18.09.2025
Northern Ostrobothnia's climate work progresses in many sectors – cooperation and funding boost projects
🔹 Climate work in Northern Ostrobothnia
The Advisory Board for Climate Work in Northern Ostrobothnia has served in two periods (2019-2021 and 2022-2025) as a working group set up by the Provincial Government. During its first term of office, the Advisory Board steered the drawing up of the Climate Roadmap and during the second term the updating of the Climate Roadmap. The road map has compiled the county's climate targets and measures, and the information generated in the network has been utilised, for example, in advocacy, in the preparation of EU programmes and in cooperation with various actors.
The Advisory Board has been an important forum the Climate Work of the Province development and as a channel for information exchange and networking. During the meetings, experts have been consulted and close cooperation has been established with the Canemure project of Oulu University of Applied Sciences.
Now the look is coming. The Advisory Board has carried out a self-assessment and the feedback will be taken into account in the work of the new working group. The new provincial government will set up working groups for 2026-2029.
🔹 Overview of funding
In autumn 2025, the monitoring of climate work was examined under priority axes 2 of the EU programming period 2021-2027. Carbon-neutral Finland (ERDF) and 7.1 Just Transition Finland (JTF) funding. EU and state funding has supported a total of more than 250 projects – €105.4 million. Approximately 44 % granted to business projects. The total funding for the projects is EUR 207.7 million => In addition to EU and state funding, companies and other actors invest significantly in sustainable renewal.
Distribution of funding:
| Specific objective | EU + State (M€) | Total (M€) | Projects |
| Energy efficiency (2.1) | 9,25 | 18,53 | 30 |
| Adaptation (2.2) | 3,42 | 4,54 | 13 |
| Circular economy (2.3) | 5,82 | 11,19 | 19 |
| Removal of peat (7.1) | 86,91 | 173,50 | 193 |
| Total (M€) – Funded by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia and the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia |
105,4 | 207,7 | 255 |
The projects promote the themes of the Climate Roadmap – bioeconomy and circular economy, transport, agriculture, land use, forests and peatlands, cooperation and new operating models, and adaptation to climate change. They have been either single-implementer or group projects, with more than 180 implementers. The Top 5 List of ImplementersUniversity of Oulu, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Educational Consortium OSAO, Centria University of Applied Sciences and Jokilaaksot Educational Consortium.
More information on projects and funding can be found the EURA2021 Project Information Service and the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region.
Climate road map of Northern Ostrobothnia (2021-2030) guides regional climate work. We all solve.
Collaboration and funded projects are concrete proof that North Ostrobothnia is moving towards a carbon-neutral future.
Additional information:
Ritva Isomäki, Senior Specialist, Secretary of the Advisory Board for Climate Work, ritva.isomaki(at)pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi.
