by 19 February. After the consultation process, the preparations will continue by public officials as part of their regular duties. The aim is to reach a Government Resolution on the matter in spring.

Inquiries:

Pilvi Torsti, State Secretary, tel. +358 295 342 018, pilvi.torsti(at)lvm.fi

Sabina Lindström, Director General, tel. +358 295 342 576, sabina.lindstrom(at)lvm.fi