Acidification policy in Finland

The major cause of acidification in Finland will for a long time continue to be sulphur emission (from oil refineries, old coal-fired power plants, sulphate cellulose and sulphuric acid plants etc.). In 1991 the Council of State made a decision to reduce sulphur emissions by 80% from the 1980 level by about the year 2000. Emissions of NO2 have so far only been limited for vehicles and energy generation plants. About 20% of Finland's acid deposition is caused by ammonia emissions - decisions have not yet been taken on reducing these. Finland has participated in mapping critical loads. Preliminary national target load values for sulphur were set in May 1991. A Finnish Carbon Dioxide Commission study concluded that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by increasing the use of CO2-free forms of energy and more efficient energy generation. Financial controls, in the form of taxes and charges, are gradually being introduced to protect the environment. Finland is cooperating with other Nordic countries and Eastern Europe to negotiate emission reductions and consider transboundary pollution