Finland’s Bold Move: €465 Million Fund to Ditch Peat, Foster Green Jobs, and Empower Youth in 14 Regions

Finland is another country in the Just Transition Fund with 14 regions registered to have a substantial economic and social impact. Those regions are South Karelia, South Ostrobothnia, South Savo, Kainuu, Central Ostrobothnia, Central Finland, Kymenlaakso, Lapland, Ostrobothnia, North Karelia, North Ostrobothnia, North Savo, Satakunta and 4 municipalities of Pirkanmaa, namely Punkalaidun, Virrat, Parkano and Kihniö. 

Finland is the main producer and consumer of peat in Europe, where 90% of this material is produced out of energy sources. The quantities of CO2 connected to this process is directly compared to coal-based production. Thus, the aim of the JTF regions in Finland is to halt the production and usage of peat by 2030.  

This transition will be supported by the Fund in €465 million in diversifying the livelihoods, revisualizing economic structures and boosting employment by reskilling and upskilling the human resources working in the peat industry, where the focus is the youth. 

“The just transition plan for Finland demonstrates the importance of Cohesion Policy in responding to the economic and social challenges of the EU regions”, Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms. 

Also, the previous Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, stated: “The Green Deal is built on the premise of proving it is possible to have a fair transition to climate neutrality and the European Commission is on Finland’s side as it aims to become the world’s first fossil-free welfare society.” In this sense, the EUTEENS4GREEN project is glad to have a project focusing on the green transition within the youngest group of Joensuu, in North Karelia, a region focused on neutralizing the climate by 2030.  

Getting started: Climate change and advocacy workshop 

Empower young people in Joensuu to participate in the region’s green transition through a 2-day series of workshops.