The international Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has approved Finland’s VR short- and long-term targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The goals are in line with the fact that global warming would stop at 1.5 degrees Celsius. VR plans to halve its emissions over the next seven years and aims for net zero emissions by 2040.
Setting emission reduction targets is part of the development of VR’s responsibility program. Approval by SBTi means that the objectives are in line with the latest research data.
“Trains are clearly the lowest emission form of transport in Finland: only one percent of all traffic emissions are generated by rail traffic. We want to raise the bar even further and do our part to stop global warming. The new goals also take into account the indirect emissions of our operations”, says Jonna Juslin , VR’s director of social relations and responsibility.
VR continues its successful work to improve the energy efficiency of train and bus traffic and its properties. Achieving the goals requires better availability of new forms of energy, such as battery electricity and hydrogen. In bus transport, Pohjolan Liikenne, which is part of VR’s urban transport, is already a pioneer, as 70 percent of the traffic it runs is done by electric buses. VR also works with its partners to reduce emissions throughout its value chain.
Science-based emission reduction goals are central to VR’s new responsibility program, the development of which is currently underway.
VR’s science-based gas emissions reduction goals
- Short-term target: -50.4% by 2032
- VR Group will reduce its direct greenhouse gas emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 50.4 percent by 2032 compared to the 2022 level. The target limit includes soil-related emissions and exits caused by bioenergy raw materials.
- VR Group will reduce indirect (scope 3) greenhouse gas emissions from the use of fossil fuels* it sells by 50.4 percent by 2032 compared to the 2022 level.
- VR Group will reduce all remaining indirect (scope 3) greenhouse gas emissions by 50.4 percent in the same time period.
- Long-term goal: VR Group will achieve net zero emissions in its entire value chain by 2040
- The goal includes reducing direct (scope 1 and 2) greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to the 2022 level. The target limit includes soil-related emissions and exits caused by bioenergy raw materials.
- VR Group will reduce indirect (scope 3) greenhouse gas emissions from the use of fossil fuels* it sells by 90% by 2040 compared to the 2022 level.
- VR Group will reduce all remaining indirect (scope 3) greenhouse gas emissions by 90% within the same schedule.
- The remaining emissions (less than 10%) are neutralized by carbon sequestration in accordance with SBTi criteria.
*VR operates as a fuel distributor in Finnish rail transport based on a service obligation based on law.
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is an international climate organization that enables companies to participate in combating the climate crisis.
SBTi develops standards, tools and guidelines that enable companies to set greenhouse gas emission reduction targets that are in line with keeping global warming below catastrophic levels and achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.
SBTi is registered as a charity and has a subsidiary that hosts our goal validation services. Partners include CDP, the UN Global Compact, the We Mean Business coalition, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). For more information: www.sciencebasedtargets.org
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