The Finnish crossing day was at the beginning of April. This means that if all people consumed like the average Finn, we would have already used up all the natural resources produced by our planet this year.
Overconsumption is the root cause of all major environmental problems, such as the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity. The rapid decline of the natural world due to the exploitation of natural resources has also led to an increase in pandemics.
The key to tackling oversupply is the circular economy. That is why the Finnish government has developed a new circular economy program with the ambitious goal of stopping the growth of over-consumption. Our goal is that the total consumption of domestic basic raw materials in 2035 will not exceed the 2015 level. The resolution is based on the vision that the Finnish economy in 2035 will be based on a carbon-neutral circular economy.
The circular economy means much more than just recycling. It is a comprehensive change in the way we think about the economy and consumption. In a circular economy, products are designed to be durable and repairable. Once introduced, the raw materials are used sparingly and kept for a long time.
In a circular economy, people do not have to own all the products. Products are distributed or borrowed. Companies get more added value and build long-term customer relationships by renting, repairing and recycling products. In a circular economy, companies provide services as products.
One concrete example of how the government is promoting the circular economy is the recently introduced low-carbon circular economy agreement. Municipalities, companies and other actors can join the agreement and commit voluntarily to achieve resource-related goals.
Other measures planned by our government include developing new circular economy incentives through taxation, creating distribution, repair and resale platforms for citizens, and building circular economy skills through the education system.
The goals of Finland’s circular economy will also be promoted with the EU’s stimulus package. We have decided to use half of the EU’s funding for measures to support carbon neutrality. We hope that other countries will also choose this way to recover. Our decision clearly goes beyond the EU Commission’s demand to use 37% of the package to go green.
Finland has a long tradition in everyday circular economy thinking. Textile waste has been made into carpets and food waste has been used carefully. With the new circular economy program, we are updating this thinking to this day and making it the basis for all economic thinking.
Krista Mikkonen
Krista Johanna Mikkonen is a politician from the Finnish Green League, a Member of Parliament for the second parliamentary term and the Finnish Minister for the Environment and Climate. He lives in Joensuu but spent his childhood in Korea. He has been a member of Parliament since 2015
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Source: The Nordic Page