Finland announces new SD strategy until 2030

The government on Monday published its national strategy for Sustainable Development (SD) until 2030, reported Xinhua, quoting a government press release.

Prepared by a task force chaired by Prime Minister Sanna Marin, the strategy aims at creating a healthy Finland that secures the sustainable use of natural resources in a globally responsible way.

Sami Pirkkala, secretary general of the task force, underlined in a press release the need to "create confidence in our ability to impact the future.

" It is the "joint task of the entire Finnish society to build a worthwhile future," Pirkkala said.

By looking ahead to almost a decade, the strategy spells out commitments that last beyond the four-year parliamentary cycles.

The release of the strategy follows the completion last year of the country's Agenda 2030 roadmap, the press release noted. The goals laid out in the document are aligned with the United Nations' (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The strategy identifies several areas where system-level changes are needed. Those related to the economy, work, consumption and lifestyles require significant changes in societal thinking, the task force noted.

In health and welfare, it emphasizes the need for a shift of focus toward prevention. In energy and food systems, the strategy highlights technological and behavioral transformation. The chapter on the use of forests and land says that a comprehensive change in social thinking will be needed to halt the loss of biodiversity.

The strategy will be presented to Finland's political parties this spring, which will be encouraged to use it during their preparation for the scheduled spring 2023 parliamentary elections.