Climate action

In 2023, the Finnish Border Guard purchased 14 operational vehicles and nine self-charging hybrid city cars as planned. The newly acquired vehicles will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 5,000 kg annually.

The facilities for charging electric cars used for official purposes will be systematically expanded as more plug-in hybrid or electric cars are purchased. For now, biofuels remain prohibitively expensive for the Finnish Border Guard’s vehicle fleet. A potential switch to biofuels also depends on the network of refuelling stations.

Offshore patrol vessel Turva is powered by liquified natural gas. Tests indicate that the vessel could be switched entirely to biogas without any technical obstacles. The switch to biogas would require additional funding that has not been granted.

Energy efficiency and the environmental friendliness of the fuels used, including the potential to use renewable fuels, are taken into account in the procurement of new patrol vessels. New offshore patrol vessels will be fitted with DualFuel engines and battery packs.

The most recent vessels in the Finnish Border Guard’s fleet are capable of using entirely bio-based liquid fuels. Once the vessels in the patrol vessel class have undergone a mid-life update, biofuels will become an option for some or all of them. The switch to renewable fuels would require additional funding that has not been granted.

In principle, Finnish Border Guard employees should make their official trips using the option that is the most cost-effective for the state, preferably by public transport. The Border Guard has purchased new lower-emission vehicles for official travel. The policy promotes environmentally friendly travel and reduces carbon emissions from travel. However, the current border security management status has increased the amount of official travel within Finland.

The goal is to reduce travel by developing online training and simulators. The Border Guard has continued the development of its online training environment by expanding the content and adding staff to the development of the training environment. The Border Guard personnel participated in targeted facilitation training to develop online training and the content of virtual events.