NordenBladet – Mayors from across the Arctic met in Rovaniemi 8. May 2019 to discuss the future and the activities of the Forum. “People in the north must engage more actively in the conversation about the Arctic future to link the geopolitical stakes, the fight against climate change and the need for a sustainable development and innovative solutions at community level”, the mayors underline.
The work behind the Arctic Mayors’ Forum started in Fairbanks in 2017. The mission is to create a platform to coordinate and strengthen the voice of the local people of the Arctic and to advocate for democratic local self-governments. The Arctic Mayors’ Forum will promote local values, goals and interests in achieving sustainable development and resilient communities.
“We’ve met regularly throughout the last 2 years at various conferences and events. There is now a need to take this cooperation to the next level and to work more targeted on issues of common interests”, says mayor Kristin Røymo, Tromsø and Esko Lotvonen, mayor of Rovaniemi.
The two mayors are co-hosting the meeting in Rovaniemi in the margins of the biannual Arctic Council ministerial meeting.
“There are many challenges in the Arctic that are both of global interest and of local relevance and importance. People in the north must engage more actively in the conversation about the Arctic future to link the geopolitical stakes, the fight against climate change and the need for a sustainable development and innovative solutions at community level”, the mayors underline.
In the longer term, the Arctic Mayors’ Forum hopes to be able to interact with the Arctic Council in a more structured manner as well with other NGOs and regional and international organisations that deal with Arctic issues.
The Forum is open to all mayors in the Arctic. The mayors and representatives from Arkhangelsk, Tornio, Oulu, Kemi, Nuuk, Tórshavn, Akureyri, Tromsø and Rovaniemi met in Rovaniemi.
Since Iceland is the chair of the Arctic Council 2019 – 2021, the Arctic Mayors’ Forum will be meeting in Iceland to hold its first general assembly in October 2019 in connection with the Arctic Circle Conference.
NordenBladet – More and more people love to spend their holidays in Scandinavia because there is safe, amazing nature and a lot to do and everybody are obsessed with Scandinavian culture! This year NordenBladet gave out a Finland´s travel guide where you can follow one family trip around Finland. While the term “Scandinavia” is commonly used for Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the term “Nordic countries” is used unambiguously for Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Finland and Iceland, including their associated territories (Svalbard, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Åland Islands).
Travel is glorious in any form. The food, sights, arts, culture, languages, and new friends just make it such an enjoyable experience. These are many reasons why it is good to travel by car. Here are few of them:
1. You can make your own itinerary
Travelling by car is great because of the flexibility – you can travel any time, anywhere. You are on your own schedule, and can make unexpected stops. See a little cafeteria by the side of the road? Stop and while away the afternoon, talking with the owner. You manage your own time. You can move quickly from one place to another. You don’t have to waste your time and wait for a bus, train or flight. No waiting at all!
Photo: Denmark (Pexels/Pixabay)
Car trip around Finland – Ivanka Shoshana and Estella Elisheva in Tornio´s cafeteria (NordenBladet/ Helena-Reet Ennet)
2. It is easy to carry your things
If you are travelling with goods, perhaps your shopping, or suitcase if you are going on a holiday it is easier to transport these in your car rather than using public transport which is not secure and is short of storage space.
3. Miles of scenery
Besides topping the list of the world’s happiest nations list, Nordic countries are also leaders in education, gender equality, cleantech, healthtech, biotech, food sustainability and more. Nordics represent a true knowledge society, the high tech and the charm of bustling cities, well-preserved countryside, summer cottages and castles. The best part of driving through Nordic countries is taking in all of the beautiful scenery. You will be amazed at just how vast and diverse some of the landscapes are. A typical Scandinavian / Nordic road trip involves driving through days’ worth of dense pine forests and sweeping farmlands and more lakes than you could possibly count.
Photos: 3x NordenBladet (Helena-Reet Ennet)
4. Nordic countryside is mystical
Nordics have a deep respect for their history and environment. In some countries, you need to drive for hours to reach roads surrounded by forests, fields and lakes. In Nordic countries, it’s exactly the opposite. Nature is around you everywhere, even in urban areas. Travelling through all of this scenery by car gives you a greater sense of freedom to venture wherever you want. Even getting lost is worthwhile. Traversing the rural roads can turn up some amazing sights, which you otherwise might not have seen, and will help you feel completely off the grid and at peace. If you do want to stay on the beaten path and visit the tourist attractions, travelling by car allows you to see as many as you want in a single trip.
