Turning up the heat

Finland’s drive for a carbon-neutral EU is highly ambitious but has timing on its side

As Europe was hit by its second heatwave this summer, it was especially fitting that Finland launched its turn at the EU Council presidency by putting a focus on climate change centre stage.

The confirmation by Katri Kulmuni, the country’s minister of economic affairs, last week that Finland intends to use its presidency to put the EU on a path to becoming carbon-neutral by 2050 was a bold statement of intent. And with temperatures reaching 42.6C in Paris, Finnish police warning motorists of moose crossing roads in search of water and the Arctic ablaze, concentration on curbing carbon emissions cannot come soon enough.