Introduction: Building a sustainable future as a starting point for decision-making

1. Investing in the quality of education and research

• 1.1 Research, development and innovation funding to at least four percent of gross domestic product
• 1.2 The continuity of higher education and research must be secured
• 1.3 Continuous learning in order
• 1.4 Doctors’ expertise used in a more diverse way
• 1.5 More international professionals
• 1.6 Mathematical and natural science competence must be increased
• 1.7 High-quality teaching requires sufficient resources
• 1.8 Meaningful internships and education relevant to working life
• 1.9 Well-being of staff and students

2. Working life must be reformed with a human-centric approach

• 2.1 Mental health must be taken into account at workplaces
• 2.2 Getting the start of your career right
• 2.3 Working life to be more family-friendly
• 2.4 Work must always be profitable
• 2.5 The green transition must be implemented socially sustainably
• 2.6 Regulation of professions must be secured
• 2.7 Employees must have a right to get their issues forward
• 2.8 Remote work to be carried out on an employee-oriented basis
• 2.9 Human trafficking must be eradicated in Finland

3. Natural resource sectors and the circular economy as the basis for sustainable economy and security of supply

• 3.1 The growth potential of bioeconomy must be utilised
• 3.2 The circular economy is the new normal
• 3.3 Research, development and innovation funding, public procurement and business subsidies must be allocated sustainably
• 3.4 Security of supply must be ensured in agriculture, forestry and industry
• 3.5 Making the food system sustainable
• 3.6 Nutritional recommendations to be better applied in practice
• 3.7 Increasing forest carbon stocks
• 3.8 Materials in construction and industry to be made ecologically sustainable
• 3.9 Deploying the strengths in development cooperation and service export

4. Protecting biodiversity and combatting climate change

• 4.1 High-quality environmental protection and management of natural resources require sufficient funding for research and monitoring
• 4.2 The resources of the environmental administration must be secured
• 4.3 Taking care of the waters and seas
• 4.4 Impactful environmental actions and predictable legislation must be promoted extensively
• 4.5 Getting rid of fossil fuels
• 4.6 Emissions from peat must be reduced purposefully
• 4.7 An opportunity for well-being through nature for all
• 4.8 Ecological compensation and the natural value market as part of sustainable nature work

Introduction: Building a sustainable future as a starting point for decision-making

The Union of Professionals in Natural, Environmental and Forestry Sciences and highly educated professionals in the food industry Loimu brings together over 22,000 highly educated experts. Loimu’s members include agronomists, biologists, life scientists, food scientists, physicists, geologists, chemists, limnologists, geographers, mathematicians, meteorologists, foresters, nutritional scientists, environmental scientists – and many others. Loimu employees work in expert and management positions in many different fields and sectors, and their expertise is key to building a sustainable future.

We are living in times of many simultaneous crises. World politics is buzzing, and at the same time, the climate crisis is progressing and biodiversity loss is deepening. Finland’s future must be based on socially, ecologically and economically sustainable solutions. Governance structures and resourcing must support the use of multidisciplinary knowledge and competence to support decision-making. 

We need achievable, shared visions of the future.

This programme brings together Loimu’s goals for policy orientations that can strengthen Finland’s research, development and innovation activities, reform working life, find new opportunities for growth by sustainably utilising natural resources and secure the sustainability of nature and a viable climate for future generations. The programme was drawn up for the first time in 2018, the year following the establishment of Loimu. Since then, Loimu has grown significantly, and since the beginning of 2026, the union has represented not only professionals in the natural, environmental and forestry sciences, but also highly educated professionals in the food industry. New sectors and the union’s multidisciplinary members are reflected in the goals.

One of Loimu’s values is courage. In this programme, we call for many things that we believe will benefit our society and we defend things that will cause significant harm if cut back. Many of our goals are more widely shared in civil society and business. We are open to collaborating with different organisations, because changing the world is more impactful together. We need positive, achievable and shared visions for the future. Check out the programme and join us in building a sustainable future!

1. Investing in the quality of education and research

Finland has ambitious goals for founding our success on know-how as well as on the sustainable management and use of natural resources. These goals will be realised once we have sufficient top-expertise and resources are used reasonably.  Our long-term education and innovation policy has been one of our most significant success factors. Top talents will only enter the labour market if the education in our universities creates them. Education should focus on raising the level of competence, not just on the number of university graduates. Only with a high-level education system will we be able to maintain our position as one of the most prosperous and stable societies in the world. 

