Annual report 2021

OVERVIEW

2021 was an extraordinary and challenging year globally but despite the COVID-19 pandemic, CLC has been very active and expanded its membership base and influence.  Climate Leadership Coalition is the largest non-profit climate business network in Europe.  On December 31, 2021 CLC had 91 organizational members: 61 companies, 9 universities, 7 trade organizations, 6 cities, 6 research institutions, 1 foundation and 1 trade union confederation. CLC has also accepted 54 personal members. CLC’s members employ globally 530 000 people and represent around 70 % of the market cap of the OMX Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange. CLC was founded in 2014 by Finnish companies Fortum, Kone, Neste, St1, Outotec, Caverion and Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund.

CLC believes that profound transition to a sustainable world can be economically beneficial, viable and financeable. Our members strive to be among the leaders of their respective fields in terms of climate change mitigation ambition. Together we aim to make a significant positive climate impact through business solutions. Protecting the climate can and should be an economic stimulus and early adapters can benefit and become more profitable.

CLC organizes regular theme group meetings for its members and makes policy proposals for governments and other stakeholders. CLC encourages decision makers to speed up the green transition and the green recovery by attracting investments via predictable and ambitious policies and systemic market-driven solutions.

We help our members become even stronger climate leaders by identifying and introducing the best global company practices, policy approaches and strategies and actively participating in climate policy development on a Nordic, EU and Global level.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Coalition is to affect the overall competitiveness and ability of businesses and research organisations to respond to the threats posed by climate change and the scarcity of natural resources, as well as to improve their ability to capitalise on the business opportunities created these threats. The Coalition promotes international best practices and their implementation. The Coalition’s basic approach is that profitable, sustainable business is the most effective way to respond to global environmental challenges.

In order to implement its purpose, the Coalition

  • brings together organisations and private persons who promote the Coalition’s objectives
  • collects and shares information with its members on global environment-related trends and compares best practices implemented in other countries
  • initiates development projects that support the Coalition’s purpose
  • makes proposals to ministries and public organisations on developing the innovation system and research programmes
  • organises seminars and events to raise awareness and to identify new business opportunities
  • operates as a collaborative body between its members and represents its members in international cooperation organisations
  • strives to identify know-how to serve as a model for effective mitigation of climate change and communicates this on international fora.

 

CHANGES IN THE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

Although average global temperatures were temporarily cooled by the 2020-2022 La Niña events, 2021 was still one of the seven warmest years on record according to WMO. The global mean temperature for 2021[1] was 1.1 (± 0.1)°C above the 1850–1900 baseline, used as an approximation of pre-industrial levels. Year 2021 is also the 7thconsecutive year (2015 – 2021) where global temperature has been over 1°C above pre- industrial levels. Since the 1980s, each decade has been warmer than the previous one. This is expected to continue.

Despite Covid-19 lockdowns carbon dioxide levels increased during 2020 by 2.6 part per million (ppm) averaging 412.5 ppm according to NOAA. The global rate of increase was the fifth-highest in NOAA’s 63-year record. The atmospheric burden of carbon dioxide is now comparable to where it was during the Mid-Pliocene Warm Periodaround 3.6 million years ago.

The European climate law was adopted in the triloque negotiations between the Council, the Parliament and the Commission in June 2021. In addition to the goal of climate neutrality and an aspirational goal for the Union to strive to achieve negative emissions after 2050, the European climate law sets a binding Union climate target of a reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions (emissions after deduction of removals) by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. The law introduces also an indicative Union’s greenhouse gas budget for the period 2030-2050. The greenhouse gas budget aims to improve predictability of the EU’s climate policy and was initiated by CLC and supported by 98 Nordic Call signatories.

Another main change in the policy field was the European Commission’s extensive legislative package (Fit for 55), published in July 2021. The package provided the means to upgrade EU’s reduction target to correspond 55% reduction target for 2030 set in EU’s Climate law. The most important legislative initiatives from CLC point of view were the extension of the Emission Trading Directive, into transport and heating and almost doubling the size of the market-based scheme, Renewable Energy Directive and the LULUCF Regulation. CLC welcomed the package.

When looking on international level, the start of the year was encouraging. Shortly after becoming president in January, Joe Biden announced that the US would be rejoining the Paris agreement. One month later, China announced as part of its 14th Five Year Plan China that the country aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2060.

