Let's Hear it for Finland! Would that the U.S. Senate were so bold and unbeholden to Big Coal.

[Triana]

(AFP) – 1 day ago

HELSINKI — The Finnish government aims to reduce its carbon emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels, in order to minimise the risks caused by climate warming, it said Thursday.

Finland stressed a joint effort of industrial countries would be needed to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius at most.

"In practice, the achievement of emission reductions in Finland requires virtually zero-emission energy and road transport sectors in the long term," the government said in a statement.

Finland's long-term climate and energy policy comprises increasing the use of renewable energy, the deployment of new technologies, taxation reform and revising energy standards on buildings.

The EU, of which Finland is a member, has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent from 1990 levels and has said it could increase the target to 30 percent if an international agreement was reached at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen.

The reduction of heat-trapping greenhouse gases which drive global warming will be a core issue at the Copenhagen conference in December. The summit aims to reach a new global climate accord to replace the Kyoto Protocol which expires in 2012.


http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jHqLhL_MAIwCu-z5xaS7HhSuMhMg

[polichick]

1. Bless 'em - we should be so evolved!! nt

[stevedeshazer]

2. That's it. I'm going back. Reverse migration.

My grandmothers were both Finns. Their families moved to the U.S. in search of jobs.

How ironic.