Tuesday 22.April
SAFETY/CLIMATE/ENVIRONMENT – SAFER CLIMATE
Organizers Rosa Rantanen, INAR University of Helsinki
In this one-day session, we discussed together and in groups, guided by expert presentations. The program was organized by the Safer Climate network in collaboration with Historians without Borders in Finland and Rauhanlähettiläsakatemia (Peace Ambassador Academy).
In the first part of the day, Senior Researcher Scientist Iolanda Ialongo (Finnish Meteorological Institute) presented recent work by her and colleagues on assessing the effect of the war in Ukraine using satellite data. It was noted during the discussion, that while militaries and armed conflicts have been estimated as a major source of emissions and environmental damage, the tracking of the emissions is difficult even during peace time and gathering data is further complicated by ongoing conflicts. Although scientific results are a key element of climate change related discussions, a gap between scientific and security political climate change related discussions often exists, so further collaboration is welcomed. You can find links to Iolanda Ialongo’s (et al.) recent papers below.
Elina Mikola, Climate and Environment Advisor of Amnesty Finland, showcased a recent report by Amnesty and the Sámi Council titled ‘Just Transition or Green Colonialism’? How mineral extraction and new energy projects without free, prior and informed consent are threatening Indigenous Sámi livelihoods and culture in Sweden, Norway and Finland. We also heard an insight from indigenous rights advocate Áslat Holmberg, emphasizing the importance of Sámi people having the ownership and initiative of discussing and using the lands that they have an indigenous right to. Facilitated by Kide Rinne, Iida Pyykkö and Sara Vanhanen from Rauhanlähettiläsakatemia, we then discussed, for example, what practices can non-indigenous people take especially in their professional life to make sure that they are aware of indigenous perspectives on the green transition and that they support good practices.
Geopolitical conflicts and the rise of authoritarian governments affect, among other things, access to data, researchers’ safety, academic freedom and funding. In the last part of the session, Research Coordinator Rosa Rantanen (Safer Climate, INAR, ACCC) discussed with Researcher Bradley Reynolds (University of Helsinki, Historians without Borders) and Senior Specialist Johanna Ketola (Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Finland) about how we can see climate and security in European and international policy making frameworks in a way that welcomes also civil society participants and arts. Finland and many other European countries use a comprehensive security network that embraces a variety of actors and aspects of security including equity, social and cultural aspects, collaboration across sectors, psychosocial and experienced safety, and so on. However, to implement this idea, we need to bring it from strategies to reality in all levels of society by creating a joint preparedness.
As 2025 is the year of Chairpersonship of the OSCE – Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, our expert speakers also encouraged participants to engage in OSCE activities when possible to increase cross-sectoral collaboration and diversity of participants in climate and security related discussions. In November 2024, Historians without Borders in Finland and Civic Solidarity Platform organized a Workshop ‘Environmental Security and the OSCE’ to support the Helsinki +50 Reflection Process. The workshop results were used to create Policy Recommendations to the Finnish OSCE Task Force (see link below for more info). The report and the Impact Week session were also mentioned at the OSCE conference Resilient Together in a Changing Climate in Vienna, Austria (28.4).
Links:
Ialongo, I., Bun, R., Hakkarainen, J. et al. Satellites capture socioeconomic disruptions during the 2022 full-scale war in Ukraine. Sci Rep 13, 14954 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42118-w
Bun, R. Marland, G., Oda, T., See, L., Puliafito, E., Nahorski, Z., Jonas, M., Kovalyshyn, V., Ialongo, I., Yashchun, O., Romanchuk, Z. Tracking unaccounted greenhouse gas emissions due to the war in Ukraine since 2022, Sci. Total Environ. 914, 169879, (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169879
Historians without Borders in Finland and Civic Solidarity Platform Workshop Helsinki +50 Reflection Process Policy Recommendations to the Finnish OSCE Task Force https://historianswithoutborders.fi/en/2024/12/policy-recommendations-published
More info on the process https://historianswithoutborders.fi/en/2024/12/policy-recommendations-published
PEEX SEMINAR
Organizers Hanna Lappalainen, INAR University of Helsinki, Alexander Mahura, INAR University of Helsinki
The PEEX online seminar introduced the research and educational activities and projects at PEEX partner universities, and to discuss future collaboration in a frame of climate change and air quality research. The seminar included plenary talk on Grand Challenges & Science Diplomacy by Academician Markku Kulmala and general info update about PEEX programme e.g projects and proposal in-progress by PEEX Secretary General Hanna Lappalainen and PI Alexander Mahura. New PEEX partners will introduce their organizations and research activities. We welcomed all ACCC researchers who conduct research in the PEEX area to the seminar on site at the Sofia Center.
