17.4.2026
If everyone on Earth lived like Finns, we would need the natural resources of four planets every year. The well-being and security of the Finnish nation can only be guaranteed if society’s activities are adapted to the limits of the planet. The government programme vision published by the Finnish Expert Panel for Sustainable Development is a science-based framework designed to support decision-making beyond individual government terms. You can read the vision here.
A thriving natural environment is an absolute prerequisite for human well-being. By continuing the systematic destruction of the environment, we are undermining the very foundations of life and societal stability. Without a fundamental change of direction, we are heading towards consequences that will be increasingly difficult to manage. Escalating nature crises are already visible, for example, in more frequent extreme weather events, growing displacement and refugee flows, disruptions in food production, and the increasing prevalence of pandemics. Finland must undergo a sustainability transformation – a transition from the current unsustainable state towards pursuing well-being within planetary boundaries.
‘Our way of life, which exceeds the carrying capacity of nature, poses a threat to societal security. As long as the ecological crisis is not addressed comprehensively, the number and severity of violent conflicts will continue to increase globally’, says Lassi Linnanen, Chair of the Finnish Expert Panel for Sustainable Development and Professor of Environmental Economics at LUT University. The Finnish Sustainable Development Panel is an independent scientific panel appointed by the Finnish Government.
The government programme vision is based on four mutually reinforcing theses:
- Making the well-being of nature and people the primary objective of policy
- Participatory decision-making as a central pillar of democracy
- Placing planetary safety in the centre of policy
- An economy that is fair and operates within planetary boundaries
The core idea of the theses is to shift the focus from economic growth to strengthening the well-being of nature and people. Societal decision-making must set the carrying capacity of nature as a boundary condition for economic activity and consider the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss across all policy sectors. This requires rethinking the foundations of democracy, the legal system, security, and the economy.
‘It is essential to spark discussion about the seriousness of the situation and the need for numerous, radical measures, because without significant changes in the society we cannot safeguard the well-being of our children and future generations’, Linnanen emphasizes.
In accordance with the Finnish Constitution, responsibility for nature and biodiversity belongs to everyone, and it is the duty of public authorities to ensure a healthy environment and opportunities for participation. The existing structures of the welfare state – such as education, social security, culture, and civic services – provide a foundation for the sustainability transformation.
In the Panel’s vision, economic policy is not guided by economic growth but by the principle of sufficiency: people’s justified needs are met without scarcity and excessive consumption. The circular economy and resource wisdom form the foundation of the entire economic system.
Essential services necessary for life, including health care and water services, are maintained as public goods or subject to strict limits on profit-making. Citizens, local communities, and diverse population groups are given stronger and more meaningful opportunities to influence decisions. Young people are actively brought into the core of decision-making processes.
‘According to research, economic growth has not improved the well-being of Finns for decades. The economy should serve life, not the other way around’, Linnanen notes.
Sets of concrete measures to implement the vision will be presented at a later stage. Through its vision and the supporting policy measures, the Finnish Expert Panel for Sustainable Development aims to stimulate dialogue with citizens and stakeholders on what is required to implement the vision. The Panel will launch a dialogue on the future of young people together with the Youth Agenda 2030 and NUOLI groups at Kino Regina in Oodi on 28 April from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.