Ministries seek partners to low-carbon circular economy agreement

Sectoral organisations, companies, counties, municipalities and other stakeholders are invited to participate in the preparation of a voluntary agreement on a low-carbon circular economy and to become partners to it. The agreement is part of Finland’s National Circular Economy Programme, and the aim is to promote the transition to a low-carbon circular economy society in different sectors.

 The Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment gave an introduction to the process to prepare the agreement today, on 18 February. The work is to be started in March and the agreement should be ready to be signed in summer 2023. The ministries will invite representatives of different sectors, companies, regions and municipalities interested in the matter to take part in the discussions. The organisations can join in by expressing their interest to the Ministry of the Environment during spring 2022.

The stakeholders will join the agreement on a low-carbon circular economy by making commitments of their own. In the commitment, they will specify their own objectives and measures that promote the transition to a circular economy as effectively as possible. They will also make a commitment to monitoring the implementation of their objectives and measures. The stakeholders that join in will receive expert advice and support for assessing the impact of their own objectives.

“By joining the scenario and agreement process on a low-carbon circular economy the different sectors, companies, regions and municipalities will take their place among the trailblazers. We are also ready to give various kinds of support to the partners to make sure that the most effective measures they have selected will also be successful. This will take place through co-creation and joint development and by helping to find solutions related to funding,” says Juhani Damski, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of the Environment.

An analysis of material flows in Finland and scenarios will be prepared to support the assessment of the effectiveness of the objectives and measures. The analysis of the material flows will provide information on the total consumption of natural resources in Finland. Those participating in the agreement - municipalities, counties or sectors - will have important data to offer on the current situation with respect to material use for the analysis and studies. The analysis should be completed during 2022. The scenarios on the trends in the material footprint and its impacts on the environment and economy will be completed by summer 2023.

“This is an excellent opportunity for both different sectors and companies in these and for municipalities and regions. Cooperation with research institutes gives them access to unique sources of data and enables us all to prepare for the future,” says Jyri Seppälä, Professor at the Finnish Environment Institute who leads the project.

The Finnish Environment Institute will lead the process to prepare the analysis of the material flows and scenarios on the use of natural resources. The other organisations participating in the project are the Geological Survey of Finland, Natural Resources Institute Finland, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Statistics Finland, in interaction with the stakeholders who make their commitment to the process.

The Government Resolution on the Strategic Programme for Circular Economy issued in 2021 sets targets for reducing the consumption of non-renewable natural resources and for doubling resource productivity and the circular material use rate (CMU). Measures to restrict the use of natural resources are needed because the global consumption of natural resources is projected to double by 2060. This would mean a massive increase in carbon dioxide emissions and even more drastic biodiversity loss.

Inquiries:

Ministry of the Environment

Taina Nikula, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 250 202, [email protected]

Heikki Sorasahi, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 29 5 250 165, [email protected]

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment

Chief Specialist Jyrki Alkio, tel. +358 295 047 103, [email protected]