The PEEX hybrid (online/ onsite) seminar took place on 22 April 2025 (Sofia Cultural Center, Vuosaari, Helsinki, Finland). This event was organised as a part of the 4th ACCC (The Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center; https://www.acccflagship.fi) Impact Week (22-25 Apr 2025; see detailed agenda at https://www.acccflagship.fi/index.php/4th-accc-impact-week-2025), and hosted by the University of Helsinki (UH). More than 50 participants attended the PEEX hybrid meeting, with majority of participants attending online. The participants were from more than 35 different Universities, research institutes/ organizations and companies from Armenia, China, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Finland, France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Turkey, and Ukraine. The main aims of this meeting were: (i) to introduce the research and educational activities at new PEEX partner universities, and (ii) to discuss future collaboration in a frame of climate change and air quality research.
The PEEX seminar opened with welcome words (by Acad. Prof. Markku Kulmala, UH) and an introductory talk on PEEX programme overview (by Dr. Hanna K. Lappalainen, UH). New members (Universities and Research Institutes) of the PEEX community delivered oral talks about general overviews, research and educational activities in their organizations. In particular, these talks were delivered by members of the Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI, Iceland), Odessa Polytechnic National University (OP, Ukraine), Ukrainian Joint Meteorological and Hydrological Society (UJMHS, Ukraine), Istanbul Technical University (ITU, Turkey), ARIANET srl. (Italy), Dalian University of Technology (DUT, China), Institute of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ISOS), Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (DAOS) and Integrated Research on Disaster Risks International Center of Excellence (IRDS-ICCoE) at Fudan University (FDU, China). All delivered presentations (slides) are available in google-folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Q2MuW1_p6co4GR344DfXRwrlS4ZDE2Sa
Several presentations about upcoming funded projects, proposals in evaluation and preparation were presented by colleagues from the UH, University of Latvia (UL, Latvia), and University of Copenhagen (UCPH, Denmark). In particular, the presentation delivered by UL introduced recently funded by the Interreg programme the REOPEN project “Next Generation Workforce – Empowering Young People for Improved Employment” (6 partners from 3 countries (with funding of 1.2 MEu for a 2.5-year period). The presentation about the COST Action PEEX-EU-NEN-ReN “Pan-Eurasian EXperiment – Europe – Near Europe Neighbourhood countries Earth System Research Network” proposal was presented by UH. It is currently under evaluation (results are expected in Apr-Mary 2025). It includes 31 partners/ organizations in the consortium from 17 countries (with funding of 0.6 MEu for a 4-year period). The presentation delivered by UCPH introduced steps in preparation of proposal for the “PEEX implementation plan for Shanghai MegaCity and Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration”. In addition, the presentation “CLUVEX concept, training of moderators and students as Climate Messengers” by UH focused on the ongoing educational Erasmus+ CLUVEX project (https://www.atm.helsinki.fi/cluvex) and in particular, sharing information with participants about the Call for the CLUVEX 2nd Virtual Exchange Week for Students (12-16 May 2025) (https://www.atm.helsinki.fi/cluvex/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2nd_Call-VEWeek-for-students_Spring_2025.pdf).
Organizer Hanna Lappalainen, INAR University of Helsinki, Julia Karhumaa, INAR University of Helsinki
As a backgroud; Future Earth (futureearth.org/networks/global-research-networks) supports the activities of 27 Global Research Networks (GRN) across various fields. These networks together form a global community of approximately 50,000 researchers. Individual networks provide Finnish early-career researchers with opportunities for international collaboration. However, participation requires support, and this is where FES plays a crucial role. To enhance information dissemination, the committee will organize a seminar to discuss a national research network ” Finnish Network of Sustainability Science” through which we could effectively convey information about different opportunities and at the same time strengthen Finnish cooperation in sustainability sciences.
Sustainability pathways are a broad research field and therefore the development of a national network is particularly important. There is still a need to develop information flow at the national level. Finland lacks structured frameworks for cross-disciplinary sustainability research. Based on the feedback from the FES session, INAR UH as chair of FES, will soon update the website and improve the communication of information about the research networks of the international Future Earth organization and the opportunities they offer to Finnish researchers.