In the COP26 meeting in Glasgow more countries announced their net-zero pledges by or near mid-century. The most significant of these was India’s pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2070. After Glasgow countries creating around 90 per cent of global GDP has committed to achieve net zero emissions by or near mid-century, and most G20 countries committed to take more action to 2030 with some notable exceptions.

The rules for the Paris climate accord, which have derailed several previous climate summits, were finalised at COP26, including transparency regulations for how countries report their emissions.

Despite long term net-zero emission pledges, concrete actions and policies for emissions reductions are still missing at large. And even when it is known, that after the “net-zero”, the carbon sinks need to be much bigger that the emissions, no country has made concrete pledges of them.

In addition to governments, a growing number of companies started to pay increased attention to their climate related performance and risks. By October over over 1650 including 83 of the world’s 100 largest companies, supported TCFD recommendations.  

NUMBER OF MEMBERS, OPERATIONS AND FINANCES

At year-end 2021, the Coalition had 91 organisational members and 54 personal members. In 2021, 12 new organisational members and 14 personal members joined CLC.

CEO, team and board members introduced CLC to several interested organizations in 2021. As a result Biocode, Finnsementti, Hanken, Husqvarna Group, Procope & Hornborg, Saint-Gobain Finland, University of Eastern Finland, Combient Pure, Flexens, Spinnova, Terveystalo and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL joined CLC in 2021.

The new personal members joined in 2021 are Pekka Ala-Pietilä, George Kell, Markku Markkula, Ava Numminen-Päiväläinen, Jeremy Oppenheim, Joseph Carvin, Kari Huoponen, Brian Buggey, Erkki Liikanen, Prachi Shevgaonkar, Mikko Spolander, Gregory H. Watson, Anne Berner ja Morits Skaugen.

CLC held two statutory meetings in 2021. The Coalition’s statutory spring meeting was held on 4 May 2021 and the statutory autumn meeting September 21, 2021.

The autumn meeting elected four new members to the Board: Pekka Ala-Pietilä, Chairman of the Board of Huhtamäki and Sanoma, Jonas Gustavsson, CEO, Afry, Merja Kivelä, Attorney, Castren & Snellman and Pekka Timonen, Mayor, City of Lahti.

Liina Aulin, EVP, Communications and Corporate Responsibility, Ilmarinen, Jaakko Hirvola, CEO, Technology Industries of Finland and Chair of the Orgalim Board of Directors and Riikka Joukio, EVP, Corporate Responsibility and Public Affairs, Kesko were chosen as new vice-members of the CLC board.

Karl-Henrik Sundström, former CEO of Stora Enso continues as the chairman of the board and Jyrki Katainen, President of Sitra as vice-chairman and Antti Vasara, President and CEO of VTT as a member.

CLC’s operations were financed primarily by membership fees. Income from membership fees, grants and other sources in 2020 amounted to EUR 885,440.00.

ACTION PLAN TARGETS AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENT

FLAGSHIP PROJECTS 

In 2021, CLC had two flagship projects: 1) Effective carbon pricing and 2) A holistic strategy for EU land use, bioeconomy and biodiversity.

EFFECTIVE CARBON PRICING

CLC strives to encourage the EU to develop a more systematic solution to emissions trading by, for example, extending and strengthening the emissions trading system (ETS) while achieving a more long-term approach and improving the predictability of the system to support and encourage major investments in decarbonisation.

The main achievements in 2021 are:

  • The carbon budget concept, proposed by CLC as early as 2018, was incorporated into EU climate legislation.
  • The Call on Carbon campaign, which was launched on the initiative of CLC and led by CLC, developed into the largest business climate project in the world, supported by leaders from more than 130 companies, cities, universities, interest groups and networks. The campaign’s signatories represent more than 60 million companies and farmers in more than 100 countries. The companies in the networks of institutions have a total market cap of more than USD 25 trillion, and investment assets managed by representatives of the financial sector exceed USD 120 trillion. Approximately 25 percent of the world’s businesses are involved. We sent letters to all heads of state and received positive feedback from many recipients, including EU senior management.
  • The Call on Carbon project is still ongoing, and our goal is to create a worldwide coalition to promote CO2 pricing in line with our proposal. The EU started to set up a coalition in line with our concept at the Glasgow climate conference.
  • All key proposals presented by CLC in the 2019 position paper were included in the EU Fit for 55 package. 