Photo: Pexels (Jonathan Petersson)
5. Meeting the wildlife
While exploring sights and scenery, you will inevitably encounter some of Norden’s amazing wildlife such as birds, deer, and if you’re lucky, moose. It’s best to be wary of moose however, since they can dart from the forest onto the road without warning and cause many car accidents every year. As soon as you cross the Arctic Circle, your chances to meet reindeer on the road increase extensively. When you meet one, you’re very likely to meet the whole family, as reindeer hardly ever walk alone. Reindeer are walking on the road, in no hurry at all, and your best option is to drive behind them until they decide to go back into the woods. So make sure you don’t plan too tight of a schedule for a road trip in Lapland.
Photo: Pexels (Frans Van Heerden)
6. Camp in the country side or stay in some quirky hotels
There are many campsites and places to park a caravan, plus everyman’s rights mean you are free to pitch a tent anywhere (apart from somebody else’s garden). If camping isn’t your thing, there are plenty of hotels up and down the country to stay the night, some of them highly unusual.
7. Bring your bike
A Nordic road trip doesn’t have to be done entirely by car. By hitching a bike onto your car, you can stop off at any of Scandinavia’s thousands of cycling paths to see even more nature inaccessible by road. All of the National Parks and hiking trails have their own car parks and some have campsites. Biking is a healthy choice, integrated into one’s lifestyle, cheap, in touch with the city and absolute fun kind of freedom.
8. Small town charm
Each of the small towns and villages you will pass through on a road trip through Nordic countries have a retro charm, some almost feeling as if they have been paused in time. Most will have amenities such as petrol stations, supermarkets, and kiosks to buy ice cream. You can also find hidden gems you won’t find in guide books, such as old churches and classic wooden buildings. Locals might come across as stand-offish at first, but once you talk to them you will likely find them friendly and helpful.
NordenBladet´s 2 weeks in Finland by car – itinerary:
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NordenBladet – Esko Lotvonen, Mayor of Rovaniemi extends a warm welcome to everyone attending the Arctic conferences in early May, so that we can work together to ensure sustainable development in the best interests of both current and future generations.
The meeting of Ministers of the Environment from Arctic countries in Rovaniemi in 1991 began the extensive collaboration within the current Arctic Council. Arctic cooperation has, of course, involved much more than just the Council’s activities. Local and regional actors in Europe’s Arctic region have engaged in practical cooperation in the Barents Region and within the framework of the North Calotte Council and various EU cross-border programmes. I have been centrally involved in all of these structures as a decisionmaker, and I can say that Arctic cooperation has been productive and effective for almost three decades.
Rovaniemi is a responsible and exemplary actor in Arctic development
Arctic issues are now in the global spotlight, in terms of everything from research and development to politics. As the Arctic capital of both Finland and the European Union, Rovaniemi has been a responsible and exemplary actor in Arctic development. Rovaniemi has grown into a leading Arctic travel destination for tourists all around the globe. This role also involves a responsibility for promoting sustainable tourism, and we are helping to curb climate change in many ways. For example, we have in practice completely ceased to use oil in energy production. As a result of R&D in Rovaniemi, electric snowmobiles are now being manufactured and used on safaris. We are also one of ten Finnish cities that are pioneering the development of the circular economy, and our main contribution focuses on the special requirements of the Arctic.
We also own the Arctic Design Capital trademark – it is under this framework that Arctic design is being developed in collaboration between the University of Lapland, Lapland University of Applied Sciences, and local companies.
Urban decision-making plays a key role in climate, environmental, educational, transport and wellbeing issues in Arctic regions
The Arctic Europe Network was established in May 2017. The Arctic’s population is heavily concentrated on its cities. Urban decision-making therefore plays a key role in finding solutions to climate, environmental, educational, transport and wellbeing issues in Arctic regions. Which is why we cannot sideline the city network in our development work! The leaders of the Arctic cities will meet in Rovaniemi in conjunction with the ministerial conference in order to further strengthen their cooperation models.
Rovaniemi’s role in Arctic cooperation also benefits local residents. Increasing conference and research activities, growing tourism, the healing environment, versatile travel connections and increased investments are improving services and generating income and work for residents.
Intensive Arctic activities will continue in Rovaniemi after Finland’s chairmanship
Finland assumed chairmanship of the Arctic Council in May 2017, and this has brought major Arctic conferences to Rovaniemi over the past two years. The meeting between Ministers of Foreign Affairs in early May will end our chairmanship, crowning it with an exciting week of Arctic seminars. However, Arctic activity in Rovaniemi will not drop in intensity after the end of Finland’s chairmanship. Rovaniemi will be hosting the Arctic Art Summit in June 2019 and the Arctic Spirit conference in November. The latter will focus on youth issues in Arctic regions in particular. Finland’s EU presidency in the latter half of the year will hopefully bring its own support for further work as well.
