Carbon Sinks in Forests

Forests play a significant role in mitigating climate change. Through photosynthesis, forests and other biomass sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and act as substantial carbon sinks. Globally, the loss of forests due to agricultural expansion, construction, and other activities is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

Annual Assessment of Finland’s Forest Carbon Sinks

The carbon sinks in Finland's forests are assessed annually. The Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) sector was a net sink in 2023, according to preliminary data. The LULUCF sector's removals exceeded emissions by approximately 1.3 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. In 2022 and 2021, the land use sector was a net source of emissions.

According to preliminary data from Statistics Finland, the total greenhouse gas emissions for 2023, excluding the LULUCF sector, were approximately 40.6 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, which is about 5 million tonnes less than in 2022. Including the net emissions from the land use sector would result in total emissions of approximately 39.3 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2023.

In 2023, preliminary data indicated that forest land was a net carbon sink, with the net sink from forest land use amounting to around -11.7 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. The net emissions from the cropland category were 8.9 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. The net change in the carbon stock of harvested wood products, i.e., the net sink of wood products, was -2.3 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2023. For more detailed information on LULUCF sector emissions and removals over various years, refer to Statistics Finland's database.

LULUCF Regulation in EU Climate Targets

The EU's Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) regulation outlines how carbon sinks and greenhouse gas emissions from forests and land use are accounted for in the EU’s climate targets up to 2030. In the EU, sinks offset approximately ten percent of the emissions from other sectors on average.

In Finland, the annual variation in the carbon sink is largely influenced by forest harvesting activities. Besides commercial logging, the removal of trees also includes domestic logging and natural mortality. In addition to tree biomass, the forest carbon sink also accounts for changes in the soil carbon stock resulting from human activities.

Carbon Sinks in Forests

Annual Assessment of Finland’s Forest Carbon Sinks

LULUCF Regulation in EU Climate Targets

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