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OECD review praises Finland’s environmental achievements

08/06/2009

OECD’s newly published Environmental Performance Review commends Finland for reducing pollution and improving its environmental quality through pioneering approaches like green taxes. Finland’s proactive engagement in multilateral environmental cooperation is also singled out for praise.

According to the report, Finland’s environmental achievements during the past decade include good urban air quality, the good recovery of Finnish lakes recovering from acidification, the abatement of noise pollution, low municipal waste generation by OECD standards, and a high share of renewable energy.

It also commends Finland’s innovative METSO programme to protect biodiversity in forests which combines the protection and commercial use of forests. The programme is based on voluntary actions by landowners and encourages collaboration between forest and environmental organisations, as well as providing advice to forest owners and training for professional foresters.

The OECD recommends reinforcing of the country's environmental efforts, particularly by further strengthening green tax initiatives and promoting eco-innovation. The review notes that the country's highly educated workforce and track record of innovation put Finland in a strong position to weather the global economic crisis and respond to environmental challenges.

According to the report, the main environmental challenges that remain are cutting greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the amount of energy and materials used per unit of GDP. Other challenges include improving the environmental health of the Baltic Sea and addressing the health impacts of pollution and management of waste.

Sources: YLE, OECD