Well-oiled local, regional and international cooperation is required to develop Arctic regions and meet their challenges.
On behalf of the City of Rovaniemi, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to everyone attending the Arctic conferences in early May, so that we can work together to ensure sustainable development in the best interests of both current and future generations.
NordenBladet – In a very close election, the Social Democratic Party won the most seats in Parliament – but only just. The main issues driving Finland’s 2019 parliamentary election on April 14, 2019 included the previous government coalition’s unsuccessful attempt to pass a long-debated social and healthcare reform; the need for action to mitigate climate change; and immigration policies. A new Parliament is elected every four years.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) took 17.7 percent of the votes, entitling it to 40 seats in the 200-seat Parliament. This marks the return of the SDP, which had not been the largest party in Parliament since 1999. It also represents a historically narrow victory, as the SDP was followed by the unabashedly populist “Finns” Party with 17.5 percent (39 seats) and the moderate conservative National Coalition Party with 17 percent (38 seats).
The conservative Centre Party, leader of the previous government coalition, fell precipitously from 49 seats to 31, with 13.8 percent of the vote. The Greens, strong in urban areas, posted a personal best by adding five seats for a total of 20, their largest ever. The Left Alliance added four seats to bring its total to 16. Both the Greens and the Left Alliance had kept climate change at the forefront of their campaigns.
The Swedish People’s Party, whose constituency relies mainly on speakers of Swedish, which is also an official language in Finland, held steady at nine seats. The Christian Democrats, in turn, clung to their five seats. Well-known businessman and MP Harry Harkimo retained his place in Parliament after leaving the National Coalition Party to form a non-party called Movement Now.
Voter turnout was the highest since 1991, at a respectable 72 percent, almost two percentage points above the 2015 figure. All citizens 18 or over are automatically registered to vote and receive a letter of notification in the post before each election. A total of 4.5 million people are entitled to vote, including about 250,000 Finnish citizens living abroad.
A record number of women won seats: 93, equaling 47 percent of the new Parliament – the previous high point, 85, happened in 2011. Eighty-five percent of Green candidates were female, and only three out the party’s 20 MPs are male. Women hold 22 of the SDP’s 40 seats.
All in all, 83 incoming MPs are new to Parliament. Eight members are under 30 years old, and 48 percent of Parliament is under 45. Iiris Suomela, 24, a Green from the central western city of Tampere, is the youngest MP in the new session.
The biggest vote-magnet candidates receive tens of thousands of votes, but in some districts, candidates can squeak into Parliament with just over 2,000 votes. This means that every vote carries a value that is both significant and mathematically appropriate. Perhaps this is one reason that people get out and vote, keeping voter participation high.
As the SDP begins negotiations to form a government coalition, Finland’s largest daily, Helsingin Sanomat, suggests that one likely scenario would involve the SDP, the National Coalition Party, the Greens and the Swedish People’s Party. Many other combinations are possible – even ones that don’t include the SDP – but each additional party brought into the coalition complicates the path to finding common ground.
NordenBladet — A study by the Ministry of the Environment on the use of plastics in residential buildings and day-care centres reveals that plastics can be found in all parts of buildings. The amount of plastics in individual buildings, however, is very small when compared to the other materials. Some of these plastics would be relatively easy to recycle or replace using other solutions.
“Around 20 per cent of plastics are used for construction. We must reduce the amount of plastics and increase the recycling rate if we want to decrease the carbon footprint and environmental harm caused by construction. That said, the use of plastics is still necessary in many parts of buildings,” says Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing Kimmo Tiilikainen.
In connection with their 2019 construction and renovation projects, the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA), Senate Properties and the University of Helsinki Properties and Facilities are investigating how the use of plastics can be reduced and how plastics can be replaced with other materials in structures and systems without compromising on essential technical requirements. The project will also explore how to reduce the amount of plastics waste generated by construction and how to increase the rate of recovery and recycling.
Plastics less than 0.5 per cent of total building weight
The study carried out by the Ministry of the Environment and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland investigated seven typical residential buildings and three day-care centres. The buildings in the study had either concrete or wooden frames. The study found that out of all building materials used, plastics made up less than 0.5 per cent of the total building weight. The proportion of plastics in the total weight of concrete-framed buildings was slightly smaller than in wood-framed buildings.
