Sweden and Finland urge revision of EU's forestry climate targets

As part of the European Union's plans to reach net zero emissions by 2050, Sweden and Finland have been tasked with increasing the amount of CO2 bound up by forests.

But both countries say they are on track to miss the EU's Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) targets for the period 2021-25 and 2026-30, blaming climate change for slower tree growth and the military conflict in Ukraine for increased demand.

"The EU's current framework for forest use ... is a major problem and, if not revised, would lead to unreasonable and unjustified restrictions on Swedish forestry," Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on X late on Monday.

"To, in practice, severely restrict large parts of Nordic forestry is the wrong path to take."

Industry and environmental groups both see forests as a key part in fighting climate change.

Forestry firms stress the economic benefits, sustainable management and the role of biofuels and wood in replacing fossil fuels, plastic and concrete.

But scientists have warned that over-logging, monoculture and other industry practices are reducing the ability of forests to absorb carbon dioxide, and put Europe's climate goals at risk.

In a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Sweden and Finland said their targets - an increase in CO2 uptake of around four million tonnes annually by 2030 for Sweden and three million tonnes for Finland - were unrealistic.

Reduced logging would "entail dire consequences for our economies as well as labor markets", the two countries said in the letter.

Forests cover around 70 percent of Finland and Sweden.

Wood products make up more than 10 percent of Sweden's exports and almost a fifth for Finland. More than 200,000 people work in the sector.