Finland should invest more than currently in high-level education and in promoting the innovativeness that emerges from it. Our future prospects will deteriorate if the State’s actions weaken the operating conditions of higher education institutions or the funding base for research, development and innovation activities.

1.1 Research, development and innovation funding to at least four percent of gross domestic product

The goal of increasing RDI funding to four percent of GDP by 2030 was recorded in the Act in 2023. To support this goal, RDI funding is guided by a multiannual plan and strategic choices made by the Government. This goal is very important for Finland’s success, and Parliament must continue to strive towards it with ambition. When making decisions on the allocation of funding, a significant share of it must be directed to sectors building a sustainable future and funding directed especially to the R&D activities of higher education institutions must be increased. 

1.2 The continuity of higher education and research must be secured

Science and culture have an intrinsic value and the freedom of research must be protected. A stable funding base for high-level teaching and research is of paramount importance for the development of Finnish research, development and innovation activities. The funding of universities and universities of applied sciences must be significantly strengthened, so that we can succeed in international competition. Ways include increasing direct State funding as well as the one-time capitalisation of higher education institutions with at least ten billion euros. The funding of higher education institutions must be made more predictable and clearer than at present by increasing the importance of basic funding in the funding model of higher education institutions. In addition, higher education institutions’ financing models must be developed in such a way that they encourage long-term research and the increase of permanent employment relationships. Higher education must remain free of charge, and tuition fees should not be introduced for Finnish or EU and EEA students.

In addition to basic university research, applied research plays a key role in solving global problems. The funding of state research institutes has been cut considerably in the last decade, resulting in less research being carried out in them than before; this development must be reversed. The funding of research institutes must be raised to a sufficient level. The same applies to research funding for university hospitals. Healthcare based on high-quality research must be maintained, even though there is considerable pressure on the financing of social and health services.

Long-term education and innovation policy.

The quality of the research infrastructure to be preserved, the quality of continuous research and teaching and the resourcing required by the change must be ensured during structural changes to higher education institutions aiming for savings, and potential cross-sectoral mergers must ensure. 
 
Resources freed up from administration, support services and facilities must also be directed to maintaining the quality of teaching and research. Multidisciplinary units strengthen regional vitality, streamline studies and expand the research base. 

1.3 Continuous learning in order

The key to the continuation of the Finnish success story is the development of continuous learning and flexible training models for those performing demanding expert work. Together with eight other professional unions of Akava, Loimu has developed a knowledge account model, which is a new way to share the costs of continuous learning between employees, employers and the State. The new system would also make it more profitable to implement packages for skills and competence that are shorter than higher education degrees, which would facilitate competence development alongside work.

In addition to the costs of education, the livelihood during studies must be secured. For a degree student, this means sufficient student allowance to enable full-time study. Adult education allowance was discontinued in 2024. New support is urgently needed to replace it, as continuous learning or changing line of work must not depend on individuals taking financial risks. Those who have become unemployed must be able to study without losing unemployment benefit.

1.4 Doctors’ expertise used in a more diverse way 

Finnish doctoral education has been reformed in recent years. The goals of increasing the employment of doctors in the service of the business community must be promoted. However, the quality of doctoral education should not be compromised. The main objective of a doctoral degree is that the person completing it produces new, high-quality, original research that advances the field. Shortening the time it takes to complete a doctoral degree is a threat to both the quality and the mental well-being of doctoral researchers.

The free-of-charge higher education must be maintained.

Cooperation between doctoral education and other working life needs to be increased. However, the responsibility for the employment of doctors in companies should not be left to the universities. The commercialisation of research expertise and the cultural change in the business sector in the employment of doctors require the promotion of the matter through political means, for example when distributing RDI funding. The public sector also needs doctoral-level competence, and doctors’ career paths to the public sector must be strengthened.

The unemployment benefit of doctoral students must be clarified and the right to earnings-related unemployment benefit and accumulation of a working requirement must be secured.

Gendered structures and perceptions in applying for education must be dismantled.

1.5 More international professionals 

Finland needs a significantly greater number of international professionals. According to the Roadmap for Education-based and Work-based Immigration 2035, Finland is seeking to at least double the current volume of work-based immigration by 2030 to attain the overall increase of at least 50,000 work-based immigrants that is required in the sustainability roadmap. The number of new foreign degree students should be trebled to 15,000 by 2030. At the same time, the aim is that 75% of the foreign students should find employment and stay in Finland.