In residential buildings, plastics were used relatively evenly in all building parts. Plastics were used in all parts of day-care centre buildings as well, but they were distributed less evenly across the different building parts. The amount of plastics used in day-care centres was clearly larger than in residential buildings, as day-care centres had relatively more building service components and were more likely to have plastic floor coverings. Day-care centres also had more plastic-based thermal insulation materials than residential buildings. The safety surfaces of playground areas at the investigated day-care centres also contained high volumes of EPDM rubber.
The most commonly used plastics in the investigated buildings were polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (EPS), polypropylene (PP), polyurethane (PUR) and EPDM rubber. In the case buildings, these plastic types were used most commonly in cables, ducts, pipes, insulations and the safety surfaces of playground areas. Some of these plastics are used as products or as parts of products in such a way that the plastic component can be separated in demolition.
A very significant proportion of the plastics in buildings are used as resins and binding components. Large volumes of these plastics were found in paints, glues and as binding or reinforcing components in boards, roofing and insulation materials. The share of these was 44 per cent of all plastics in concrete residential buildings and 37 per cent in wooden residential buildings. These materials are very difficult to recycle, which means that other solutions are needed.
In addition to the plastics observed in the study, plastics are commonly used in the furniture and appliances found in buildings, and assessing the amount and quality of these requires further investigation. The results of the study cannot be used to make generalisations concerning all buildings in Finland.
How does reducing the use of plastic affect construction?
In their study, ARA, Senate Properties and the University of Helsinki Properties and Facilities are also investigating how reducing the use of plastic affects the costs, completion schedule and carbon footprint of construction. At the same time, the operators will develop the planning, project management and procurement practices used in their construction projects. The Ministry of the Environment is supporting this work by commissioning impact assessments and environmental assessments and by communicating the interim results of the project to accelerate the other measures in Finland’s national Plastics Roadmap.
The plastics study and the project to reduce the use of plastic are measures included in Finland’s Plastics Roadmap. The Plastics Roadmap website was launched today and provides information about plastics and the roadmap measures.
The full report on the use of plastics in construction will be released in April: Plastics in buildings – an inventory from Finland. Ministry of the Environment, 2019. Kuittinen, Vares & Häkkinen.
Plastics Roadmap for Finland web site (brief in English): Muovitiekartta.fi
Inquiries: Study on plastics in construction:
Matti Kuittinen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of the Environment, tel. +358 2952 50268, firstname.lastname@ym.fi
Joint project by ARA, Senate Properties and University of Helsinki Properties and Facilities:
Matti Kuittinen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of the Environment, tel. +358 2952 50268, firstname.lastname@ym.fi
Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA): Vesa Ijäs, Development Architect, tel. +358 29 525 0868, vesa.ijas@ara.fi
Senate Properties: Juha Lemström, COO, tel. +358 40 550 0847, juha.lemstrom@senaatti.fi
University of Helsinki Properties and Facilities: Teppo Salmikivi, Director of Properties and Facilities, tel. +358 50 566 4398, teppo.salmikivi@helsinki.fi
A study by the Ministry of the Environment on the use of plastics in residential buildings and day-care centres reveals that plastics can be found in all parts of buildings. The amount of plastics in individual buildings, however, is very small when compared to the other materials. Some of these plastics would be relatively easy to recycle or replace using other solutions.
NordenBladet —Finland’s broad-based working group on biodiversity has approved the sixth national report on the conservation of biodiversity in Finland. According to the report, Finland has engaged in rigorous, well-coordinated work to halt the decline in biodiversity, but the changes in practices throughout society have not been sufficient. As a result, we will not reach our target of halting biodiversity loss in Finland by 2020.
The sixth National Report on Biodiversity in Finland provides a comprehensive description of nature conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources in the country. The report assesses the implementation of the 105 measures detailed in Finland’s Biodiversity Action Plan. According to the assessment, progress could be seen in all areas of the action plan, but the work still needs to be intensified.
“Along with climate change, the dwindling of biodiversity is one of the most important environmental challenges we face. With this in mind, Finland and other countries around the world have committed to halting biodiversity loss by 2020. Unfortunately, it now appears that we will not achieve this target. The National Report on Biodiversity in Finland and the new assessments of threatened species and habitats in Finland provide a strong knowledge base for our activities moving forward. A long-term road map for conserving biodiversity is now very much needed,” says Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing Kimmo Tiilikainen.
When it comes to achieving the twenty global Aichi Biodiversity Targets, the report states that Finland has implemented the administrative measures required to achieve them, but that changes in practices have so far been insufficient. Finland’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, entitled Saving Nature for People, has been an important tool for highlighting the conservation of biodiversity at all levels of Finnish society.