A HOLISTIC STRATEGY FOR EU LAND-USE, BIOECONOMY AND BIODIVERSITY

In 2020 CLC decided that we will also focus on developing and promoting a holistic strategy for EU land use, bioeconomy and biodiversity before new legislation is proposed for emissions trading, effort sharing, land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) in the summer of 2021. Land use and the bioeconomy will have a major role in climate mitigation during this century, delivering about one fifth of the total reduction of emissions today, and three quarters between 2050-2100.

The main achievements in 2021 were:

The aim is to encourage the EU to create a holistic strategy for the 2030–2050 period in the next few years and for significant carbon sinks beyond that. We will continue the development of this area also in 2022.

OTHER NOTABLE ACTIVITIES

Carbon handprint 

CLC, together with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and LUT University, has developed the concept of the carbon handprint to assess the positive environmental impact of a product or service. More information can be found here.

In 2021, CLC applied for funding from the Uusimaa Regional Council and started a project to make a Carbon Handprint manual for Cities and Regions. The project started in Summer 2021 and will continue until April 31, 2022. Another project related to the Carbon Handprint was started in Nordic cooperation and the funding was applied from the Nordic Council of Ministries. This project will continue through 2022.

In 2021 CLC launched the world’s first Carbon Handprint Award and in 2022 CLC will develop the concept further for it to be suitable for cities and regions, and introduce the concept internationally in 2022.

Investors climate related requirements 

CLC arranged a seminar in February with the Ownership Steering Department of the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss the key changes to international climate change mitigation measures and investor requirements for reporting on corporate climate risks and business operations. The event was opened by Tytti Tuppurainen, Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering.

Statement by organisation leaders on the IPCC report and the urgency of climate action 

CLC initiated a letter to the Finnish government and parliament regarding climate targets with the leaders of Akava – Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland, Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), Finnish Development NGOs – Fingo, the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK), the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) and STTK.

Climate books 

CLC published the book At the Crossroads on climate change and how to mitigate it. The review in Forbes was positive.

In addition, CLC – as an only business organisation – was invited to write a chapter to the His Holiness Pope Francis’ Laudato si’ Reader – An Alliance of Care for Our Common Home – book. More information here.

In 2021 CLC filed the following policy briefs to the EU: 

  • A holistic strategy for land use and the bioeconomy:

The EU needs a holistic strategy for land use and the bioeconomy 

  • Biomaterials as part of the climate transition:

Biomaterials have an important role to play in achieving the strategic goals of the European Green Deal and New Industrial Strategy 

  • Carbon footprint development for products and materials:

Proposal for carbon footprint development for products and materials 

  In 2021 CLC filed following statements to the Finnish government:

  • Statement to the Environment Committee on the government report VNS6/2020 vp, Sustainable growth programme fior Finland (15.1.2021)
  • Statement to the Environment Committee on government report VNS3/2020 vp, Government report on sustainable development plan Agenda2030 Towards carbon neutral society (5.2.2021)
  • Statement to the Finance Committee on government report VNS3/2020 vp, Government report on sustainable development plan Agenda2030 Towards carbon neutral society (5.2.2021)
  • Statement to the Ministry of Transport and Communications on Roadmap for Fossilfree Transport Green (12.2.2021).
  • Statement to the Finance Committee on the Government proposal for Finnish law on blending obligation for renewable transport fuels (4.5.2021)
  • Statement to the Finance Committee on the Government proposal for Finnish law on quarantee of origin for renewable energy sources (25.5.2021)
  • Statement to the Environment Ministry on the government proposal for the Finnish Climate Law (10.8.2021)
  • Statement to the Finance Committee on annual climate report 2021 (12.10.2021)
  • Statement to the Finance Committee on the EU Commission’s proposal for a directive on energy efficiency (12.10.2021)
  • Statement to the Environment Committee on the EU Commission’s proposal for a directive on energy efficiency (27.10.2021)
  • Statement to the Finance committee on Government brief to the Parliament on the Commission’s proposal for Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanim, CBAM) (27.10.2021)
  • Statement to the Grand committee E 97/2021 vp Government report: Communication from the EU Commission: ‘Fit for 55’: delivering the EU’s 2030 Climate Target on the way to climate neutrality, COM/2021/550 final, (28.10.2021)
  • Statement to the Finance committee on Government brief to the Parliament on the Commission’s proposal for revíson of the emission trading directive 2003/87/EC (Emission trading system, Market Stability Reserve (11.11.2021)

The statements can be found here: Policy proposals and statements.  