Discussions also addressed FES’s cross-disciplinary nature and how it differs from discipline-specific national committees. Suggestions included potentially re-naming FES, clarifying its role as a contact point for international networks in this field. Although FES’s activities are directly linked to the international Future Earth organization, it would be useful to further examine its role and connections with other international sustainability science networks. Funding is central to the development and maintenance of all activities. More funding is needed for FES and other national sustainability networks and activities, such as the “Sustainability Transformations Doctoral Education pilot”, funding should be sought and exploring also EU and other funding opportunities for co-designed sustainability initiatives.
TIPPING POINT RISK MANAGEMENT
Organizers Anton Keskinen, Operaatio Arktis in collaboration with ACCC, Liina Huttunen, Operaatio Arktis in collaboration with ACCC
The Earth system is entering a critical phase. Global temperatures now regularly exceed 1.5 °C, and multiple tipping elements—such as polar ice sheets, permafrost, and ocean currents—may already be destabilizing. Yet these risks remain poorly integrated into policy frameworks and climate models. The main point Anton Keskinen made is that even if some tipping points are surpassed, the final “collapse points” (points of no return) may still be avoidable because of the lagging climate responses—if swift and systemic action is taken to limit climate warming.
Participants emphasized the need to prioritize systemic foresight over probabilistic risk models. Conventional cost–benefit logic underestimates tipping risks due to their perceived low probability, despite potentially catastrophic consequences. Yulia Yamineva introduced the audience to possible future logics of and key considerations for tipping point governance.
A need has emerged for a broader climate strategy beyond emission reductions—one that includes research into interventions like solar radiation modification (SRM) and glacier climate interventions, as highlighted by Ellen Haaslahti and John Moore. Markku Kulmala noted that as SRM will at some point come to the fore, the biggest mistake now would not research it. As warming is driven partly by albedo loss, Ville Voipio argued more attention should be paid on radiative balance, instead of solely focusing on carbon tons.
Haaslahti’s findings from a Delphi study in Finland show that while experts broadly support more research into SRM, they are cautious about deployment due to uncertainties and governance challenges. Ethical concerns, including moral hazard and epistemic justice, require inclusive and precautionary governance—especially for communities most affected and least consulted, such as Indigenous Peoples.
In sum, the session highlighted that effective climate risk management must:
- recognize that Earth tipping points are not hypothetical future risks but present dangers;
- research strategies including emissions cuts, GHG removals, and climate interventions;
- invest in SRM research while upholding ethical safeguards and global equity;
- build institutional capacity for acting before irreversible collapse thresholds are crossed.
Wednesday 23.April
CLIMATE DIGITAL TWIN: GLOBALLY CONSISTENT EARTH SYSTEM AND IMPACT SECTOR INFORMATION AT SCALES OF A FEW KILOMETERS
Organizer Heikki Tuomenvirta, Finnish Meteorological Institute
Sebastin Milinski (ECMWF) introduced Destination Earth (DestinE), a flagship initiative of the European Commission that develops a digital replica of the Earth. The novel features of Digital Twins (Climate Change Adaptation and Extremes) are:
- Regular production, frequent updates
- Enhanced flexibility of simulations and output
- Enhanced spatial and temporal resolutions
- Integration of sectoral models in the DTs workflow
Therasa Kiszler (CSC) presented how development, verification and operationilization of Climate Digital Twin simulations are structured in the HPC environment. Nikko Sokka (FMI) showed results from on-demand weather-induced Extremes Digital Twin. ECMWF is running Global DT simulations of extremes in 4.4 km resolution (daily forecasts), and fine resolution (750-500 m) simulations can be run on-demand for past, present and future extreme events.
Climate DT use cases were presented:
- Off-shore Energy Sector and WaweExtremes DT by Aleksi Nummelin (FMI)
- Wildfire application for assessing fire risk and management options by Joonas Kolstela (FMI)
- Harvester service for forestry: soil wetness and trafficability by Mikko Strahlendorf (FMI)
Final presentation of session was by Lauri Tuppi (University of Helsinki): Observation based verification system for Climate DT.
