A new survey shows that Finnish companies remain strongly committed to the climate transition, even as growth in investments has slowed. Companies continue to view sustainability as a source of long-term competitive advantage, while concerns about the risks of a disorderly transition are increasing. As a result, businesses are calling on policymakers to provide long-term, predictable policy frameworks that reduce uncertainty and support investment.
One in two of Finnish companies maintained their climate targets in 2025. Among those that updated their targets, the majority strengthened them (74% of respondents), a figure close to the global level (81%). More than half of Finnish companies report that their climate-related investments have remained unchanged, compared with 31% globally. While the growth in investments has slowed, the vast majority (85%) of Finnish respondents still believe that sustainable business practices will provide their company with a competitive advantage in the long term (92% globally).
These findings are based on a new survey conducted by the corporate responsibility network FIBS. The survey forms part of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s (WBCSD) global Business Breakthrough Barometer 2026, which examines how climate risks, regulatory developments and the emergence of low-carbon solutions are shaping corporate strategy and investment decisions.
In Finland, companies’ sustainability strategies are driven particularly by resilience and risk management, customer demand, and reputation and social licence to operate. By contrast, future growth opportunities and access to capital are less significant drivers than in the global results.
”It is encouraging to see that Finnish companies continue to view sustainable business both as a source of long-term competitive advantage and as a way to strengthen business resilience. However, their international peers are placing greater emphasis on the growth opportunities created by sustainability, highlighting the need for more ambitious investment and innovation policies in Finland,” says Kimmo Lipponen, CEO of FIBS.
Concerns about a disorderly transition are growing
Finnish companies are increasingly aware of the risks associated with a disorderly transition, meaning a transition to a low-carbon or net-zero economy that takes place without sufficient planning, coordination or predictability. Nearly 40% of companies, both in Finland and globally, consider risks to be significant or strategically critical to their business and one in four respondents (26%) now considers a disorderly transition to be significantly more likely than a year ago, twice the global figure.
As in the rest of the world, the most significant transition risks facing businesses in Finland are supply chain disruptions (cited by 53% of respondents) and volatility in raw material and energy costs (42%). In contrast, policy and regulatory changes are perceived as a greater risk elsewhere in the world.
While awareness of these risks is increasing, confidence in preparedness remains relatively low. Only half of Finnish respondents say they are confident that their current business planning adequately accounts for a disorderly transition, compared with 78% globally.
Businesses call for consistent climate policy from policymakers
The message from Finnish companies to policymakers is clear: a successful climate transition requires a predictable and consistent policy environment.
Half of Finnish respondents prefer early but predictable policy action over a more gradual approach, globally around one-third of companies share this view.
Finnish companies are also prepared to accept higher near-term transition costs, provided that climate policies are strengthened in a predictable way, reducing uncertainty and enabling long-term investments.
”For Finnish companies, sustainable value creation is a key driver of climate action, and we have the expertise and innovations needed to accelerate the climate transition. However, inconsistent and upredictable regulation makes it more difficult for companies to implement long-term strategic climate work, as the required investments depend on a stable and reliable operating environment in which decisions can be made,” says Lia Heasman, Responsible Investment Director at A. Ahlström.
Further information on the Finnish findings is available in the report Business Breakthrough Barometer 2026 – Finland. The report is available to FIBS members.
The global Business Breakthrough Barometer 2026 report is available on the WBCSD website.
Survey background and contributors
The Business Breakthrough Barometer is WBCSD’s annual global survey examining how climate risks, regulatory developments and the emergence of low-carbon solutions are shaping corporate strategy and investment decisions. The 2026 survey gathered responses from 508 companies worldwide.
This year marked the first time the survey was conducted in Finland. The Finnish survey was coordinated by FIBS. A total of 49 Finnish companies from a range of sectors participated, the majority representing B2B and industrial businesses. Twenty-seven percent of respondents held director-level positions, and almost an equal share represented executive leadership. The online survey was conducted between 23 February and 30 March 2026. In addition, FIBS conducted a interview process in May 2026 to deepen understanding of the survey findings. The interviews involved five sustainability leaders from large Finnish companies.
Further information
Kimmo Lipponen, CEO, FIBS, +358 40 758 7247, kimmo.lipponen@fibsry.fi
FIBS (Finnish Business & Society) is the leading corporate responsibility network in the Nordic region and one of the largest country-level sustainability networks in the world. FIBS supports companies in building strong foundations for sustainability, integrating sustainability into business practice, and strengthening their capabilities in the context of sustainability transformation and systems change. FIBS has almost 500 members, including the majority of Finland’s 100 largest companies. All companies and organizations committed to developing responsible and sustainable business practices are welcome to join the network.
WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Business) is a global network of more than 250 leading companies working to make sustainability a driver of business competitiveness and long-term value creation. Through its Global Network, WBCSD also collaborates with more than 60 national business sustainability organizations, representing nearly 6,500 companies committed to advancing sustainable business practices. FIBS has been a member of the WBCSD Global Network since 2012. www.wbcsd.org