The Convention on Biological Diversity is one of the Rio conventions
The Convention on Biological Diversity is one of the three conventions decided on at the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The Convention on Biological Diversity is the first global convention that aims to conserve the diversity of life on earth at all levels, including species’ genetic variation, populations and the diversity of their habitats. Finland ratified the convention in July 1994.
National biodiversity strategies and action plans play an integral role in implementing the convention. The convention requires its parties to draw up national biodiversity strategies and action plans that set targets and measures for its implementation. The objective is to integrate the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity into all sectors and functions of society.
Finland’s national report was submitted to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity on the 21st of March and will be part of the broader international Global Biodiversity Outlook.
Inquiries:
Marina von Weissenberg, Environment Counsellor, Ministry of the Environment, firstname.lastname @ym.fi, tel. +358 295 250 321
Ari-Pekka Auvinen, Researcher, Finnish Environment Institute, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi, tel. +358 50 4113 403
Finland’s broad-based working group on biodiversity has approved the sixth national report on the conservation of biodiversity in Finland. According to the report, Finland has engaged in rigorous, well-coordinated work to halt the decline in biodiversity, but the changes in practices throughout society have not been sufficient. As a result, we will not reach our target of halting biodiversity loss in Finland by 2020.
NordenBladet — How have the Key Government Projects affected water resources protection and the circular economy?Climate change, protecting our water resources and ensuring the sustainability of food production require a shift to a system in which nutrients circulate. Over the past three years, the Key Government Project promoting the circular economy has invested more than EUR 30 million in water protection and nutrient recycling. Has Finland reached its goal of becoming a model country for nutrient and energy self-sufficiency?
The work initiated during the Key Projects is still ongoing, but we have clearly made progress in the shift towards a more sustainable food system, bioeconomy and circular economy. Many materials previously considered waste have seen an increase in value. Over the past few years, we have become more aware of the limited supply of mineral phosphorus and the greenhouse gas emissions generated by nitrogenous fertilisers.
Culture of experimenting leads to long-term business investments
According to an external evaluation carried out last year, the Key Projects have improved Finland’s nutrient-recycling knowhow and led to increased cooperation between businesses and research. The steps taken as a result of the Key Project on circular economy have a profound impact on all Finns in the form of clean food and water.
“Businesses have developed new methods for recovering manure, municipal wastewater and industry by-products and have turned the by-products into recycled fertilisers, animal feed, bedding and energy. Experiments have identified promising solutions that will continue to be developed even after the Key Project is complete,” says Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä.
The goal is to use nutrient recycling to bring nutrients back to the fields that can best utilise them in the form of safe recycled fertilisers. Another project in the works is a quality management system for recycled fertilisers, which will help bring new fertiliser products to the market.
“Utilising all available nutrient streams is in line with the principles of sustainable development,” says Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing Kimmo Tiilikainen. “Municipalities have made resource-wise choices by developing residential areas based on circular economy solutions. Recovering the valuable nutrients in wastewater must become common practice,” Tiilikainen continues.
Profitability and sustainability through closed loops
Various parts of the country have seen the development of closed loops, or agroecological symbioses, made up of local farms, food processors and bioenergy producers. In these networks, one operator’s waste is another’s raw material. Manure and other by-products are used to produce biogas, for example.
“Symbiosis brings profitability to farming and leads to increased local self-sufficiency, as the need to purchase outside energy and fertiliser decreases. It can even lead to better harvests,” Minister Leppä says. “Increased cooperation also brings improved social sustainability within the limits of the carrying capacity of the environment,” Minister Tiilikainen adds.
Tools to move forward
The Key Projects on nutrient recycling have been coordinated as a joint effort by the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. According to an assessment commissioned by the ministries, the knowledge and best practices gained through the Key Projects must be disseminated more broadly.
The Ministry of the Environment has launched a three-year programme to enhance the effectiveness of water protection based on lessons learned in the Key Projects. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is currently renewing the EU’s agri-environmental scheme, which will bring the results of the Key Projects into broader use. The ministries are preparing an action plan for nutrient recycling for 2019–2030. The upcoming renewal of the EU’s Fertiliser Regulation will also lead to changes in the utilisation and recycling of nutrients.
Inquiries:
Tarja Haaranen, Programme Manager, Ministry of the Environment, tel. +358 50 322 6029, firstname.lastname@ym.fi
Marja-Liisa Tapio-Biström, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel. +358 295 162 400, firstname.lastname@mmm.fi
Climate change, protecting our water resources and ensuring the sustainability of food production require a shift to a system in which nutrients circulate. Over the past three years, the Key Government Project promoting the circular economy has invested more than EUR 30 million in water protection and nutrient recycling. Has Finland reached its goal of becoming a model country for nutrient and energy self-sufficiency?