Participants (ca. 50 on-site and 10-15 remotely) were surveyed (N=25). One fifth of respondents were already using Climate DT data, but for large majority this session the first deeper dive to DestinE Digital Twins. The expectations on added-value from Climate DT included, e.g. novel climate service designs, high spatiotemporal resolution, use in education. When asked about (scientific) domain sector, or area of expertise, the word cloud below formed (N=55):
GREENHOUSE GASES REGULATORY ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN CATCHMENTS
Organizer Jukka Pumpanen, University of eastern Finland (UEF)
In the session Greenhouse Gases Regulatory ecosystem services in catchments, new projects funded by the Water4All 2023 Joint Transnational Call on Aquatic Ecosystem Services and the Research Council were presented. The session was organized as a hybrid session. There were 15 participants in the session from various research organizations and universities. Martin Forsius (SYKE) presented the project “Developing concepts for large-scale modelling and evaluation of aquatic ecosystem services in forested landscapes”, Eerika Albrecht (SYKE) presented the project “Co-creating pathways to desirable nature futures of temperate lakes”, Lluis Camarero (CEAB-CSIC, Spain) presented the project “Impacts of climate, N and P deposition and land use on water as a driver of the greenhouse gases regulatory ecosystem service in headwater catchments. SERVICO2” and finally Jukka Pumpanen (UEF) introduced the ongoing project “Biogenic Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Northern Rivers RIVERVOC” funded by the Research Council of Finland. There was active discussion between the audience and presenters concerning the methods used in the projects. The presenters found interesting synergies between projects, in particular from the point of view of socio-economic aspects and stakeholder interaction. In the follow-up discussion, the project PIs decided to jointly organize stakeholder meetings in their projects to promote collaboration, synergy, and to get a larger audience for the events.
EDUCATION FOR GREEN SKILLS (Climate University)
Organizer Laura Riuttanen, INAR University of Helsinki
The Education for Green Skills session gathered Climate University network members from its higher education institutions as well as interested among the participants of the ACCC Impact Week.
The session started with a plenary talk by Ottmar Edenhofer, chair of EU climate panel, followed by presentations by four speakers, who in addition participated in a panel discussion after the presentations. The first two presentations focused on the skills needed for a sustainability transition, and who needs them and where they are needed. Romain Boitard from the European Training Foundation gave an overview on the need of green skills in different jobs across EU and neighbouring countries. Mikko Vieltojärvi from the Confederation of Finnish Industries introduced skills and competences required for a green transition within the industry sectors in Finland. After two presentations focusing on the needed skills for a green transition, the second two presentations introduced educational initiatives that have been established to tackle the increasing need of the green skills. The new climate education at University of Helsinki, the Specialisation programme in climate expertise, established in collaboration with the Climate University network, was presented by Taina Ruuskanen from the University of Helsinki. Miika Marttila from LUT University provided an inspiring speech on the building of sustainability competences in education, and he presented the Climate University network and its collaboration in climate and sustainability education. The speakers participated in a short panel discussion after their presentations.
Miika Marttila announced two major news of the Climate University network: the launch of the new Climate University course Sustainable Consumption (read more here) and the joining of a new member to the Climate University network: Arcada University of Applied Sciences. We are delighted to welcome out 29th member, Arcada University of Applied Sciences and its new coordinator Erica Adlercreutz, to the network. Arcada educates engineers, business professionals and healthcare professionals and is one of Finland’s higher education institutions providing education in Swedish.
After the panel discussion the participants of the session gathered for Climate University Action Groups’ meetings. Action Groups discussed Climate University network practices, communication and collaboration initiatives. https://blogs.helsinki.fi/climateuniversity/2025/04/24/accc-education-for-green-skills-and-climate-university-action-groups-meeting/
INSURANCE AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Organizers Eeva Kuntsi-Reunanen, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Tom Kokkonen, INAR University of Helsinki
The session brought together ACCC researchers and insurance mathematicians to discuss about the future risks, the latest developments, important risks to insurance industry, and the challenges we are facing?
One of the organizers, Eeva Kuntsi-Reunanen (Finnish Meteorological Institute) opened the session and introduced the programme and other organizers: Tom Kokkonen (University of Helsinki, Toni Blomster (Financial Supervisory Authority) and Mikko Kuusela (Finance Finland).
Terhi Laurila from Finnish Meteorological Institute was the first speaker introducing thunderstorms and the related risks and losses in terms of insurances. She was speaking for example about the frequency of thunderstorms in Finland, Scandinavia and Baltics as well as the monetary losses due to storms from specific cases.
The next speaker, Tom Kokkonen from University of Helsinki, was introducing the impact of urbanization on hydrological cycle and why it causes urban flooding. He was discussing for example the effect of increasing amount of impervious surfaces on hydraulic conductivity and the effect of anthropogenic aerosols and urban heat island on strong precipitation events.
