Warm autumn weather raises climate change concerns in Turku, Finland

This autumn’s unusually warm weather has caught the attention of many. The quick onset of spring prior to the heatwave in May is still vivid in memory. While mild outdoor conditions bring joy to most, climate change poses significant threats to nature.

“The climate is changing so rapidly that nature cannot adapt,” says Professor Ilari Sääksjärvi from the Biodiversity Unit at the University of Turku. In an interview with Svenska Yle Åboland, Sääksjärvi spoke about the impacts of climate change in Ruissalo, Turku. The landscape known for its oak forests may become more common in southern Finland over the next century.

“Our forest landscapes are beginning to resemble more of Central European forests, perhaps those of the Baltic countries or Poland,” he noted.

As vegetation zones shift northward, not all species can keep pace with these changes. Sääksjärvi highlighted tundra-dwelling birds such as the capercaillie and the grouse, as well as the plant species snow buttercup, as particularly at risk. The Saimaa seal, which relies on ice and snow for nesting, also faces threats. Meanwhile, new species are making their way from the south to Finland.

“There are many butterfly species that previously couldn’t survive in Finland. They are now being observed more frequently and later in the fall,” Sääksjärvi explained. Conversely, ticks are expanding their territory farther north, and during mild winters, encounters with ticks can occur nearly year-round.

In Turku, spring months are warming faster than autumn months, leading to unpredictable weather patterns. This changing climate, including thinner snow and ice cover and increasingly hot summers, poses problems for food production, agriculture, and reindeer herding in the north.

Professor Sääksjärvi emphasized that while individuals can influence change through everyday consumer choices, the responsibility for societal changes lies with political decision-makers and researchers in informing the public about these threats.