All of this requires changes from Finnish society and working life. Entry must be made easier and permit processes must be streamlined, especially if the person already has a workplace in Finland. The offering of Finnish and Swedish language teaching must be improved and resources must be allocated to support integration. For international students, these must be in good condition within the degree programmes and it must be made easier for them to stay in Finland after graduation. Society’s services must be accessible to those moving to the country, whether they are early childhood education or health services. Anonymous recruitment should be used to help remove unnecessary employment obstacles not only for Finns but also for immigrants.

1.6 Mathematical and natural science competence must be increased

Scientific literacy and mathematical skills measured at the end of comprehensive school have deteriorated, which can be seen, for example, in the results of the PISA survey of OECD countries. However, there is an increasing need for these skills. The goals of Finland’s national LUMA strategy must be achieved by 2030. The development of mathematical and natural science competence requires planned investments in the entire educational path starting from early childhood education. The competence base is strengthened in primary and secondary schools, expert competence is deepened in higher education, and in working life, it must be possible to update competence in the fields of natural sciences as well. General scientific literacy must be strengthened in public discourse.

Studying natural sciences must be made attractive to everyone, regardless of gender. At the same time, it must be recognised that there are significant differences between genders in applying for higher education in different fields, and that more women than men currently graduate from higher education on average. Different gendered structures and perceptions in applying for education must be actively dismantled.

Science education must be strengthened by securing the continuity of funding for the LUMA centres. In the university selections, it is good to keep the emphasis on mathematical skills in balance with language skills and understanding of social sciences and humanities in addition to natural sciences. Professionals in natural sciences also need these skills to succeed. The entrance examinations must be kept as one route to university studies. 

1.7 High-quality teaching requires sufficient resources

Each degree must include sufficient practical exercises suitable for the degree as face-to-face teaching. High-quality teaching facilities and university research stations suitable for this are a necessity for many of Loimu’s educational sectors. The increase in costs of university premises must not constitute an obstacle to the implementation of high-quality research and teaching.

The opportunities of remote and hybrid teaching must be utilised. The accessibility of education can be improved without compromising on quality. 

Changes in education volumes must be based on statistics and research-based anticipation that takes employability into account. Any new places for new students must be financed by permanently increasing funding.

The volume of education must be based on forecasting that takes employment into account.

1.8 Meaningful internships and education relevant to working life 

The State must invest in the adequate resourcing of the organisation of study guidance and career services in higher education institutions. It is possible to find numerous common interests with the labour market organisations in raising the employment rate and in the employment of those with higher education in jobs corresponding to their education. When planning study modules, it is useful to cooperate with the actors in working life. Practical training during studies supports employment after graduation, and employers play a significant role by providing internships. As a rule, compensation must be paid for training. It should be easier to study through work in one’s own field. However, educational institutions must provide adequate training that prepares for working life. Teaching should not be outsourced to employers through internships.

1.9 Well-being of staff and students 

The best support for both the ability to work and study is preventive support. Legislation can mandate a minimum level, but employers and educational institutions have a responsibility to promote good practices and allow for flexibility, taking into account different life situations. Sufficient funding of the Finnish Student Health Service, YTHS, must be guaranteed. Well-being must be considered at the level of the entire organisation in planning and management. Supervisors also need support. Labour market organisations can be involved in developing solutions to promote well-being both through collective agreements and in practical projects. Promoting communality is a key to increase well-being and prevent problems in both workplaces and during studies.

Universities and other research organisations are significant employers for Loimu employees. The community of experts and researchers and, in universities, also students, is a demanding working environment, and it is particularly important to take care of the well-being of the personnel. Fixed-term employment relationships and chaining them create uncertainty. As a rule, employment relationships should be valid until further notice.  Excessive workload must be addressed, and the salary must generally correspond to the degree of difficulty of the work. Employers must support their employees if they are harassed or defamed. Criminal legislation related to the harassment and defamation of researchers must be tightened.

2. Working life must be reformed with a human-centric approach

A sustainable future requires a reform of working life. The functionality of working life is important at all levels. A functioning working life is created in workplaces with the cooperation of employers and employees and supported with the reasonable solutions of labour market organisations and political decision-makers.

Working life must be developed even more in the direction that it offers everyone equal and more flexible opportunities to build a productive career. The development work must take into account different life situations, such as taking care of children or family members or studying. The reforms must concern different areas of the working life legislation, and they must be made whilst taking into account the entirety of the working life legislation.