Toni Blomster from Financial Supervisory Authority was talking about his experiences about the Specialisation Programme in Climate Expertise that he is now taking. He was discussing about the current suggestions for actuaries about the climate related knowledge, why it is needed and how the specialization programme can help in gaining that information.
Toby Berhman from Axa Climate was talking about the lates innovations in insurance. He was discussing about three real world examples from case studies covering parametric insurances, risk pooling and modelling related to different climate related risks.
The last speaker, Heikki Tuomenvirta from Finnish Meteorological Institute, was introducing the PIISA programme (Piloting Innovative Insurance Solutions for Adaptation). He was discussing about pilots related for example to green roofs, wild fires, and forest insurances.
SCIENCE DIPLOMACY
Organizers Rosa Rantanen, INAR University of Helsinki
Markku Kulmala, INAR University of Helsinki
In this brief session, science diplomacy was discussed specifically in the context of ACCC and climate and air quality research in general. We discussed issues such as how does science diplomacy work, who can take part in it and what kid of ownership researchers might feel or not feel to means of science diplomacy. Professor Markku Kulmala gave a brief presentation on his approach on science diplomacy as well as collaboration opportunities with the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).
The meeting included discussion on new volunteering tasks related to European Union Science Diplomacy Alliance in INAR/ACCC, and we will continue to work with a group of volunteers on that. If you are interested in the task, please contact rosa.rantanen@helsinki.fi for more information.
ILMASTO 2075
Organizers Markku Kulmala, INAR Helsingin yliopisto, Elina Hiltunen, INAR Helsingin yliopisto
The Climate 2075 dinner discussed how climate change may affect our future. The event was opened by academician Markku Kulmala, who highlighted that we live in a time of multiple challenges. In addition to climate change, biodiversity loss, air quality problems, deforestation, and clean water shortages are problems that may accumulate in the future. One of the significant challenges is related to population growth and increased consumption, which has increased energy demand. Fossil fuels are mainly responsible for climate change and will continue to be used in the future, further accelerating climate change. The purpose of the ACCC is to map out the theory of climate change and, based on this, produce practical solutions. We will desperately need these in the future.
Futurist Elina Hiltunen gave the second keynote speech. She encouraged participants to anticipate and prepare for different possibilities in the future. Anticipation can be done by familiarising oneself with facts (such as those produced by the ACCC on climate change). However, using one’s imagination to anticipate the future is also essential. This is done by asking “what if” questions. For example, what would happen if a climate change tipping point were exceeded? In her lecture, Hiltunen presented ten megatrends and encouraged participants to examine the changes taking place within them. Climate change will affect all of these megatrends.
The presentations were followed by a panel discussion with Maaria Parry, Senior Climate Specialist at the National Climate Unit of the ELY Centers; Seija Parvinen, Senior Economist at the Bank of Finland; Emma Hakala, Senior Researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs; Reija Ruuhela, Climate Specialist and Meteorologist at the Finnish Meteorological Institute; nature journalist, non-fiction writer and meteorologist Kerttu Kotakorpi, and financial advisor Pekka Moren from the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister’s Office. The panel discussed the future impacts of climate change on various areas of society, such as the economy, security and health. The panel also discussed the green transition and adaptation to future change. The final question for the panellists was whether there was hope. There is hope if we can take immediate action.
Ilmasto 2075 päivällinen
(kirjoittaja: Elina Hiltunen)
Ilmasto 2075 päivällisellä pohdittiin sitä, miten ilmastonmuutos voi vaikuttaa tulevaisuuteemme. Tilaisuuden avasi akateemikko Markku Kulmala puheenvuorollaan, jossa hän nosti esille sen, että elämme multihaasteiden aikaa. Ilmastonmuutoksen lisäksi biodiversiteetin heikkeneminen, ilmanlaatuongelmat, metsien häviäminen sekä puhtaan veden puute ovat ongelmia, jotka voivat kumuloitua tulevaisuudessa. Yksi isoista haasteista liittyy siihen, että väestö on kasvanut, kulutus on myös kasvanut, mikä on taas kasvattanut energian tarvetta. Fossiiliset polttoaineet ovat pääasiassa vastuussa ilmastonmuutoksesta ja tulevaisuudessakin niitä tullaan käyttämään, mikä kiihdyttää yhä entisestään ilmastonmuutosta. ACCC:n tarkoitus on kartoittaa ilmastonmuutoksen teoriaa ja tuottaa tämän perusteella käytännön ratkaisuja. Näitä tarvitsemme kipeästi tulevaisuudessa.
