Finland Pavilion at COP31

Europe is building renewables, grids and new industry at an unprecedented pace. The success of these investments depends not only on technology and finance, but also on how well they are rooted in local communities – whether people feel heard, trust the process and see a fair share of the benefits. This 45-minute session at the Finland Pavilion explores how companies, municipalities and communities can build trust from the early stages and make meaningful engagement a key element of successful green investment. A short keynote sets out why the issue matters now and what is happening at EU level, followed by a conversation with practitioners on what works in practice and what lessons can be shared.

As electricity demand grows due to digitalization, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and industrial decarbonization, ensuring access to reliable, affordable and low-carbon electricity is becoming increasingly important. This session will explore how Finland's energy system and investment environment support both climate action and economic competitiveness, with a focus on clean energy, electrification and digital infrastructure. Participants will discuss investment and financing approaches for scaling clean energy infrastructure and examine how Finland's experience can inform policy and investment strategies in both advanced and developing economies.

This event will explore how renewable fuels can strengthen energy security while accelerating climate action across hard-to-abate transport sectors, including aviation and road transportation. As the world moves from climate ambition to implementation, renewable fuels offer an available and scalable solution to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, cut greenhouse gas emissions and build more resilient energy supply chains. The discussion will examine the opportunities and barriers to scaling their deployment, including the role of long-term policy frameworks, market demand, investments and cross-sector collaboration. Bringing together industry and other key stakeholders, the event will focus on what it takes to turn proven solutions into impact at scale — and how we can make the coming decade a decade of delivery.

We are at a critical turning point for the climate, and the danger it poses to future generations is growing. Countries are falling dangerously short of the Paris Agreement’s goals, while the risk of crossing irreversible thresholds, such as polar ice-sheet collapse and disruption of Atlantic currents, is growing. The consequences also extend beyond the climate system: resource scarcity and deteriorating living conditions may fuel conflict, while economic disruption will affect jobs, livelihoods, and wellbeing worldwide. Companies bear a significant responsibility in driving change. Their emissions far exceed those of the average consumer, giving them both the capacity and responsibility to act. But why aren’t they doing more, and what would it take for companies to raise their climate ambition? This panel brings together key stakeholders in accelerating the green transition. They will address the responsibility of companies and lawmakers to ensure that climate- and nature-related decision-making is ambitious enough to guarantee the safety and wellbeing of future generations. At the world’s most important climate conference, the traditional power dynamic shifts: young people get a seat at the table to directly challenge those making decisions about their future.

Bringing together policymakers, civil society and the private sector, the event takes a cross-sectoral approach to climate, security and resilience. International partnerships are essential for addressing the security risks posed by climate change. Rather than framing climate security primarily in terms of risks to Europe, the event highlights how African actors are responding to pressures on land, water and livelihoods and shaping solutions. Finland has decades of experience in disaster risk reduction and in integrating it into climate adaptation, development policy, humanitarian assistance and preparedness. The event builds on concrete, locally grounded solutions and explores how their impact can be scaled up. Drawing on practical experience from civil society and the private sector, it examines how approaches that strengthen peace and resilience can be supported and expanded through the UN climate negotiations and wider international cooperation.

As AI, digitalisation and electrification accelerate, global electricity demand is rising. This discussion explores how clean power, resilient grids and flexible energy systems can support sustainable economic growth while enabling both emerging and traditional industries to thrive. Join policymakers, industry leaders and energy experts to discuss the investments, partnerships and infrastructure needed to power the future.

Globally, the buildings and construction sector accounts for around one-fifth of greenhouse gas emissions, generates up to 40 percent of waste, and consumes nearly one-third of all raw materials extracted worldwide. The current linear construction paradigm is unable to keep expanding within the planetary boundaries while meeting the growing demand for housing, commercial buildings and infrastructure. Circular Economy keeps building materials in a closed loop economy, offering a fundamentally different paradigm that is urgently needed to solve the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. This event is organised by the GlobalABC Circular Built Environment group led by the Ministry of the Environment Finland and RMIT university and it discusses the power of policies and markets for mainstreaming a Circular Built Environment in the fast-growing Global South.