2.1 Mental health must be taken into account at workplaces 

Mental health is one of the most important working life issues in the 2020s. Management of psychosocial stress must not be left to individual projects or general policies, but must be a mandatory and systematic part of workplace management and occupational safety.

The employer’s responsibility for managing psychosocial stress must be clarified and strengthened. Responsibility must not be left to the supervisors alone, but the organisation’s structures, resources and management practices must support employees’ work ability and coping.

A functioning working life requires cooperation from all parties.

Safety regulations must be refined and clear obligations for managing psychosocial stress must be established. Emphasising prevention alone is not enough without sufficient resources and functional structures.

Occupational health services must strengthen mental health support, but the focus must also be on correcting working conditions and the workload factors, not just on supporting the individual’s coping. Particular attention should be paid to supporting the coping of employees in the early stages of their careers and managing their workload.

Regardless of the type of illness, the employee must have the right to fall ill without pressure, threats of unpaid leave or indirect stigma. This is a fundamental rights issue and a measure of the humanity of working life.

2.2 Getting the start of your career right

The first workplaces are significant for the entire career. The uncertainty related to the start of a career must be reduced and young people looking for work in their field for the first time must be supported, whether it is about a summer job or a longer employment relationship. There must always be a justified reason for fixed-term employment. The chaining of fixed-term employment relationships must be addressed.

The sooner professionals who graduate from higher education institutions start to work in positions corresponding to their education, the more their contribution will benefit Finnish society. The State and labour market organisations must jointly create solutions that effectively promote the qualitative employment of highly educated young professionals – not forgetting international professional. This means paid internships and cooperation with working life as part of the studies, but also measures to promote the employment of recent graduates.

It must be possible to maintain work ability and competence even when unemployed.

The use of artificial intelligence seems to be changing the labour market, especially with regard to expert-level tasks in the early stages of a career. Employers and society must ensure that, as the AI transformation progresses, graduates still have natural career paths to grow into experts.

After employment services have been transferred to municipalities, the service level may vary depending on the place of residence. Services aimed at the highly educated should be taken into account as part of the municipality-level service package. However, it is of utmost importance that everyone receives individual support equally, regardless of their background.

2.3 Working life to be more family-friendly

A family-friendly, diverse and equal working life must be promoted with ambitious legislation. Employers’ knowledge of family-friendly practices must be increased, and workplaces must be encouraged to create models and guidelines that support the reconciliation of work and family as well as equality.

Discrimination against pregnancy and family leave must be addressed and structures that enable discrimination must be actively dismantled. 

Both parents have an equal right to paid leave in relation to the duration of family leave. In addition to the care of children, the care of older close relatives must also be made possible better than at present. 

2.4 Work must always be profitable 

As a rule, unemployed people want to regain employment. Society should support them in this. The level of unemployment benefits must be sufficient and, at the same time, the unemployed person must be able to receive work, set up a company or study without losing unemployment benefit. The various exempt amounts of unemployment benefit are an effective way to do this. It must be possible to maintain work ability and competence even when unemployed.

2.5 The green transition must be implemented socially sustainably

The green transition will change working conditions, competence requirements and work content. Social sustainability must be taken into account in the transformation of work related to the green transition. The green transition requires continuous updating of competence and sufficient opportunities for further training and retraining at all career stages. Employees must be given the opportunity to develop their skills during working hours and move on to new responsibilities without unreasonable financial risk. Changes in working life should not be implemented at the expense of employees. During the green transition, it must be ensured that the costs and benefits of the transition are shared fairly.

Underpayment must be criminalised.

2.6 Regulation of professions must be secured 

Loimu’s members work in several fields that require high-level education and special expertise. In these sectors, the conditions for exercising the profession, the protection of professional titles and their legalisation must be clearly regulated and their level must not be reduced.

In healthcare, regulation is a key part of patient safety. Weakening the eligibility conditions and the status of legalised professions jeopardises the quality of services and the safety of customers. Regulation must continue to ensure that only professionals trained for demanding expert tasks work in expert positions.

2.7 Employees must have a right to get their issues forward

Collective agreeing is the strength of the Finnish labour market system and it must be maintained in the future. Tripartite cooperation is a key and useful part of Finnish decision-making. When updating the regulation of working life, labour market organisations play an important role as part of the preparations to ensure that the reforms can be widely accepted in society.