Toisen alustuspuheenvuoron piti futuristi Elina Hiltunen. Hän kannusti osallistujia ennakoimaan ja varautumaan tulevaisuuden eri mahdollisuuksiin. Ennakointia voi tehdä tutustumalla faktoihin (joita esimerkiksi ACCC tuottaa ilmastonmuutoksesta). On kuitenkin tärkeää käyttää myös mielikuvitusta, kun pyritään ennakoimaan tulevaisuutta. Tämä tapahtuu kysymällä entä jos kysymyksiä. Mitä esimerkiksi tapahtuisi, jos joku ilmastonmuutoksen keikahduspiste ylitettäisiin? Hiltunen esitteli luennossaan kymmenen megatrendiä, joissa tapahtuvia muutoksia hän kannusti tarkastelemaan. Ilmastonmuutos tulee vaikuttamaan näihin kaikkiin megatrendeihin.
Alustusten jälkeen pidettiin paneeli, jossa keskustelemassa olivat johtava ilmastoasiantuntija Maaria Parry ELY-keskusten valtakunnallisesta ilmastoyksiköstä, vanhempi ekonomisti Seija Parvinen Suomen Pankista, johtava tutkija Emma Hakala Ulkopoliittisesta instituutista, ilmastoasiantuntija, meteorologi Reija Ruuhela, Ilmatieteen laitokselta, luontotoimittaja, tietokirjailija ja meteorologi Kerttu Kotakorpi sekä finanssineuvos Pekka Moren Valtiovarainministeriöstä ja Valtioneuvoston kansliasta. Paneelissa keskusteltiin laajasti ilmastonmuutoksen vaikutuksista tulevaisuudessa eri yhteiskunnan osa-alueille kuten esimerkiksi talouteen, turvallisuuteen ja terveyteen. Paneelissa keskusteltiin myös vihreästä siirtymästä ja sopeutumisesta tulevaan muutokseen. Viimeinen kysymys panelisteille oli se, että onko meillä toivoa. Toivoa on, jos tartumme toimeen välittömästi.
Thursday 24.April
INDOOR AIR AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY – DO WE KNOW WHAT WE DON’T KNOW?
Organizers Minna Väkevä, Innoa, Markku Kulmala, INAR University of Helsinki
Sisäilma ja energiatehokkuus – tiedämmekö mitä emme tiedä?
Uusittu rakennusten energiatehokkuusdirektiivi nostaa esille hyvän sisäympäristön laadun. Sisäilma on tärkeä osa sisäympäristöä. Mutta miltä hyvä näyttää, miten eri asiat vaikuttavat toisiinsa ja miten hyvä laatu pitäisi tulevaisuudessa varmistaa? Tätä pohdimme yhdessä tutkijoiden, yritysedustajien, vaikuttajien ja päättäjien kanssa. Ilmoittautuneita oli 81.
Paneelissa ja pienryhmissä nostettiin esille useita tulevaisuuden kannalta tärkeitä asioita, kuten: Koordinoitu, monen eri alan ja toimijan yhteistyö on tärkeää tutkimuksen ja kehittämisen näkökulmasta, mutta myös rakennusten koko elinkaaren aikana. Ilmanvaihdon järjestelmiä tulisi kehittää niin, että ilmanvaihto vastaa tarpeisiin muuttuvissa olosuhteissa rakennuksen ja ihmisen toiminnan huomioiden. Materiaalien emissioita tulisi tarkastella vakiotestiolosuhteiden lisäksi myös käyttöympäristön usein hyvin poikkeavissa olosuhteissa.
Ilkka Salo Talteka ry:stä haastoi osallistujia myös miettimään millaisia muutospaineita rakennusten energiatehokkuusdirektiivi tuo kansallisille säädöksille ja sitä, onko tilojen käyttäjillä oikeus tietää, minkä laatuisessa sisäympäristössä ovat ja futuristi Elina Hiltunen kannusti pohtimaan tulevaisuutta uudenlaisista näkökulmista.