THEME GROUPS

In 2021, CLC had 14 theme groups: Agriculture, Carbon Footprint and Handprint, Circular Economy, Climate Policy, Communication, Construction, Energy, Finance, Forest, HR, ICT, Transportation, Climate and Health and Cities for Green Growth. The two latter ones are the newest groups that had their kick-off meetings in Spring 2021. The theme groups provide members with opportunities to network and learn from each other and featuring visiting experts. In 2021 theme groups held XX meetings and XX webinars, many of which have been at an international level.

AGRICULTURE THEME GROUP

The objectives of the Agriculture and Food theme group is to reduce emissions in the agricultural and food sector as well as improving the carbon sinks, for example through carbon farming and promoting climate friendly diets, as well as new potential low-carbon food production methods and technologies. The group’s chair in 2021 was Matti Rihko from University of Turku. Minttu Liuhto is the facilitator of the theme group.

In 2021, the strategy in the theme group was to focus on different areas within Agriculture and Food, to engage more members and to cover and offer varying areas within this wide group of interests and members. Webinar series were organized on focused areas of Carbon Farming, Sustainable Diets and New food production technologies. In total seven webinars were organized with high-level speakers from institutions such as the EU Commission and Parliament, FAO, INRAe, and UNFCCC. In addition, the main results achieved in the theme group were creation (Summer 2021) and starting (Autumn 2021) of two working groups: ‘Carbon Sequestration’ and ‘Sustainable Diets’. Both working groups include approximately 10 CLC member organizations dedicated to work in this specific area.

In 2022, the main actions for the theme group will focus into:

  • Holistic strategy for land use and bioeconomy- CLC report
  • Emission reduction in Agriculture (carbon farming, market mechanisms and others)
  • Sustainable diets – better for the climate and human health
  • New ways to produce food – synthetic food, cellular agriculture, vertical farming and many other new technology innovations

CARBON FOOTPRINT AND HANDPRINT THEME GROUP

The objective of the Carbon Handprint and Footprint theme group is to follow national and international programmes/initiatives to decrease carbon emissions and to contribute and share good practices quantification, mitigation and communication.

The group’s chair in 2021 was Tiina Pajula from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and the facilitator was Sari Siitonen, CLC.

In 2021, the group held three meetings. In 2021, CLC started a project for Carbon handprint manual for cities and regions, and the group followed the work closely. The group was also involved in the initiation of a project on carbon handprint in Nordic cooperation. Both of these projects continue in 2022. One of the main results was the policy brief on carbon footprint in Summer 2021. In the Zero Emissions Day on September 21, 2021, first Carbon Handprint Awards were handed to CLC members; to Neste for the Renewable Diesel Neste My and to Spinnova in the innovative start-up category.

In 2022, the main actions for the theme group are:

  • Expand the use of Carbon footprint in EU based on the CLC policy brief
  • Expanding the use of Carbon handprint internationally
  • Begin the Handprint part of the Nordic Project
  • Finalize the Carbon handprint project for cities and regions
  • International launch of Carbon handprint at GLOBE Forum in Vancouver March 29-31, 2022
  • Include Carbon Handprint as part of international standards
  • Develop a Carbon handprint concept for the retail sector

CIRCULAR ECONOMY THEME GROUP

The Circular Economy theme group has the main objective of circular economy solutions solving over-use of natural resources, biodiversity loss and climate crisis. The groups chairs in 2021 were Marleena Ahonen and Riku Sinervo and the facilitator was Kari Mokko.

In 2021, the group held two meetings where the key findings of WCEF 2021 and the key Finnish Strategic programme to promote a circular economy were presented and discussed.

In 2022, the main objectives for the theme group are:

  • Increase knowledge and understanding about EU’s CE related strategies (eg. Circular Economy Action Plan) and discuss them from members’ perspectives.
  • Co-create suggestions for financial instruments and incentives that support the scaling of circular economy business models.
  • Support circular economy via ICT applications and big data

CLIMATE POLICY THEME GROUP

The main objective in the Policy theme group is proactive preparation of CLC policy proposals and statements for the EU and its member states. In 2021 Juha Turkki from CLC acted both the chair and facilitator of the group.