A considerable part of wage earners work in fields that do not have a collective agreement. They do not have access to the representation, negotiation and mediation system established by the collective agreement, where disputes are ultimately resolved in the labour court. If the employer does not comply with the laws of working life, it is a matter of personal interest governed by private law. The employee’s threshold to pursue their case through court proceedings against their employer is high. This is why trade unions should be provided with a right of action, which gives them the opportunity to pursue the case of their members through court proceedings, even in industries without a valid agreement.

The right of association of sole proprietors in the platform economy must be promoted. A service that assigns contracts and assignments must act ethically towards those who perform the work and the authors of assignment-related offers, even if the assignment platform is not the actual employer of the expert work.

2.8 Remote work to be carried out on an employee-oriented basis

The employee must have the right to partial remote work, if the work tasks allow it and it does not cause unreasonable harm to the employer’s operations. However, the employer should not have the right to obligate the employee to work remotely. 

The employer must continue to organise adequate and safe working spaces and tools for in-office work. The employer may not outsource the costs of remote work to the employee; the costs arising from remote work must be compensated. The scope of the Act on Accidents at Work and Occupational Diseases must be expanded to better cover accidents caused during remote work. 

As remote work becomes more common, workplaces must take greater account of building the community spirit. Sharing expertise and tacit knowledge and preventing loneliness at work require more action than has been done so far. The form of work must not affect career development. Particular attention must be paid to the integration of new employees and trainees into the work community.

2.9 Human trafficking must be eradicated in Finland 

Occupational safety and health supervision and rights must be strengthened and police resources and competence must be increased so that human trafficking, usury-like discrimination at work and other exploitation can be genuinely addressed in Finland. Underpayment must be criminalised. Immigrants may not be familiar with the Finnish legislation and working life. In addition, they are often in a vulnerable position due to the grounds for a residence permit. The system must be reformed so that victims of human trafficking do not have to fear expulsion if they report their treatment.

3. Natural resource sectors and the circular economy as the basis for sustainable economy and security of supply 

High-level competence plays a significant role in solving the big problems of the entire humanity, such as climate change. Planetary limits define what is possible and sustainable. It is important for Finland and the whole world to move to a bioeconomy that reduces dependence on fossil resources. Likewise, the transition from a disposable culture to a circular economy strengthens sustainability and creates an opportunity for new services that promote sustainability and vitality.

The Finnish food system is a key part of the national security, security of supply and a sustainable society. Finnish food production, a functioning food chain and high-quality education and research ensure that Finland is able to produce safe, healthy and sustainable food even in changing circumstances.

Security of supply must be seen as a whole and taken seriously.

Sustainable management and use of forests and the environment is vital for Finland.  Forests, in particular, are key to our future: they have been Finland’s most important natural resource and the basis of our well-being, and the sustainable development desired for the future places new expectations on forests.

Finland is a world leader in the preparation of national long-term strategies and plans related to bioeconomy. The realisation of the goals outlined in these strategies and plans will result in well-being and sustainable development within the entire society. Therefore, it is extremely important that our country’s Government supports the bioeconomy sector in achieving its goals with its own actions and investments.

3.1 The growth potential of bioeconomy must be utilised

Bioeconomy is an exceptionally important sector in Finland. In 2024, the value of Finnish bioeconomy production was EUR 82 billion, representing 16 per cent of total national economy output. The forest sector accounted for 36 per cent of bioeconomy output and the food sector for 24 per cent. The bioeconomy sectors employed 290,000 people, representing 11 per cent of all employees. During the update of the Bioeconomy Strategy in 2021, opportunities to double the added value of bioeconomy by 2035 were identified, while taking into account overall sustainability. This goal must be pursued with active policy measures in accordance with the national Bioeconomy Strategy.

Focusing on high value-added products has significant growth potential. Increasing the degree of processing is key. From the point of view of a competitive operating environment, Finland needs to more strongly support the promotion of bioeconomy exports, especially in companies in the SME sector.

3.2 The circular economy is the new normal

Circular economy is an economic model that helps to curb climate change, biodiversity loss and depletion of natural resources. In the circular economy, products and materials remain in use for a long time. The circular economy practically means, in addition to recycling, rental services, repair and sharing. The circular economy is an essential part of the work of the nature sectors in companies, the public sector and organisations. The circular economy must be implemented in an environmentally and socially sustainable way.

The State must support the promotion of the circular economy by supporting circular economy research and development in universities, research institutes and companies as well as through legislative means.