NordenBladet —The Finns wish to see solutions to the climate crisis among the priority themes of the next government term and Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. Growing numbers of Finns have also changed their own behaviour to mitigate climate change. These are the conclusions to be made from a survey carried out by Kantar TNS, commissioned by the Steering Group for Central Government Climate Communications. The Climate Barometer 2019 survey was conducted to find out what the Finns think about climate change and climate policy before the general elections. An analysis was also made of how the views have changed since 2015.
Willingness to pay for a good policy
Four out of five Finns consider that urgent action is needed to mitigate climate change. The future Government should introduce even more policy measures to effectively mitigate climate change than what people thought before the previous general elections (increase in the share of the respondents from 52% to 70%). 75% of the respondents want the EU to serve as an example in climate change mitigation, independent of how this may impact on the EU’s competitiveness, and two out of three Finns consider that Finland should be a trailblazer in the introduction of new solutions that help to reduce emissions. As regards the general elections, 44% of the Finns would vote for a candidate who is active in climate change mitigation.
Three out of four consider that one the principles applied in taxation should be that those who cause emissions will also pay for them, which means that taxation could be reduced elsewhere. Almost half of the Finns think that the taxes on fossil fuels and on meat and milk products should be raised. As many as a third of the Finns would be prepared to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel powered passenger vehicles in 2030.
Climate change a threat to Finland’s economy and security
Compared to the situation four years ago, a larger share of the Finns (67%->76%) consider that the impacts of climate change in other parts of the world are a security threat to Finland. Quite many of the respondents (59%) consider that climate change constitutes an economic threat to our country. However, the majority of the respondents (80%) believe that the new kind of expertise and technical solutions needed to mitigate climate change may well create new jobs and improve Finland’s competitiveness.
The Climate Barometer also revealed strong support for development aid and assistance to the most vulnerable regions in facing the consequences of climate change among the Finns. More than 60% of the respondents consider that rich countries have the obligation to support the poorest ones in finding solutions to the climate crisis, and Finland should target more of its development aid to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Scientific background to climate change seen as stronger than before
According to the report of the International Panel on Climate Change IPCC published last October, there is a broad consensus within the scientific community that global warming is mainly caused by human activity. The Climate Barometer shows, however, that only 58% of the Finns consider that the scientists are unanimous as to what causes the warming. Still, this share is much higher than in 2015, when just a third of the respondents considered that the scientific community was in full agreement as to the causes of global warming.
The consensus that the impacts of climate change are already visible in different parts of the world and that much more negative impacts are to be expected than positive ones has stayed strong.
Growing numbers of Finns have changed their own behaviour to mitigate climate change
The concern about the impacts of climate change is already reflected in everyday choices. In 2015 only 29 % of the respondents told that they had changed their own behaviour because of climate change, but now the percentage was 41 %.
More than half of the Finns have reduced electricity consumption and almost half of the population are buying less because of climate reasons. About a third had calculated their own carbon footprint and a fourth intend to compensate for the emissions they are causing in the next few years. Well over half of the respondents wish to have more information on climate change and advice to make climate-smart choices.
For three out of four Finns it is important that the municipalities provide opportunities for climate-friendly everyday living for their residents. Of the car users 43% told that they were now driving less than before and had increased the use of sustainable mobility. About the same share of the respondents intend to drive less in the next five years and to increase the use sustainable forms of mobility: walking, cycling or public transportation. Less than a fifth intend to give up using their own cars altogether within the next five years. For about a third of the car users the next car they intend to purchase will be powered by electricity or gas. A clear majority of the Finns, 73%, are using a privately-owned car.
About 40% of the Finns have reduced flying because of climate reasons. About the same share of the respondents intend to fly less within the next five years. A little less than half (45%) have travelled by air over the past year.
City dwellers and the well-off more prepared to take efficient climate action
The survey also reveals a strong need for social justice in climate action. The views are quite strongly divided according to the place of residence and standard of living: in the capital region people are more in favour of climate action than in rural areas, and households with more money at their disposal show more support for policy actions and are also prepared to act themselves to mitigate climate change.
Ambitious climate policy finds support, in particular, among the young, highly educated and women, and the supporters of the Green Party and Left Alliance. People voting for the True Finns and the Centre Party have the most serious doubts regarding ambitions actions.
