A harvester at a thinning site in a forest area owned by UPM in Janakkala, Southern Finland, in May 2022. A modest decline in logging allowed the land-use sector to sequester a million tonne more carbon dioxide than it emitted, according to a flash estimate published on Wednesday by Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). (Markku Ulander – Lehtikuva)

THE LAND-USE SECTOR of Finland was narrowly a carbon sink in 2022, according to a flash estimate published on Wednesday by Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).

The sector had turned from a carbon sink into a source of emissions for the first time ever a year earlier, kindling nationwide debate about the declining ability of forests to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – not least due to its importance for the national carbon-neutrality target of 2035.

Kuusamo Airport, an important gateway for tourism in the Kuusamo region of Finland, is undergoing significant renovations by airport company Finavia. The repairs, which include the replacement of the runway lighting system and resurfacing of the apron and taxiway, will enhance safety and ensure smooth traffic flow at the airport. However, these renovations necessitate a temporary suspension of flights from 17 July to 15 August 2023.

HL's strike guard in front of Attendo Ruusuvuori nursing home in Tampere on May 23, 2023. LEHTIKUVA

Strengthening Finland's economic growth is crucial for the health of public finances. Therefore, the Finnish Entrepreneurs propose numerous actions in their growth program that would allow companies to take more risks and foster growth. The government program should promote local agreements in workplaces, limit political and illegal strikes, and reform unemployment and social security to make work more profitable.

LEHTIKUVA

The Finnish government announced today that a new nature conservation law will be implemented on June 1st. The updated legislation aims to strengthen the protection of various natural habitats, promote voluntary ecological compensation, and emphasize the precautionary principle. The Nature Conservation Law is considered one of the most important tools for safeguarding Finland's biodiversity.

Members of a National Coalition-affiliated student organisation participated in the Pride Parade in Helsinki in June 2018. Helsinki Pride on Tuesday announced its partners at this year’s parade will include youth and student organisations associated with both the Centre and National Coalition, both parties whose partnership applications were rejected earlier this year. (Timo Jaakonaho – Lehtikuva)

ORGANISATIONS linked to the Centre and National Coalition have been accepted as official partners of Helsinki Pride.

Helsinki Pride on Tuesday announced its board has agreed on partnerships with Kansallinen Sateenkaariryhmä – Kasary, Finnish Centre Youth and Finnish Centre Students. A partnership invitation has been extended also to Tuhatkunta, the student union of the National Coalition.

Andy Marsh, the chief executive of Plug Power, reacted at a press conference organised by Business Finland in Helsinki on Tuesday, 30 May 2023. Marsh said the American fuel-cell company has laid out plans to build three green hydrogen plants in Finland, identifying the country’s functioning infrastructure, commitment to reducing carbon emissions and recent accession to Nato as pull factors. (Emmi Korhonen – Lehtikuva)

PLUG POWER, a fuel-cell company headquartered in Latham, New York, on Tuesday unveiled a tentative plan worth an estimated 5.6 billion euros to build three hydrogen plants in Finland – in Kokkola, Kristiinankaupunki and Porvoo.

The American company is expected to make a final investment decision on the projects in 2025–2026.

Multiple options are available for charging electric vehicles, ranging from standard charging to high-power charging. Image: Helen Ltd

Helsinki is set to have over 200 new public electric vehicle (EV) charging points installed throughout the city in 2023, with 57 of them located near sports parks. The charging stations will be operated by Helen Ltd., a Helsinki-based energy company.

The following locations are scheduled to be completed by June:

Inflation affects Finnish holiday plans in various ways this summer.

Inflation is having a significant impact on the summer plans of Finnish individuals this year. According to a recent survey conducted by If, a leading insurance company in Finland, more than 40% of Finns stated that inflation has influenced their upcoming summer vacation plans. The primary effect of inflation is a reduction in travel, with many individuals opting for less frequent trips or seeking more affordable alternatives.