ACCC RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES
Organizers Tuukka Petäjä, INAR University of Helsinki, Jaana Bäck, INAR University of Helsinki, Silja Häme, INAR University of Helsinki
The society is facing Grand Challenges, a suite of environmental problems on a global scale. The science-based solutions to the interconnected grand challenges require comprehensive and harmonized observations that can provide the society the needed capacity to monitor environmental change and quantify the impacts of policy actions. Environmental research infrastructures (RIs) are vital in providing reliable and continuous long-term data of the Earth system. Integrated Atmospheric and Earth System Research Infrastructure (INAR RI) provides comprehensive environmental data and services in a Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) manner for the benefit of the society. INAR RI is a Finnish environmental RI integrating the activities of four European ESFRIs (ACTRIS, ICOS, eLTER, AnaEE) at the national level. INAR RI was selected as a national ‘lighthouse’ research infrastructure in early 2025 highlighting the leadership of INAR RI in key infrastructure areas such as such as service provision, impact, functionality and shared use. INAR RI data is the core of the scientific work done in Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center (ACCC) flagship.
ACCC Impact Week 2025 brought together RI experts representing ACTRIS, ICOS, eLTER and AnaEE and key stakeholders (Ministry of Education and Culture, Research Council of Finland) to express their views and discuss together on the significance of the RIs related to RI interoperability, benefits, added value and impact.
Finland currently hosts three ERICs (European Research Infrastructure Consortium) – ICOS ERIC, EuroBioImaging ERIC, ACTRIS ERIC. An idea of Finnish ERIC trilogue – common platform for the Finnish ERICs – was presented. ERICs bring remarkable added value to Finland in terms of e.g., economic return, influencing and leadership. Overall, presenting the ERICs together to the direction of the stakeholders and user groups would enhance the visibility of ERICs and their added value and ease the complexity in understanding of what the different RIs are doing.
Current geopolitical situation and its effects on e.g., data availability and security and dual-use of the RIs were also brought up in the discussions. In these uncertain times, science diplomacy and active international collaboration are needed. European RIs can be one crucial channel in helping to sustain long-term atmospheric data sets collected beyond Europe that might be otherwise in danger.
The importance of the complementary data from both ground-based long-term observation stations and satellites in developing our understanding of the Earth system was also discussed. In situ measurements are crucial and needed also in satellite cal/val activities. Satellite data is key in providing information on the ‘big picture’ including the areas where there are no in situ measurement data currently available – either not openly available or not existing.
GLOBAL SOUTH COLLABORATION WITHIN ACCC
Organizers Rosa Rantanen, INAR University of Helsinki, Markku Kulmala, INAR University of Helsinki
The aim of this session was to start systematically mapping out ongoing activities and strengthen our Global South collaboration within ACCC. We hope that doing this will help us to improve our understanding of the current state, future possibilities and challenges regarding Global South – Global North collaboration within the ACCC Flagship.
ACCC Director, Professor Markku Kulmala started the session with an introductory talk on Global South collaboration in ACCC and a brief introduction on World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), in which he is a council member. Following his presentation, Research Coordinator Rosa Rantanen (INAR/ACCC) presented results from a small-scale survey that was conducted before the event. In the survey, existing collaborations and interests of ACCC researchers were mapped out.
The survey was mostly targeted to PI level ACCC researchers and we received 25 responses from seven different organizations. While there are multiple ongoing projects, longstanding collaborations and good practices that were identified in the survey and in the discussion, many challenges were also brought up. Out of eight options in the survey, respondents identified the following as most interesting to them: ‘Collaboration and funding opportunities’, ‘Learning about ongoing projects within ACCC that collaborate with Global South countries/institutions’, ‘New research projects’ and ‘Decolonizing science’. As for the question of how to actually define Global South, there was a lot of variety in the answers.
Friday 25.4
IMPACT AND EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICIES AND MEASURES TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE
Organizer Matti Vainio, INAR University of Helsinki, Lassi Ahlvik, Valtteri Härmälä, Olli Tahvonen and Matti Vainio
The EU’s Cap and Trade system has been prominent policy in reducing emissions achieving a 62% cut by 2030 in the EU’s emission trading system (ETS). While staying below the cap — the trading among installations — is essential to reach the reductions cost-effectively. Individual Member States could not have achieved such reductions.
In 2027, the ETS will expand to cover road transport and household heating and it will introduce the Social Climate Fund. In 2026, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will begin operating, aiming to prevent carbon leakage. The mechanism mirrors the carbon price paid within the EU and applies it to the CO2 emissions embedded in the production of certain imported goods. These include fertilizers, iron and steel, aluminium, cement, electricity, and hydrogen. These new features strengthen ETS but may also present challenges and will require ongoing monitoring.