3.3 Research, development and innovation funding, public procurement and business subsidies must be allocated sustainably

The green transition RDI programme proposed in the Bioeconomy Strategy should be supported. Funding for research, development and innovation should be increased in those fields where the utilisation of Finnish know-how best promotes the achievement of the goals of global sustainable development. Climate change mitigation is humanity’s biggest challenge in the coming decades and centuries. Finland has world-class expertise in the research and utilisation of renewable natural resources. Therefore, research, development and innovation investments should be directed to projects that promote the transition from the use of non-renewable natural resources to the use of renewable natural resources. When developing different types of business subsidies and support systems, subsidies that are harmful to the environment must be identified and eliminated. Ecological, social and economic sustainability must be taken into account in public procurement.

When developing support systems, subsidies that are harmful to the environment must be eliminated.

The use and deployment of various artificial intelligence tools must be done in an ecologically and socially sustainable way.

High-quality education, research and expertise are the strengths of the Finnish food system. Long-term investments must be made in education, research and innovation in the agriculture, nutrition and food sectors. Research-based knowledge enables sustainable development of food production, the use of new technologies and the adaptation of the food system to changes in the operating environment and climate. It also helps to increase the value of food exports.

3.4 Security of supply must be ensured in agriculture, forestry and industry

In recent years, various crises have highlighted risk factors in, for example, the industrial production chains, availability of critical raw materials, energy production and domestic food production. In uncertain conditions, the importance of security of supply is emphasised. Taking care of the long-term sustainability of domestic production will be even more critical in the future. This requires the innovative utilisation of new technologies in all industries in the development of the circular economy and sustainable use of natural resources as well as in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.

In forestry, securing the supply of wood, together with securing carbon stocks and biodiversity, is essential. The continuity of domestic food production requires profitable agriculture, functioning supply chains of production inputs and sustainable land use. From the point of view of security of supply, it is important to maintain a diverse production structure and Finnish expertise throughout the food system. New innovations in the pharmaceutical and food industry and the increased self-sufficiency of domestic pharmaceutical production require significant investments. The green transition requires a significant but, at the same time, responsible increase in the production of critical minerals. Digital security of supply requires systems developed in Europe.

Security of supply must be seen as a whole and taken seriously. It is not only about securing primary production, but also about the availability of inputs, international markets, concentrated supply chains, energy and consumer choices and access to information. A comprehensive understanding of the interfaces between the circular economy and the natural resource economy as well as the new development needs and opportunities of industry and primary production are all key areas of the special expertise of Loimu members.

3.5 Making the food system sustainable

The diversity of agricultural environments is an important part of a sustainable food system. Agricultural systems, land use and production methods must be developed in such a way that they support biodiversity, soil well-being, the status of body of waters and carbon sequestration in soil and vegetation. Sustainable food production combines securing productivity, climate resilience, carbon sequestration and biodiversity. Investing in animals’ well-being improves animals’ opportunities for life typical for the species and strengthens the ethics of the food chain.

A fair food chain is a prerequisite for a sustainable food system.

Biodiversity, climate questions and environmental questions are both challenges and opportunities for the food system. We need measurable and concrete improvements. We want to be part of the search for solutions to water and climate emissions in the food industry.  The regulation of the industry must be effective: we want to avoid solutions that reduce the industry’s competitiveness without clear environmental benefits. As in the food industry’s Nature Handbook, our goal is to stop biodiversity loss by 2040.

A fair and balanced food chain is a prerequisite for a sustainable food system. Relations between primary producers, the food industry, trade and consumers must be based on transparency and fair sharing of value. It is particularly important to secure the opportunities of primary production for investments, production development and generational changes. A functional and balanced value chain strengthens both the profitability of agriculture and the food security of society as a whole.

The carbon balance of Finnish forests must be positive.

3.6 Nutritional recommendations to be better applied in practice

Nutritional recommendations are a key tool for promoting a healthy and sustainable diet. Research-based recommendations guide the food system towards solutions that support both human health and the sustainability of the environment. Taking them into account in food policy, public procurement and food education strengthens the development of a sustainable food system.

The effectiveness of nutritional recommendations also requires their expert application in practice. In healthcare, social services and other everyday operating environments, the implementation of recommendations, individual guidance and nutritional care require a high level of nutritional expertise.

