Climate change mitigation and adaptation require swift and collaborative measures from both public and private actors. The Finnish legal system identifies multiple climate objectives and provides a range of planning instruments that can influence mitigation and adaptation efforts. However, to effectively support climate action, these instruments must be integrated across different sectors. This is challenging, as each sector operates with its own specific interests and rationales.
This policy brief outlines key implementation challenges and potential solutions for achieving the climate change mitigation and adaptation goals set in current legislation, with a particular focus on urban transportation and stormwater management.
Key insights for policymakers:
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Aligning the land use planning system with national climate change mitigation targets requires prioritization between competing objectives at the legislative level.
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National land use objectives should be made more concrete and considered more systematically by state authorities.
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A regulatory approach to nature-based solutions should be introduced into the land use planning legal framework to facilitate the implementation of natural stormwater management.
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Reorganizing municipal internal structures can support the uptake of natural stormwater management in cities.
