Climate change is already visible in Finland's nature
The Earth's climate is changing. Temperatures have risen, especially in the Arctic region. Finland's annual average temperature has risen by approximately two degrees Celsius since the 1880s. Rainfall records have been frequently broken in recent years.
The impacts of climate change are diverse and extend worldwide. The change stresses ecosystems and accelerates global biodiversity loss. Droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events are increasing in different parts of the world. The effects are not confined to local areas but reverberate into global food production, as well as the stability of the world economy and communities – and, consequently, also in Finland.
Finland also has to face the direct impacts of climate change. Agricultural production conditions are changing, which can bring both benefits and drawbacks. Many other industries, such as forestry, fisheries, reindeer husbandry and tourism, also have to adapt. The daily life of Finns is undergoing changes as winters become milder and summers get hotter. Heating needs decrease, but heatwaves occur more frequently than before.
Growing season gets longer and warmer, conditions become Central European
Nature is responding to global warming. The budding of leaves in spring has advanced by approximately 12 days compared to the mid-19th century. By the end of this century, the growing season will lengthen by a month or two. The accumulated heat sum during the growing season is increasing to the extent that summers in Southern Finland will be resemble to current summers in Poland today, possibly even those in France. In Lapland, the situation would resemble today's Southern Finland.
Vegetation zones are shifting northward, threatening plant and animal species
Warming is changing the living conditions of plants and animals. Before long, vegetation zones will shift northwards. Signs of this are already visible. In Lapland, the volume growth and seedling establishment of coniferous trees has intensified, indicating an elevation of the tree line. New southern species have spread to Finland. At the same time, northern species are becoming threatened. Climate change is the primary threat to some 30 threatened species today, and this number will multiply in the future.
The Baltic Sea is warming and becoming less saline, altering the living conditions for species
The near-bottom layers of the Baltic Sea have warmed by 0.75–2.9 degrees Celsius between the 1960s and the present day. At the same time, the surface water salinity has decreased. Warming has been particularly pronounced since 1993. These changes are expected to continue and are affecting marine ecosystems. The structure of the biotic communities and, among other things, the living conditions for fish are changing. Oxygen depletion on the seabed may intensify, as well as the masses of blue-green algae.
The ice cover is diminishing, and aquatic ecosystems are facing something new
Winter ice cover in the Baltic Sea has been shrinking, especially since the 1990s. This trend is continuing and intensifying. Both the sea and inland waters are also frozen for shorter period; the ice breakup in lakes has advanced by approximately two weeks. This change puts pressure on aquatic ecosystems. Many species, from seals to microscopic organisms, depend on the ice. Sea ice is classified as a threatened habitat type in Finland.
Snow is dwindling, and the situation for Arctic plant and animal species is becoming more challenging
The maximum snow cover thickness has decreased in Southern and Western Finland over the past 50 years: an average of 2–4 cm per decade. In Northern Finland, there has been no significant change in snow depth. The duration of snow cover has shortened throughout Finland. The overall picture is that winters have shifted 300 km northward. For Arctic species, the reduction in snow cover may be an even greater threat than temperature rise.
Winters are becoming wetter, leading to water pollution increases
In Finland, snowfall accounts for 30–35% of the annual precipitation, while globally it’s around 5 percent. Due to climate change, winter precipitation is increasing, and a larger portion of it falls as rain. Rain falling on bare ground increases erosion and nutrient runoff into water bodies. The change is not yet discernible in the annual material flows of the rivers flowing into the Baltic Sea, as the amounts of materials carried by rivers vary significantly depending on yearly weather conditions of the year.
Summer droughts – increasing heavy rains offer no relief
In recent years, different parts of Finland have experienced both drought periods and heavy rainfall events. However, these occurrences are still so rare and sporadic that they do not appear in the national weather statistics. Climate models indicate that extreme weather events are becoming more common. Droughts are becoming more frequent and heavy rains do not alleviate the situation since most of the water they bring runs off along the surface. Particularly, winter storms may become more frequent.
Groundwater conditions are changing, and the availability and quality of groundwater may deteriorate in some areas
Weather conditions and the seasons are reflected in groundwater: its level varies with the seasons - in different ways in different parts of Finland. The impact of climate change is evident in changes to these variations. In the future, periods of drought and rainfall may also cause abnormal groundwater levels. This could negatively affect the quality of groundwater.
The risk of floods is increasing for several reasons
Winters are getting milder, and increased winter rains are already raising the risk of winter flooding along the waterways in Southern and Central Finland. Spring floods, on the other hand, may become less severe there but intensify in Lapland. Sea-level rise will begin to have an impact only towards the end of the century, but increasing storms threaten to raise coastal sea floods even before that. Heavy rainfall increases the risk of stormwater flooding. Urbanization and an aging population increase vulnerability to floods.
Read more of climate change
- Changing climate
- Finland’s national climate policy (ym.fi)
- Climate change adaptation (mmm.fi)
- Extreme summer weather in a changing climate (eea.europe.eu)
Preparations for climate change are made in various sectors
The impacts of climate change are widely taken into account in various industries and sectors of society, such as land use planning and flood risk management. The European Union requires member states to have adaptation plans. Finland's national adaptation plan examines climate risks in Finland, society's adaptability, and various adaptation measures.