3.7 Increasing forest carbon stocks

The carbon stocks of forests must be increased. The carbon balance of Finnish forests must be positive. This requires greater growth than outturn and a sustainable use of natural resources. The carbon stocks and sinks of forests are increased through sustainable felling, land use and forest management. In the utilisation of forests, the aim should be to ensure that the carbon removed during felling is bound to products with the longest possible lifecycle and circular economy innovations, such as wood construction, recyclable materials and products that replace fossil raw materials, which further increases the carbon stock of the entire natural resources sector. The aim must be to replace the forest area lost as a result of the change in land use by establishing new forest. 

Forest growth, carbon sequestration and environmental sustainability are maintained and nurtured with timely forest management measures that support tree growth. Long-term actions are needed for achieving climate-sustainable forest management. Investing in long-term good management and growth of forests requires the continuity of incentive systems.

Public construction must be obligated to use ecologically sustainable materials.

3.8 Materials in construction and industry to be made ecologically sustainable 

More than a third of Finland’s greenhouse gas emissions are generated by construction and buildings. Promoting the use of wood as a construction material in both public and private construction throughout the country is one of the bioeconomy’s opportunities to replace current building materials with more sustainable alternatives. Legislation may obligate the use of wood and other potentially ecologically sustainable materials, particularly in public construction. Target levels must be set for timber and bioproduct construction in public and private construction. High-quality wood construction binds carbon for the entire life cycle of the building. 

Construction-related emissions from cement and steel production must be reduced through regulatory and market measures and the reduction levels of decisions already made must be defended. The availability and use of low-carbon cement and alternative cement materials must be promoted through public measures, public procurement and regulation. In addition to cement, the use of carbon-negative concrete grades cured with carbon dioxide must be promoted. The recycling and reuse of demolition materials need to be strengthened as part of sustainable construction.

The production of cement and steel must remain within the scope of the EU’s Emissions Trading System, and the free emission allowances allocated to them must now be eliminated in accordance with the period agreed in the EU between 2026 and 2034 or sooner.

Research and deployment of wood-based and other biomaterials to increase ecological sustainability in various industries must be supported.

3.9 Deploying the strengths in development cooperation and service export

Finland is a top country in forest, environmental, climate, natural resources, soil and water expertise. Agricultural solutions are important for food security, poverty reduction and deforestation mitigation. In development cooperation, Finns have a great deal to contribute as experts in projects related to the use of natural resources. Finland has a lot of know-how that can be exported to other countries for combatting the impacts of climate change and adapting to climate change.

Finland’s development cooperation allocations should be increased to the UN recommended level of 0.7 percent of gross domestic product.

4. Protecting biodiversity and combatting climate change

We Finns must take care of our environment. By taking care of the operating conditions of highly educated environmental professionals, we can ensure that Finland will be a leading country in environmental expertise and sustainable development now and in the future. The operating conditions for environmental research must be ensured and voluntary nature management measures must continue to be funded at a sufficient level.

To support nature, we also need predictable regulation that extends beyond electoral terms. Biodiversity loss must be stopped. The national biodiversity strategy and the related action plan are a necessary part of the path to a sustainable future. 

To protect nature, regulation that extends beyond electoral terms is needed.

Along with the biodiversity loss, climate crisis is the biggest challenge of our time, and to mitigate it and to adapt to climate change, we need an active policy and a high level of competence to support the policy.

4.1 High-quality environmental protection and management of natural resources require sufficient funding for research and monitoring

It is very important that decisions regarding Finnish environmental protection and management and forestry are based on research-based information. This is only possible if the decision-makers have at their disposal long research-based time-series on the state of forests, waters, seas, biota, soil and climate. Sufficient resources must be invested in the maintenance and development of these monitoring systems. Adequate research infrastructure is also needed. The preservation of research forests in research use must be secured so that high-quality research can also be carried out in the future.

4.2 The resources of the environmental administration must be secured

Achieving environmental sustainability goals requires effective administration. Finland must maintain its position as an attractive investment country that takes environmental aspects into account responsibly, and sufficient resources must be allocated to ensure these operating conditions both in national level and regionally.

The resources connected to environmental permit procedures must be secured in different administrative branches, without forgetting municipalities, court instances and the development of legislation. High-quality and prompt environmental permit processing is in the interest of both the environment and investing companies. In order to implement the climate goals, municipalities, regions and national agencies must be allocated sufficient funding. In addition to project-based funding, continuous funding from the State to municipalities and regional authorities is needed for the climate action. Continuous funding based on State contributions enables long-term work, which effectively serves the implementation of climate goals.