In addition, CLC has finalized three policy briefs for initiatives of the EU Commission and several for the Finnish parliament and the government. Participants were mainly the representatives of the organisations in the CLC board, the association members, relevant theme groups and for some topics all CLC members were invited to give comments.

   In 2022, the main objectives for the group are:

  • To follow climate and energy policy initiatives on EU and Finnish/Nordic level
  • Policy briefs and statements for the EU and Finnish/Nordic climate policy initiatives
  • Present views on how climate neutrality should be addressed in government budget together with Finance theme group
  • Development of market-based policies to enhance climate friendly development in different sectors
  • Carbon pricing, carbon handprint, land-use and bioeconomy will be key themes

COMMUNICATIONS THEME GROUP

The main objective for the Communications theme group is to develop the ‘How to share best practices’ – concept regarding communication. In 2021 Kari Mokko from CLC acted both the chair and facilitator of the group.

In 2021, the group held one theme group meeting where the Scandinavian Correspondent of the Financial Times, Richard Milne shared FT’s views on climate change related media outreach done by Nordic companies. Every CLC organsation member has been asked to send a representative in the Communications group.

In 2022, the main objectives for the group are:

  • Improve the quality and widen the scope of the climate articles
  • New and old members present their sustainability plans and initiatives
  • “What’s next for climate reporting in 2022”-series with international media outlets
  • Climate change mitigation training for Finnish journalists

CONSTRUCTION THEME GROUP

The Construction theme group focuses on new solutions and assessment methods for low-carbon construction. In 2021, the group’s chair was Henrik Suikkanen from Demos Helsinki, and Senni Raunio was the facilitator in the group.

The group’s most important outcomes over the past five years have been studying the carbon footprint assessment method of buildings developed by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment and sharing information with group members. In 2021 the group study the Construction industry’s low carbon roadmap made by the Finnish Government, the EU Taxonomy and the new EU Energy Directive. The group met three times in 2021.

The Construction theme group’s objectives for 2022 are:

  • Promote a holistic approach in the building sector including climate impacts from the use and construction phase
  • Promote the use carbon footprint buildings as a part of energy performance certificate
  • Initiate the development of new design criteria for changing climate conditions – initiate a development project

ENERGY THEME GROUP

The Energy theme group focuses on developing a smart, flexible and low-carbon solutions to the energy market. The group’s chair and facilitator was Juha Turkki in 2021, He will continue the work as facilitator also in 2022. The chair in 2022 will be professor Pami Aalto from the University of Tampere.

In 2021, the group held several webinars to increase the understanding of the low carbon solutions in Nordic and European Energy markets.

The theme group’s objectives for 2022 are:

  • Develop demand based policies for hydrogen / P2X solutions with a separate P2X sub-group led by Antti Arasto VTT. ​
  • Develop vision and promote understanding of energy transmission networks and energy infrastructure in a carbon neutral society​.
    ​

FINANCE THEME GROUP

Finance theme group’s mission is to promote the use of carbon price and to understand and manage climate-related risks and opportunities. It also has a role in supporting the design of CLC’s proposal for a systemic solution. In 2021 The facilitator and chair of the Finance theme group was Timo Tyrväinen, Chief Economist of CLC. He will continue in the role in 2022.

In 2021 CLC initiated global call for carbon pricing, Call on Carbon. The initiative was designed and launched in co-operation with Swedish Haga Initiative and Norwegian Skift Business Climate Leaders.

The group continued to promote TCFD in Finland and in the Nordics. Together with the Ownership Steering Unit of the State of Finland it hosted an event designed for the chairmen of the board and CEOs in February 2021. The group was co-organiser of the Finnish corporate responsibility reporting competition, and it hosted events on disruptional processes shaking world economy. The final meeting of the year discussed the IRFS regulation development with Mr. Erkki Liikanen as a guest. The group met four times during 2021.

In 2022, the group’s main objectives are:

  • Discuss and present proposals for effective carbon pricing
  • Present in co-operation with the Policy theme group views on how climate neutrality should be addressed in budgetary policy of the Finnish government
  • Promote TCFD in Finland and the Nordics – give input to IFRS development

FOREST THEME GROUP

In 2021, the group focused on driving the development of forest-based carbon sequestration and substitution. The group had four meetings covering the following topics: 1) substitution effect in the forest sector, 2) measuring and modelling carbon sequestration in forests, 3) EU Fit for 55 package: reflections and impacts on the Finnish forest sector and 4) EU taxonomy criteria and reflections from the private forest owners.

