EEAC network’s conference in Romania dealt with the future of sustainable development actions

The Finnish Expert Panel for Sustainable Development is a member of the European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils Network (EEAC), which organised its annual conference and meeting at the beginning of October in Bucharest, Romania. The main theme of the conference was Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, i.e. peace, the rule of law and building strong institutions. Katriina Siivonen, Vice-Chair of the Finnish Expert Panel, was elected as Co-Chair …

Finland has capabilities to do better in crisis management

(Press release 20.9.) Finland has made good progress in many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but in recent years the trend has taken a turn. Sustainable development perspectives are strongly linked to crises and their prevention, which is why they should be placed at the centre of decision-making. The Expert Panel for Sustainable Development assesses Finland’s Government Programme in relation to the recent UN report on sustainable development and …

In an impact-resistant Finland, we know how decisions affect wellbeing and the environment

The Finnish Expert Panel for Sustainable Development proposes that the forthcoming Finnish Government adopts indicators for overall sustainability to examine the impacts of decision-making. A three-part indicator would measure not only the profitability of the economy but also the wellbeing and natural capital of Finns. The Expert Panel for Sustainable Development considers that the long-term sustainable economy sought by the negotiators for the future government will be realised only if …

Johanna Kentala-Lehtonen started 1.3. as a Secretary General of the Expert Panel for the Sustainable Development

Johanna Kentala-Lehtonen started as the new Secretary General of the Expert Panel for Sustainable Development at the beginning of March. She works at the Strategy Department of the Prime Minister’s Office. The Secretary General is responsible for the coordination of the Expert Panel, which was transferred to the Prime Minister’s Office at the turn of the year. The Expert Panel for Sustainable Development will remain an independent scientific advisory panel. …

The new Finnish Expert Panel for Sustainable Development is nominated and continues work under Prime Minister’s Office

The new Finnish Expert Panel for Sustainable Development has been nominated for the season 2023-2025. From the start of the year 2023 the panel works in connection with the Prime Minister’s Office. A new general secretary will be recruited for the panel during the spring 2023, and HELSUS, Luke and SYKE will still be part of the coordination during the transition year 2023. The new members of the panel are: …

Finland needs a new positive vision of the future – it is possible to achieve a sustainable lifestyle together

Finnish Expert Panel for Sustainable Development puts forward 28 fresh recommendations, which can help us change our society to be more sustainable. Transformation into a more sustainable future is not about giving up, rather, it is about moving towards a new, more comfortable, smoother, and more meaningful life. According to the Finnish Expert Panel for Sustainable Development it is possible to live a good, healthy and meaningful life with a …

Three cures for climate crisis: knowledge, skills and shared energy

We are living the critical decade of action, yet urgency does not seem to be at the heart of daily politics. Empty promises, opportunistic tinkering and half-deliberate misunderstandings, based on narrow-minded populism, are a real concern. Without a shared vision, we will not have a collective green transition. In the middle of a complex climate crisis, we need fair transition policies based on scientific understanding. We need to broadly motivate …

Eeva Furman: Covid crises has revealed that the societies are able to take new directions

The current pandemia and the management of the crises has faced the societies all around the world. It is still too early to assess all the impacts, but one consequence can already be seen: the pandemia has revealed that the societies have been able to react and change their practices. The chair of the panel, prof. Eeva Furman analysis in her article, how we could react in a similar way …

The Expert Panel on Sustainable Development releases a toolkit to promote sustainable systemic transformation in Finland

The Global Sustainable Development Report shows that we are heading towards the sustainable development goals of Agenda 2030, but much too slowly. Inequality is increasing, climate change is advancing, biodiversity is decreasing, and waste volumes are growing. These phenomena are affected by several interconnected factors. However, we can change course if we identify the interlinkages between the aforementioned problems and steer our societies comprehensively in a more sustainable direction. The …

GSDR report was released in September – Expert Panel for Sustainable Development is analyzing, how we should focus our actions in Finland

The Future is Now: Science for Achieving Sustainable Development, is the first Global Sustainable Development Report prepared by the Independent Group of Scientists appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General. The report’s message is clear: we need a global change of direction. There are possible actions but we need to start making these changes without delay. The working committee has formed an operating model for achieving sustainability globally. The report includes …