In Finland, CO2 prices (around €70/tCO₂) have encouraged a shift from coal and peat to biomass, inadvertently increasing their CO₂ emissions. Ideally, including a price for CO₂ to forestry would incentivise longer rotation periods and increased sinks without major effects on long term timber supply and stumpage prices.
The EU-wide voluntary agreement of 1988 to reduce average car emissions to 140 g CO2/km failed as companies did not meet their targets and the Commission legislated and set emission norms. Norms are used a lot in environmental legislation but they do not provide an incentive to go beyond the norm. Taxation is not used much at the EU level partly because of the requirement of unanimity in decision making.
Enhancing forest carbon sinks is an essential part of cost-efficient climate policy in forested countries like Finland. To integrate forest carbon sinks and emission into climate policy calls for subsidies and taxation or integration of forestry into ETS. This has been carried out in New Zealand and their experience offers valuable lessons. Finland’s Metso programme on biodiversity conservation could be enhanced by incorporating similar approaches to boost forest value through carbon sequestration. The forest carbon sink is an economically valuable resource and proper policy designs exist implying that this value would benefit the Finnish economy.
Denmark’s recent agricultural reform — taxing emissions (€40–€100/tCO₂eq) while compensating farmers to raise productivity and cut emissions — also offers insights. The ACCC should evaluate which elements could be applicable for Finland.
SCIENTIFIC CLIMATE IMPACT DATA FOR EFFICIENT CARBON PRICING
Organisers Sami Paatero, Tuukka Petäjä INAR University of Helsinki
Session emphasized the importance of cooperation and immediate action. We need better policies and regulation and more investments in climate solutions. However, it is important to act now, instead of calculating if we were able to reach 1.5 degrees level or not. We need more action in political decision-making, administrative decisions, company strategies and various scientific programs. We need to move together towards global carbon pricing principles by concrete, practical and scalable solutions.
Session included speakers from political sector, administration, business and academia. In the era of volatile international environment, we need trust and continuity in climate action. Comparable and relevant data available is a key element of trust and crucial in setting-up critical rules and standards to foster sustainable and foreseeable development. Investors will require sustainability and climate impact evaluation also in future, but we still lack clear standards for carbon market.
Session concluded that we need to act locally but think globally. There is a role for everyone, be it individual, NGO, research institute, company, city or state. Reliable and comprehensive environmental data is needed to verify the climate impact of our action as well as to develop tools for supporting just societal transition to sustainable life.
Measuring and analysing climate impact is the key element in the scientific work done in Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center (ACCC) flagship. By providing credible data and better understanding on phenomena in nature, the ACCC and wider scientific community could serve as a key partner for transparent, efficient and legally sound carbon pricing development. There are many ways to improve dialogue between different sector players, but there is also common will to do that.
Small steps to a right direction are extremely important. We have to move towards global carbon pricing, cut emissions and take more CO2 out of the atmosphere.
HOW CAN STAKEHOLDERS, ESP. SCIENTISTS, PARTICIPATE IN AND INFLUENCE CLIMATE POLICYMAKING?
Organizer Tuula Honkonen, University of Eastern Finland (UEF)
Overall, the session was particularly interesting and topical in the light of the recent public discussion and government plans and actions around the utilization and value of scientific information in climate policymaking and the role of scientific advisory panels. What is more, the session topic was to be of interest to any scientist and researcher as most of us have not only academic ambitions but would also like to see our work reflected in and impacting public policymaking.
The researcher presentations highlighted the need for climate policymaking to be responsive to evolving science and technology. As demonstrated by the case of climate tipping points governance, it is important to bring forth interlinkages within the complexity of the planetary system which lawmakers cannot fully grasp. Better integration (institutionalization) of scientific experts into law-making processes could help advance the legal apparatus on climate change at the needed pace. In contrast, regulation of voluntary carbon offsetting involves many kinds of private entities that may fill a regulatory void and form symbiotic relationships with public policymakers based on mutual dependence. The new Finnish Saami Climate Council represents an institutionalized way of engaging scientists and stakeholders in climate policymaking. The Council uniquely and importantly establishes fact-based cooperation between the Sámi and government, and establishes dialogue between Western science and traditional knowledge of Indigenous people.
The invited comment talks brought valuable perspectives from civil society, government and the Saami Climate Council to the discussion. The comments highlighted the need for stakeholders to be proactive and strategic, take full advantage of the available opportunities to engage with policymakers and have sufficient resources to do their work as intended. The challenge persists, however, as to how stakeholder input and the received scientific information are taken into account in the final policymaking.