Finland is not adequately prepared for global warming

Europe's record-breaking hot June has thrust climate change back into the spotlight, revealing a dangerous lack of preparedness in many societies. Temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius have rendered conditions hazardous to health, with climate scientists warning that this summer's extreme heat is merely the beginning. The World Health Organization reported over 1,300 heat-related deaths in just over a week, with children and the elderly most at risk.

While the Arctic region warms four times faster than the global average, Finland is also experiencing significant temperature increases, with its average annual temperature already up by two degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. Projections indicate rising average temperatures, longer and more intense heatwaves, increased rainfall in winter, and more frequent dry spells. Despite having more information and plans regarding climate risks than many other nations, Finland is failing to adequately integrate this knowledge into its decision-making processes.

Significant disparities exist between regions and municipalities in their readiness for floods and heatwaves, and in planning for critical infrastructure. Insufficient attention has been paid to elder care, hospital functionality, urban heat islands, and building cooling. Furthermore, the resilience of essential systems like power grids, water supply, telecommunications, and ports to extreme weather remains unclear. Finland has also underestimated risks originating beyond its borders, such as disruptions to food markets, energy price volatility, raw material shortages, geopolitical crises, and migration.

A recent government report indicates that Finland has barely assessed the economic impacts of climate change, green transition, and biodiversity loss. Unlike pandemics or major wars, which can be assigned a rough price tag, climate change and biodiversity loss are not yet effectively measured by economic indicators. Projections suggest that by 2035, Finland's public debt could rise by approximately ten percentage points relative to GDP due to mitigation measures and climate change. By the end of the century, Finland's average annual temperature is estimated to increase by two to six degrees Celsius, depending on the climate scenario implemented.