Study: Finnish law allows construction emissions more than 30 times higher than the sustainable limit

Emissions from new construction must be significantly restricted if Finland is to meet its climate targets. Researchers at Aalto University have calculated how much construction-related greenhouse gas emissions can be generated while remaining within sustainable limits.

The carbon footprint of new buildings must be brought close to zero if climate change is to be limited to even 2°C above pre-industrial levels. At present, the statutory emissions limit for residential apartment buildings in Finland is 16 kg of carbon dioxide per square metre of building floor area per year. From the perspective of the Earth's carrying capacity, a safe emissions limit would be approximately 0.5 kg. This means that the limit set by Finnish legislation is more than 30 times higher than the sustainable level. Legislation will be tightened in 2029, but even then, residential apartment buildings will be permitted to generate emissions 24 times higher than the level compatible with the planet's carrying capacity.

Emissions limits for new construction should be reduced by 77 per cent annually until 2030 to put the sector back on track for limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The required annual reduction is substantial because the remaining carbon budget has become so small.

'At the current rate, the carbon budget for construction consistent with 1.5°C of warming will be exhausted in just one year, while only 20 years' worth of the carbon budget for 2°C remains,' says Professor Matti Kuittinen, who researches sustainable construction.

Some cities already have significantly stricter limits than national legislation

According to the researchers, strong legislation and emissions limits have the greatest impact on reducing emissions. For example, the cities of Tampere and Vantaa have already introduced emissions limits for school buildings that are considerably stricter than current national legislation. Schools built in these cities are already aligned with an emissions budget consistent with approximately 1.7°C of global warming.

'We already have the means to achieve substantial emissions reductions. For example, timber construction, low-carbon concrete and fossil-free steel could help. We could also reduce new construction and renovate existing buildings for new purposes. These measures could put us on a pathway consistent with limiting global warming to below 2°C,' Kuittinen explains.

Construction has an enormous impact on Finland's emissions. The carbon footprint of the built environment accounts for approximately 30 percent of Finland's greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, Finland consumes more materials per capita than any other EU country, with construction materials accounting for the largest share.

Aalto University researcher and Doctor of Science (Technology) Ilmari Talvitie and Professor Matti Kuittinen have, for the first time, established a carbon budget for construction in Finland. The work was carried out as part of the Transformation of Urban Systems research programme (Profi 8), funded by the Research Council of Finland. The research will continue in 2027 with more detailed studies to support the Government Programme and Finland's Climate Act.