By the resolution on promoting a circular economy adopted today, on 7 April, the Finnish Government committed to reducing the consumption of unrenewable natural resources. The resolution also restricts the use of renewable natural resources in Finland: the total consumption of domestic primary raw materials in 2035 will not exceed the level in 2015*. The resolution is based on a vision that in 2035 the Finnish economy will be based on a carbon-neutral circular economy society.

On Thursday 25 March, the Government of Finland received an international Catalyst 2030 Award for sustainable development. The award was presented to the Finnish National Commission on Sustainable Development, which is chaired by the Prime Minister. Finland was recognised for its participatory approach to implementing the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In its statement, the prize jury placed particular emphasis on Finland’s international cooperation in promoting sustainable consumption and production.

During this spring, a Citizens’ Jury on Climate Actions will be convened to find out the people’s views and proposals for solutions concerning Finland’s emission reduction measures. A total of 8,000 Finns will receive an invitation letter to participate in the Citizens’ Jury, which is the first nation-wide Jury on climate issues in Finland. Of those invited, a maximum of 50 persons will be selected to the Jury.

The Nordic countries have intensified co-operation in recent years to curb climate emissions from the built environment. This partnership focuses particularly on working to ensure corresponding principles for assessing and guiding the climate impact of construction in these countries.

A new service opened today provides impartial data on the climate impacts of construction products used in Finland, such as carbon footprint and handprint, material efficiency and recyclability. This information harmonises the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life cycle of buildings, facilitating low-carbon building design. The service is free of charge and open to everyone.

The Ministry of the Environment organised an online survey to gather people’s views and opinions on how emissions can be reduced effectively and fairly. The number of responses that came in during the four weeks the survey was open was very high, more than 18,000. The responses will be used for the preparation of the Medium-Term Climate Change Policy Plan.

The UN Environment Assembly UNEA-5 brings together the UN Member States and representatives of the business sector and civil society organisations to a session conducted virtually on 22-23 February. The themes of the meeting are the role of nature in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals and green rebuilding and sustainable recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Climate Policy Roundtable met on 8 February to discuss low-carbon roadmaps for individual sectors. The meeting highlighted that there is a need to take a more comprehensive account of just transition and to update and coordinate the sectoral roadmaps.

The Climate Policy Roundtable will hold its sixth meeting on Monday 8 February. The main topic of the meeting are the low-carbon roadmaps for individual sectors. The meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

The Ministry of the Environment invites views and opinions on how emissions can be reduced effectively and fairly through an online survey open to all. The survey is open from 19 January to 19 February. The responses will help to prepare a new medium-term climate change policy plan.