4.3 Taking care of the waters and seas

Finland has profitable action plans for managing its water areas in a sustainable manner. The implementation of the 2022–2027 Action Plan for Sea Management in Finland and the programme that follows, must be ensured. The implementation of regional water management plans must also be secured with sufficient resources and expertise. The Ministry of the Environment’s Water Protection Enhancement Programme must be continued and proven practices established.

The transition to the use of renewable natural resources must be made wherever possible.

4.4 Impactful environmental actions and predictable legislation must be promoted extensively

The joint Helmi environmental programme of the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland (METSO), are good examples of cross-sector cooperation in halting biodiversity loss in Finland. Voluntary nature management measures must be promoted and diversified in future. The funding of the programmes must be secured over the parliamentary terms.

In addition to voluntary protection, there is a need for predictable, research-based regulation. Longer-term nature legislation would ensure people’s rights to a healthy environment, the predictability of the operating environment of companies and the realisation of landowners’ protection of property.

Biodiversity loss must be stopped. The national biodiversity strategy, which has been in preparation for a long time, and the related action plan must be approved without delay. Adequate resources must be reserved to the implementation and monitoring of these programmes in order to ensure high-quality protection and management of our environment.

The State must create incentives that make it economically viable to switch from activities that burden the environment to methods that support biodiversity and reduce emissions (e.g. restoration of nature).

Long-term nature legislation would also ensure the landowners’ protection of property.

4.5 Getting rid of fossil fuels

Renewable natural resources should be used instead of non-renewable natural resources, wherever possible. This is especially important and urgent in energy production, where the burning of non-renewable natural resources causes considerable climate and environmental harm. Achieving Finland’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2035 must be taken care of.

4.6 Emissions from peat must be reduced purposefully 

Peatlands account for a significant proportion of climate emissions from agriculture and forestry in Finland. In order to achieve the climate targets of the land use sector, it is important to deliberately and significantly reduce emissions from peatlands. In addition to climate action, it is necessary to manage the water economy of drained peatlands and reduce the resulting water pollution. The need for diverse research and expert planning in the field is significant here.

4.7 An opportunity for well-being through nature for all 

Local nature plays a major role in people’s well-being – in the city and in the countryside. Biodiversity affects our health. Local forests offer opportunities for recreation, exercise and learning about forest nature. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s Health from Nature programme includes many viable measures for promoting natural health in society. On a planetary scale, planetary health and well-being helps identify and develop solutions that increase the stability of both our society and natural systems, ensuring the conditions for health and well-being for both people and the rest of nature.

Finland’s forests should be used in a versatile way so that the social benefits derived from forests are spread widely. Finland must invest in the sustainable use of forests for health, tourism and other ecosystem services as well as in the development of the natural products sector. The possibilities of an even more diverse use of forests must be investigated and decisions based on research must be made, which will produce well-being for Finns.

The well-being benefits of nature can also be part of the working day. This can be influenced, for example, by planning green areas and taking nature exposure into account as part of well-being at work.

4.8 Ecological compensation and the natural value market as part of sustainable nature work 

The opportunities of voluntary ecological compensation have been
implemented due to legislative changes, but the growth of operations and its best
practices are still in the process of being formed. For this development work, sufficient resources must be reserved and development work must continue. The deterioration of the natural values protected by the Nature Conservation Act must always be primarily prevented, and compensation can only be considered after other measures to reduce the harm.

The deterioration of the natural values protected by the Nature Conservation Act must always be primarily prevented.

Voluntary ecological compensation requires resources. In future, efforts should be made to find a compensation targets, develop a compensation register, market opportunities for voluntary compensation and develop mediation and consulting activities related to compensation. The emergence, development and growth of the natural value market would increase the need for highly educated experts. This would create new expert positions in areas such as restoration, impact assessment, monitoring, planning and surveillance. At the same time, care should be taken to ensure the quality, independence and ethical principles of work and to ensure that the responsibility for improving the state of nature is not transferred unreasonably to market players without adequate regulation. The practices currently evolving in the implementation of the natural value market will determine its usefulness in the implementation of nature conservation.

From the perspective of working life, ensuring the ecological credibility, transparency and working life impacts will be key in the development of the natural value markets over the next five years. This requires clear rules, public guidance and sufficient resources for authorities, research and monitoring systems. The system itself must prevent greenwashing: Natural credits must be based on scientifically defined, measurable and permanent benefits for nature.