Other focus areas include forest offsets and related market-based instruments, as well as sustainability and consumer/end-user perspectives. The group’s chair is Petteri Pihlajamäki from AFRY Management Consulting, and Minttu Liuhto is the group’s facilitator.

The theme group’s objectives for 2022:

  • Drive the development of carbon sink measurements
  • Drive the development of biocarbon monitoring platform
  • Drive the development of proposal for material substitution rewarding

HR THEME GROUP

The objective of the group is to expand the use of climate friendly elements in employment benefits and compensation schemes. In addition, HR theme group discusses and shares HR policies among the member organizations. In 2021 Rauha Bato-Liukkonen from Helen was the chair of the group in 2021. Senni Raunio was the facilitator of the group in 2021.

In 2021 the group shared best practices on rewarding between the organizations as well as the rewarding practices on management and employees on climate targets. The group held a webinar on the climate related incentives and another one on continuous improvement and the Toyota Way. The group met these two times during 2021.

In 2022 the objectives of the HR group are:

  • Benchmark and gather experiences and solutions for climate-related compensation and benefits

ICT THEME GROUP

The objective of the ICT theme group is to understand and develop ICT-based carbon handprint and to decrease carbon footprint as well as improving ICT solutions for circular economy. Vesa Siitari was the chair of the ICT theme group in 2021. Jouni Keronen acted as a facilitator.

In 2021 the group organized one webinar on the webinar on ICT disruption (8.2.).

The main objectives for 2022 are

  • Initiate a global ICT coalitions to promote citizens climate friendly choices, the use of ICT in circular economy, to decrease the ICT’s carbon footprint and to introduce the carbon handprint concept for the ICT sector

TRANSPORTATION THEME GROUP

The objective of the Transport theme group is to help CLC members to jointly develop and offer solutions for reducing carbon emissions from transport and traffic. Together with the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and the Smart & Clean Foundation among others, the group has designed the Helsinki Metropolitan Area BioSata project, where buses, heavy equipment and trucks in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area will transition to using biofuels based on waste and residues.

In 2021, the group discussed the Fossil free transportation roadmap for Finland, sustainable commuting, and shipping and aviation as part of the EU ETS. The group met four times and additional webinar was also held regarding the German ETS. The group also gave input and advice on several CLC statement papers regarding fossil free transportation. Heikki Liimatainen from University of Tampere is the chair of the group and Minttu Liuhto is the facilitator of the group.

The theme group’s objectives for 2022 are:

  • Understand vehicle technology requirements with electrification and low-carbon road transportation – including batteries
  • Develop proposals for hydrogen and other alternative fuels
  • Developing proposals for low-carbon road infrastructure
  • Initiate competence center for climate neutral marine transport
  • Initiate a development project for low carbon solutions for aviation
  • Learn and propose solutions for market mechanisms (ETS etc) to accelerate development of low carbon transport sector

CLIMATE AND HEALTH THEME GROUP

In 2021, CLC organized two high-level webinars in the spring highlighting the health issues of climate change. The webinars had over 100 participants and international speakers from the health care sector and institutions such as WHO, WMO, IMF, THL, European Commission and many others. Also a panel discussion was organized that included several representatives from private and public health care sector in Finland. Minttu Liuhto is the facilitator of the group.

In 2022, The group will organize its first formal theme group meeting (18.2.2022) and thereby initiate the work with interested member organizations.

The theme group’s objectives for 2022:

  • Increase understanding on health related societal and economic impacts of climate change
  • Identify ways to reduce carbon footprint in the health sector
  • Promote benefits of health and environmentally friendly diets and finding ways to activate citizens on this
  • Increase preparedness to climate impacts and climate adaptation in the health sector- including social consequences, physical and mental health issues, risk of natural hazards and biological threats
  • Identify mitigation potential and business opportunities for green transition in developing and developed countries

CITIES FOR GREEN GROWTH THEME GROUP

In the spring 2021, Cities for Green Growth was started. First event was a kick-off meeting were the member organizations could participate to the planning of the group. Later during the year, the group had two meetings, and the main focus was to discuss the international examples, e.g. examples from Vancouver and the Carbon Handprint manual for cities and regions. Suvi Häkämies from Gaia Consulting is the chair of the group and Senni Raunio is the facilitator of the group.