The main obstacle to effective climate action is the high price of climate-friendly products and services. Another key challenge is the fact that the political decision-makers do not have the courage to decide on solutions that might risk their re-election, while the representatives of those causing high emissions often have a strong position in societal decision-making.
How the survey was done?
The Climate Barometer survey on the Finnish citizens’ views concerning climate issues was conducted by Kantar TNS, commissioned by the Steering Group for Central Government Climate Communications. A total of 1,013 people aged 15–74 from different parts of Finland, excluding the Åland Islands, participated in the survey. Kantar TNS collected the survey material during its Gallup Forum respondent panel held on 1-7 March 2019. The survey’s margin of error is about 3 percentage points in either direction.
The steering group has representatives from the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education and Culture, Prime Minister’s Office, Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finnish Environment Institute, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Motiva, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Academy of Finland, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, Demos Helsinki, Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, and Business Finland.
Inquiries:
Riikka Lamminmäki, Communications Specialist, Ministry of the Environment, tel. +358 50 576 2604, firstname.sukunimi@ym.fi
The Finns wish to see solutions to the climate crisis among the priority themes of the next government term and Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. Growing numbers of Finns have also changed their own behaviour to mitigate climate change. These are the conclusions to be made from a survey carried out by Kantar TNS, commissioned by the Steering Group for Central Government Climate Communications.
NordenBladet – Finland is number one in the newest Good Country Index, which seeks to measure “what each country on earth contributes to the good of humanity.” We talk to the index’s creator, Simon Anholt, about what it means to be “goodest.”
So many international rankings and reports exist. What sets the Good Country Index apart from the Global Competitiveness Index, the Prosperity Index, the World Happiness Report, the Environmental Performance Index and all the others?
The Good Country Index takes stock of 35 measurements that show countries’ contributions in seven different categories: science and technology; culture; peace and security; world order; planet and climate; prosperity and equality; and health and wellbeing.
In addition, and perhaps most importantly, the Good Country Index is all about what nations do for the rest of the world, not about what happens within their own borders.
“Pretty much every single one of [the other indexes] looks at countries’ internal performance in one way or another,” says Anholt. “Consequently, [they] treat the world as if it were made of entirely separate independent islands of humanity that have nothing to do with each other.”
Since the 1990s, London-based Anholt has advised the leaders of more than 50 countries in what became known as nation branding. In 2005 he founded the Anholt Nation Brands Index. Gradually perceiving a need for a new kind of study, he inaugurated the Good Country Index in 2014. (Finland was second that year.)
“Because we live in a massively interconnected, interdependent age, an age of advanced globalisation, it also made a lot of sense to look at how countries affect each other and affect the whole system,” he says.
While the Good Country Index gathers an immense amount of data, he characterises it as “a toe in the water;” it has limitations. “Reducing a country’s impact on the world to 35 data sets is obviously just a hint.”
The index also offers opportunities: “It is supposed to be the start of a new kind of conversation. The reason for it is to get people to start asking new questions about countries.”
This holds true no matter where your country ranks. In fact, the word “ranking” is misleading. The Good Country Index aims to encourage conversation, collaboration and cooperation, rather than competition to see who “wins” the rankings race.
“I’m not judging,” says Anholt. For this reason, the various categories of data aren’t weighted in the overall results. “I publish it in the form of a ranking because that’s the easiest way to crunch all of that data and present people with an overall picture.” A comparative listing gets people discussing the results.
After the release of the first edition of the index, Australian political activists told him they used the data matrix of the Good Country Index to focus questions for election candidates about how they would address certain categories in which the country was underperforming. “It’s a tool,” says Anholt. “If people do choose to use it to hold their governments to account, then that’s great. That means it’s working.” Finland is holding parliamentary elections in April 2019, and European Parliament elections happen in May 2019.
While the Good Country Index aims to encourage discussion and cooperation, it’s not against the idea of competition. If countries vie to be the “goodest,” that’s healthy.
“Competition is fine,” says Anholt. “It’s a very effective driver, but it only becomes a problem when it’s the only altar at which we worship, and that’s the case for most countries most of the time.” He believes that “the culture of governance worldwide” can shift from fundamentally competitive to fundamentally collaborative.
Work together a little more, compete against each other a little less; this is his straightforward suggestion. The Nordic countries, who possess a long history of regional cooperation, often find themselves at the top of the index (the newest results put Sweden, Denmark and Norway in third, fifth and seventh place).
What’s good for your neighbours and the rest of the world is frequently good for you, too. “You often end up doing better work domestically because you’re drawing inspiration and experience from other countries,” Anholt says. “You’re sharing good ideas.”
