Climate change is an opportunity

Concern over the environment and awareness of climate change are growing all round the world, and this affects consumer behaviour and the mode of transport that people choose. In Finland, transport produces one-fifth of the greenhouse gases that accelerate climate change, but rail’s share of emissions from transport is only just over 1%. Increased environmental awareness thus offers growth potential for environmentally benign rail services.

Environmental charges are planned

Environmental factors also influence the decisions made by politicians and civil servants, and can thus strengthen rail’s position in Finland. New ways of controlling transport, such as emission taxes and road tolls, are being considered in Finland as elsewhere. The increasing importance of environmental factors in the global economy will affect the price of energy.

Climate change will also reshape nature and the living environment in Finland. In the long-term these changes will have to be addressed not simply in track construction but also in other areas such as track maintenance and providing transport services.