Main objectives of the group for 2022:

  • Support the green growth in cities and regions
  • Promote the use of carbon handprint concept in cities and regions in Finland and in EU


BY-LAWS AND MEMBERS

BY-LAWS

The Coalition’s by-laws can be found in Appendix 1.

MEMBERS

In 2021, 12 new organisational and 14 personal members joined CLC. At the end of the year, the Coalition had 91 organisational members and 54 personal members.

 As of December 31, 2021, the Coalition’s organisation members were:

Aalto University

Akava

Alexander Incentives

ABB

Atea Finland

Atria

Bank of Åland

Biocode

Caruna

Castren & Snellman

Caverion

Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK)

City of Espoo

City of Lahti

City of Pori

City of Porvoo

City of Tampere

City of Turku

Combient Pure

Demos Effect

Elenia

Electrolux

Elisa

Elo

Ensto

Fazer

Finance Finland (FFI)

Finnair

Finnsementti

Finnish Bus and Coach Association

Finnish Commerce Federation

Finnish Energy

Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)

Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra

Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL)

Fiskars

Flexens

Fortum

Gaia

Gasgrid Finland

Gasum

Hanken Business School

Helen

Husqvarna Group

Huhtamäki

IBM Finland

Iin Micropolis

Ilmarinen

Kesko

Kojamo

KONE

Korkia

L & T

LUT University

Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)

Neste

Nordea

Outotec

OP Ryhmä

Porvoon Energia

Posti

Procope&Hornborg

Pöyry

Remeo

Saint Gobain Finland

Sanoma

SEB

Service Sector Employers Palta

S Group

Spinnova

St1

Stora Enso

Tampere University

Technology Industries of Finland

Telia Company

Terveystalo

Tiina and Antti Herlin Foundation

Tornator

Turku Energia

University of Eastern Finland

University of Helsinki

University of Oulu

University of Turku

University of Vaasa

Uponor

Vaisala

Varma

VR Group

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

Valio

Vestas

Wärtsilä

YIT

Åbo Akademi University

As of December 31, 2021 there were 54 personal members:

Aila Aho, Esko Aho, Pekka Ala-Pietilä, Alviina Alametsä, Mirva Antila, Ben Banerjee, Anne Berner, Louis Blumberg, Bryan Buggey, Joseph Carvin, Ian Dunlop, Henrik Ehrnrooth, Juhani Eskola, Antti Herlin, Allen Hershkowitz, Jaakko Hirvola, Simo Honkanen, Jukka Honkaniemi, Kari Huoponen, Jaana Husu-Kallio, Tapio Kanninen, George Kell, Cary Krosinsky, Hannu Korhonen, Pertti Korhonen, Markku Kulmala, Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, Erkki Liikanen, Markku Markkula, Jaakko Mustakallio, Kari Mäkinen, Kai Mylkkänen, Ava Numminen-Päiväläinen, Jorma Ollila, Jeremy Oppenheim, Anneli Pauli, Pekka Pesonen, Sirpa Pietikäinen, Hannele Pokka, Matti Rihko, Prachi Shegaonkar, Morits Skaugen, Mikko Spolander, Leo Stranius, Karl-Henrik Sundström, Petteri Taalas, Nils Torvalds, Timo Tyrväinen, Esko Valtaoja, Risto Volanen, Veikko Välilä, Marcus Wallenberg, Gregory H. Watson and Anders Wijkman.

ORGANISATION

As of December 31, 2021, the composition of the Board was as follows:

Karl-Henrik Sundström (Chairman)

Jyrki Katainen (Vice Chairman)

Pekka Ala-Pietilä

Jonas Gustavsson

Merja Kivelä

Pekka Timonen

Antti Vasara

Deputy members:

Liina Aulin

Jaakko Hirvola

Riikka Joukio

Secretary of the Board:

Mari Pantsar

As of December 31, 2021, the composition of CLC’s staff was as follows:

Jouni Keronen, CEO

Juha Turkki, Development Director, Systemic Climate Solutions

Kari Mokko, Development Director, Networks and Communications

Minttu Liuhto, Specialist, Climate Change

Senni Raunio, Specialist, Project Development

CLC’s Advisors:

Sari Siitonen, Senior Advisor, Carbon Footprint and Handprint

Timo Tyrväinen, Chief Economist


DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

The Coalition’s statutory spring meeting was held on 4 May, 2021 and the autumn meeting on 21 September, 2021.