Out of the seven categories in the Good Country Index, Finland places highest in prosperity and equality, in which it is second. The 35 subcategories include birth rate; ecological footprint; renewable energy; giving to charity; accumulated Noble Prizes; creative goods exports; humanitarian aid donations; and number of UN volunteers sent abroad.
Finland’s strong suits are freedom of movement; press freedom; number of patents; number of international publications; foreign direct investment outflow; food aid funding; compliance with environmental agreements; and cybersecurity. One area for improvement is international students: Finland is famous for its education system, but figures indicate it should do more to attract foreign students.
“My message to Finland is the same message I would give to any country that comes top of the index,” says Anholt. “This is not a reward. Who am I to reward a country for its behaviour? This is a message about your obligations.”
Doing well in the Good Country Index indicates that a nation is good at collaborating and has “figured out a few things” that some of the others haven’t, says Anholt. It should “continue to demonstrate the benefit – domestic and international – of enhanced cooperation and collaboration.”
It’s about countries “making [themselves] willing and available to work with other countries,” says Anholt. “So it’s an opportunity for Finland to start working with other countries in a new way.”
“Countries working together” has hardly been a common rallying cry among politicians in recent years. We constantly hear the word “polarisation” in the news.
“If this isn’t the most obvious case for more cooperation and more collaboration, then what is?” asks Anholt. He’s talking about cooperation between people who are concerned about the world as a whole and those who focus more on their own countries. Both have validity, he says. “It’s very important that the Good Country Index doesn’t become another piece of tribalism.”
The measurements in the index point to difficult questions about climate change, human migration, healthcare, poverty and more. How do you stay positive when your work involves delving into these stats?
You create a country. In Anholt’s newest project, he and American Madeline Hung have co-founded the Good Country, most easily described as a virtual country, “to prove that if countries learn to work together, then we will start to make real progress.” Anyone who wants to participate in solving global challenges can sign up online and become a citizen.
In real life, Finland will continue to consider how its actions can contribute to humanity. At the moment, that’s the “goodest” thing to do.
Source: Finland.fi (By Peter Marten, January 2019)
NordenBladet – If you have participated in the Foreign Correspondents’ Programme or Young Journalists, as it was first called in the 90’s, now you might have a chance for another Finland-packed experience. Foreign Correspondents’ Programme – Alumni Edition 2019 starts on June 10th and ends on June 16th, 2019.
Come and spend a week learning about Finland today, Finnish society and the Finnish way of life – not forgetting meeting friends that have had the same original and mind-blowing FCP experience in their lives!
Who’s eligible for the 2019 FCP alumni edition? This year’s Foreign Correspondents’ Programme – Alumni Edition is definitely for you, if you are:
a) A media professional that has participated in the programme of FCP or Young Journalists 1990 – 2015.
b) Has participated from or is currently living in Europe.
c) Is an active media professional working in a media house (TV, print or Web) or in social media, for example as an accomplished blogger or vlogger, or otherwise involved in the communications sphere or politics.
d) Is still interested in learning new things, meeting new people from different cultures and spending a week in Finland (full-time attendance required).
e) Is excited to meet Finland again and continue to be a lifelong friend of ours.
How to apply? Applicants must fill an application in English and upload an English language CV including photo as an attachment.
The closing date for applications is 21st March 2019 at 24:00 hrs (Finnish time). Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. The online application will be functional during 26th February at 00:00 hrs – 21st March 2019 at 24:00 hrs (Finnish time)
Selection process? All together 10 representatives will be chosen from European coutries. The embassies in each country will make the selection, that is then confirmed at the Communications Department in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
The chosen alumni will be contacted by 8th April 2019 with travel arrangement information.
What does the programme include? The Foreign Correspondents’ Program starts on 22th August and ends on 28 August 2016. Tentatively the program will be built around the following current topics: Finnish EU presidency, domestic and foreign politics, economical situation and business strengths, nature/forest, education and top science/research, media house visit, creative industries, food culture and urban culture, visit outside of Helsinki and a host-family weekend.
The alumni meeting’s short duration sets limitations to the program. Therefore any changes are possible.
There is an intention to include half-a-day for the participants own meetings and interviews. If the participant wishes to add extra days in the beginning or end of the program, it is very much possible but unfortunately the accommodation for those days is by her/his own expense.
What costs are covered? The program covers the costs of travel to and from Finland, local travel in Helsinki, accommodation and the daily program, including transportation and some meals. The program does not cover medical insurance, per diem allowance or meals not listed as part of the program.
