Shared vision of green Finland stressed

The participants of a discussion on Thursday highlighted the importance of building a shared vision and of coming together to tell the story of a climate-sustainable Finland.

The discussion was held jointly by the Finnish National Commission on Sustainable Development, the Economic Council, and the Climate Policy on a just transition to a carbon-neutral society, said a government press release.

The session focused in particular on the effects of the just transition on income distribution and green recovery and explored the roles of the state, businesses, and citizens in the transition.

Chaired by Prime Minister Sanna Marin, the meeting featured talks from Aalto University Professor Minna Halme, Research Director of Pellervo Economic Research Olli-Pekka Ruuskanen and Climate Panel Chair Markku Ollikainen.

In her talk, Minna Halme explained the importance of a just transition from the point of view of wellbeing and economic growth, addressed the challenges associated with the transition and discussed what the state, businesses, and citizens can do to make the transition a reality.

“Citizens can be inspired to come together in building the story of a responsible and innovative Finland. Research on strategic change management confirms that a strong narrative vision provides significant momentum for change,” said Halme.

Olli-Pekka Ruuskanen reported on the preliminary results of a study on the effects of climate policy on income distribution.

“Climate policy measures can contribute to the sustainability of the economy and fair burden-sharing between households,” said Ruuskanen. Climate Panel Chair Markku Ollikainen spoke about green recovery and promoting climate measures from the perspective of a just transition.

“When it comes to green recovery, we need to reject employment-boosting measures that are based on increasing fossil fuel emissions and opt instead for measures that enable us to reduce emissions. Deep heat is an excellent example of how recovery resources can be used to promote the sustainability leap we are after: it creates the technological conditions for replacing peat and, in the longer term, generates new skills and helps us promote a just transition,” said Ollikainen.

The panel discussion that concluded the meeting also addressed the COVID-19 crisis and its aftercare from the perspective of climate policy, a sustainable economy, sustainable development and the just transition.

The panellists were Finance Minister Matti Vanhanen, Environment and Climate Change Minister Krista Mikkonen, Education Minister Li Andersson, MP and Member of the Environment Committee Mari-Leena Talvitie, Agenda 2030 Youth Group Member Sara Nyman, Confederation of Finnish Industries Managing Director Jyri Häkämies, Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions Chair Jarkko Eloranta, and WWF Finland CEO Lisa Rohweder.