Prime Minister’s Office assesses sustainability in society and offers directions for managing transitions in comprehensive report

Prime Minister's Office assesses sustainability in society and offers directions for managing transitions in comprehensive report

In its new report, Outlook for Finland - Assessment of Sustainability in Society 2025, the Prime Minister's Office assesses the current state and development of sustainability in Finnish society.

The assessment, which was now carried out for the first time, explores sustainability from five different perspectives. In addition to social, economic and ecological sustainability, the report assesses the sustainability of security, democracy and the rule of law, as well as the sustainability of human capital.

The report provides a comprehensive assessment of the different aspects of sustainability, offering a clear picture of how society has developed over the past ten years and identifying significant risks and opportunities related to the development of sustainability over the next 5-10 years. At the same time, it helps to identify key points and interlinkages that should be taken into account in decision-making. The assessment was carried out in broad-based cooperation with the ministries and the research community.

The assessment and its proposals are meant to serve as starting points for discussions and provide a knowledge base for different actors throughout society - not just the public sector. Developments in society are influenced by decisions made by governments, but also by choices made by a variety of different actors. The report is not intended to assess the actions or success of the Government.

Positive, variable and unfavourable development in different areas

The report assessed the development of sustainability in 35 different areas and made the following findings:

• Positive development has taken place in six areas: the rule of law, energy security, research and development, digitalisation, the structure of foreign trade and business dynamics.
• Development has been variable - meaning partly positive and partly unfavourable - in 14 areas, including poverty and income inequality, equality and gender equality, cohesion and trust, health disparities and housing.
• Mostly unfavourable development has taken place in 15 areas, with particular challenges observed in ecological and economic sustainability. Development has deteriorated in areas such as biodiversity, general government finances, education and skill levels.

Report identifies risks and opportunities for Finland

Risks and opportunities related to the future were identified for all areas of sustainability and two themes: 1) artificial intelligence and 2) forest ecosystems and the economic system. Based on the risks and opportunities identified, the report puts forth proposals for the directions solutions should take to strengthen sustainability in society. The directions for solutions are grouped into themes that cross-cut the different aspects of sustainability. The report also presents more detailed proposals for measures. The directions for solutions are:

• Strengthening social trust, democracy and the rule of law
• Creating better-functioning educational paths and supporting the wellbeing of young people
• Promoting health and wellbeing
• Harnessing of technology and innovation
• Strengthening sustainable economic growth and general government finances
• Simultaneously combatting climate change and biodiversity loss
• Promoting the circular economy and sustainable business
• Improving energy security and security of supply

The Prime Minister's Office conducts assessments of sustainability in society to support decision-making and reports on them regularly. The work draws on a variety of sources including the Government Report on the Future.

Inquiries: Saara Tamminen, Chief Specialist, tel. +358 295 160 895, Ossi Piironen, Chief Specialist, tel. +358 295 160 467 and Taina Kulmala, Head of Unit, tel. +358 295 160 184, Prime Minister's Office.
The email addresses of the Finnish Government are in the format [email protected]