Meet the team
We are a dedicated team of professionals and experts with extensive experience in the public sector and climate science. We founded the company because we are determined to do something about the climate crisis.
Sami Paatero
Founder & CEO
I am Sami Paatero, founder and CEO of Climate Analytics Finland. I founded this company because we need to remove CO2 from the atmosphere to prevent climate change. To achieve climate neutrality, businesses must pursue carbon removals, and I believe that our advisory and verification services can increase the credibility of carbon neutrality projects and related claims.
Before launching Climate Analytics Finland, I worked for eight years in the digital services and business data space, most recently as a consultant and entrepreneur. Before that, I spent close to ten years as a legal advisor for the Government of Finland, followed by another ten years in the political cabinets of several ministers and the Finnish Parliament.
I have always been interested in difficult challenges and creative problem-solving. I am a lawyer by profession and received my Master of Laws degree from the University of Turku. During my career, I have been lucky to be a member of many highly skilled and talented teams.
I have many memorable experiences, including resolving intricate constitutional legal issues, working in a highly skilled international scientific setting, and developing data-driven and digital businesses. In the future, I hope to solve the carbon market’s complex issues and, in so doing, contribute to mitigating climate change.
Markku Kulmala
Founder
My name is Markku Kulmala, and I am one of the founders of Climate Analytics Finland. In my role, I use my scientific knowledge to develop and validate our carbon removal verification methodology.
The need for a scientific understanding carbon sinks and their role in climate change mitigation is what drives me. I believe that scientific knowledge should serve society by translating data into solutions.
I am a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Helsinki. Among my many achievements is the publication of around 1,200 peer-reviewed scientific publications and being named by Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Scientist as one of the top 1% geoscientists. All in all, my work has been cited over 60,000 times.
The President of the Republic of Finland has granted me the honorary title of Academician of Science in recognition of my scientific contributions. In addition to that, I have twice received the prestigious ERC Advanced Grant.
Tuukka Petäjä
Founder
I am Tuukka Petäjä, and I co-founded Climate Analytics Finland to provide the scientific expertise needed to make informed decisions about carbon removal projects.
What motivates me is the need for scientific data on which to base our decisions and to transform that data into something valuable to society. My scientific knowledge in atmospheric science provides me with a unique perspective that I will apply to my work at Climate Analytics Finland.
As a professor of experimental atmospheric sciences at the University of Helsinki with more than 500 peer-reviewed scientific publications, I have established myself as one of the top 1% of scientists in the field, according to Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Scientist. So far, my research articles have been cited nearly 40,000 times.
My many contributions to the field of atmospheric science have been recognized through various awards, including the 2013 Vaisala Award for instrument development, the New York Academy of Sciences 2015 Science and Technology in Society Future Leader Award and the 2022 Aerosol Foundation Science Award for my multidisciplinary research.
Matti Sarén
Partner
My name is Matti Sarén, and my primary responsibilities at Climate Analytics Finland include developing and implementing the company’s data platform, automation, and artificial intelligence systems, as well as contributing to service design and business development.
Before joining Climate Analytics Finland, I helped several companies developing their science-based scalable digital products. Addressing the multidimensional challenges of carbon removal intrigues me, and I want to be part of solving them.
In the past, I have been involved in several start-ups in their first phases and worked for large public companies. In addition, I have worked as Vice Rector of Cooperation at the University of Oulu and am currently the Rector of Kajaani University of Applied Sciences.
I have a Ph.D. in computational physics from the University of Helsinki and an Executive MBA in technology management. I am proud of being a part of a company that won an award for the best AI start-up in Finland, building a thriving university for students to learn and build a better future, and, most importantly, my family.
Max Mickelsson
Partner
My name is Max Mickelsson, and I am a partner at Climate Analytics Finland, and my primary responsibilities include strategy, public affairs, communication, marketing and sales.
My involvement and work at Climate Analytics Finland are motivated by my experience combining societal change and policy with business and technology. I also work as a communications consultant and Head of New Markets at Miltton.
Prior to becoming a consultant, I worked for Microsoft for 14 years in public affairs, and, before that, as a political advisor in three different governments, in three ministries, and in the Finnish Parliament.
I graduated from Åbo Akademi University with a master’s degree in political science. In 2019, I also graduated from the University of Cambridge’s Business Sustainability Management course.
I am especially proud of my Microsoft Global Awards in public affairs and corporate citizenship and for being named by Tietoviikko as one of the top 100 IT industry influencers on multiple occasions.