The autumn meeting adopted the action plan, income and expenditure estimates, and the amounts of joining and membership fees for the following calendar year. New members will not be charged a fee for joining. Membership fees from the beginning of 2021 are:

  • EUR 11,000.00 for large organisations (net sales of EUR 50m or more)
  • EUR 5,500.00 for small organisations (net sales of less than EUR 50m)
  • EUR 5,500.00 for small associations (with less than 20 persons)
  • EUR 2,500.00 for foundations and startups
  • EUR 11.00 for private members

FINANCIAL REVIEW

CLC’s operations were mostly financed by membership fees. Income from membership fees, grants and other sources in 2020 amounted to EUR 885,440.00 (2020: EUR 750,798.00), and expenses were EUR 817,096.31 (EUR 616,700.63). The profit/loss for 2021 was EUR 885,455.30 (EUR 134,027.72). The coalition’s equity at the balance sheet date was EUR 201,491.99 (EUR 122,036.69).

The estimated income for 2021, as of the autumn meeting in 2020, was EUR 789,798.00, and estimated expenses are EUR 785,700.00.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, costs were lower than planned.

INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION

The Board held eleven meetings in 2021 seven of which was per capsulam. The Coalition’s auditors are PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy. The principal auditor is Jukka Paunonen, Authorised Public Accountant, and the deputy auditor is Heini Hänninen KHT, Authorised Public Accountant.

MINIMIZING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT

CLC reinforced its climate actions in 2019 by drafting guidelines for the organization’s staff on how to minimize emissions in traveling and event production. Emissions caused by travelling were reduced in 2021 by organizing all the CLC meetings online via MS Teams.

In 2021 CLC’s employees flew an approximate total of 14,400 kilometers within Europe, no intercontinental flights were flown. The flights were to the UN Climate Convention COP26 in Glasgow, where Minttu Liuhto, Senni Raunio and Timo Tyrväinen participated as members of the CLC staff. The emissions (about 1360 kg/CO2) were offset three times of their amount by UN Climate Neutral Now, in the project number 7461, in which solar power is generated in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India.

CLC’S COMMUNICATIONS

In terms of communications, 2021 was very challenging as the COVID-19 pandemic decresead the reporting on climate change mitigation in Finland and internationally. CLC remained nevertheless active communications-wise and CLC’s expertise gained more favourability.

During the course of the year, CLC systematically built and strengthened its media relations. CLC has now a list of 40 Finnish journalists that are directly and regularly approached for background discussions and briefed on CLC’s current affairs issues.

CLC emails an electronic newsletter about current affairs and activities to its members about once a month. All news about membership and current events is published regularly in Finnish and English on CLC’s own website and circulated widely through social media channels. As the number of members continued to grow, members’ own communication channels increased and diversified the opportunities to disseminate information about CLC’s work.

In 2021 CLC published a total of 48 news releases on its Finnish website, 34 news releases on its English website and six press releases via the STT News Service. The releases can be found via these links: https://clc.fi/fi/uutiset/and https://clc.fi/news/

In 2021 CLC’s initiatives, projects and proposals were covered by the international media X times. 2 articles in Forbes on Call on Carbon (link) and the Crossroads book (link) and Y articles on Call on Carbon in Nordic medias (Senni, tsekkaatko?)

In 2021 CLC’s activities, statements and policy proposals were covered by the Finnish media a total of 24 times. CLC gained positive attention in all the major Finnish news outlets including Helsingin Sanomat, YLE, MTV, Kauppalehti, Talouselämä and Maaseudun Tulevaisuus. Links to the CLC’s media coverage can be found from CLC’s media archive: https://clc.fi/fi/uutiset/

CLC’s Twitter presence and activity was upgraded in 2021 and CLC has now 1860 followers. CLC’s LinkedIn account was added in January 2021 has now 505 followers.

AFTERWORD

The Board’s assessment of the year is that the Coalition reached and exceeded its targets in 2021. Prioritised flagship projects exceeded the plan, and CLC got significant international recognition and the number of members grew as planned. CLC’s Board is very pleased with the results.

[1] From January to October