Prne
May 17th, 2009
HELSINKI - In Finland, leaders in various fields have taken up the challenge presented by the increasing use of natural resources. Jointly, they have set out to find an answer to the question of how to use natural resources to enhance both national competitiveness and global responsibility. One result of this cooperation is the Natural Resource Strategy for Finland, a unique effort on a global scale. The strategy work was coordinated by Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, in collaboration with a wide range of national actors.
“The Natural Resource Strategy is unlike any other investigation into this subject in that it studies the use of natural resources from a much wider perspective, across sector boundaries,” says Eeva Hellstrom, Executive Director of the Natural Resource Strategy for Finland.
“The strategy concentrates mainly on the intelligent use of natural resources, by which we mean creating viable business operations and increasing wellbeing through sustainable and responsible actions.”
The strategy proposes a new path that Finland could follow. It specifies eighteen points as steps towards the goal, including the creation of local biorefinery operations as a regional network, increasing product-specific resource efficiency, and developing natural resources accounting.
“The strategy serves as a joint declaration of intent by a wide range of representatives, unique in its kind. The Government of Finland has also adopted the main goals of the strategy in its recent mid-term policy review.”
New business could be created through, for example, the bioeconomy and creating efficient material cycles. Immaterial assets connected to natural resources, such as quietness and cleanliness, may also become economically important issues in Finland. Overall, creating an efficient bioeconomy may be a significant factor in improving national competitiveness, in Finland as well as in other countries.
“Natural resource policies will also be placed on the international politicy agenda,” says Eeva Hellstrom. “The first concrete sign of this is the launch of the UN Resource Panel, in which Finland and the EU played an active role. Finland has created its trailblazing natural resource strategy in good time. Taking initiative and engaging in international dialogue are an essential part of the strategy.”
Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, is an independent public fund which, under the supervision of the Finnish Parliament, promotes the welfare of Finnish society.
The Natural Resource Strategy for Finland:
www.sitra.fi/naturalresources
Source: Sitra
Contacts: Eeva Hellstom, Sitra, +358-50-3512412, firstname.lastname at sitra.fi
Filed under Alternative Energies, Business, Conservation / Recycling, Corporate Social Responsibility, Energy, Environment, Environmental Issues, Environmental Products and Services, Government and Policy, Surveys / Polls / Research | Tags: Europe, Helsinki, Sitra | Comment Below
Related Press Releases Wood costs for pulpmills in Sweden and Finland have fallen over 30 percent the past 12 months, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. September 30th, 2009 Wood prices in Sweden and Finland fell faster than the global average price the past year as a result of reduced operating rates for pulp mills in those two countries. Despite this precipitous drop in wood cost (more than 30%), the Nordic region still has one of the highest wood fiber costs in the world, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Global sawlog prices close to five-year low because of weak lumber markets in the 2Q/09, reports Wood Resource QuarterlySeptember 29th, 2009 Prices for softwood lumber have fallen in most markets worldwide the past year, including in Europe, North America and Japan, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. The weak lumber markets have pushed sawlog prices close to a five-year low. Paul Krugman Speaks in Helsinki for the Decision Makers in Search of Finnish Competitiveness and Well-BeingSeptember 23rd, 2009 HELSINKI - Professor Paul Krugman was the keynote speaker at the first event in the Wellsprings of Finnish Vitality development programme which seeks solutions for the Finnish competitiveness and well-being in the future. Launched by Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, this programme seeks factors that can help Finland reinforce and renew its vitality. Introducing Vers Hand-Crafted Wood Cases for iPod and iPhone - Beautiful, Durable, very RenewableSeptember 15th, 2009 WAYLAND, Massachusetts -
- Vers compliments its successful line of hand-crafted wood sound systems with a unique line of solid wood cases
Vers extends its line of sustainably built sound systems with the introduction of a new line of hand-crafted wood cases for iPod and iPhone. Combining the natural beauty and strength of Walnut, Cherry and Bamboo, they are the most environmentally thoughtful cases available on the market. The British Music Experience Goes Kid Crazy for the Summer HolidaysJuly 22nd, 2009 LONDON - This Summer the British Music Experience, Britain's interactive museum of popular music, is dedicating itself to music fans of the younger generation. Not only will all kids go free* until 28th August, but there will be a host of music events tailored specifically for them within the exhibition: From learning to DJ, to being a pop stylist for the day, from African drumming, to learning the latest street dance moves. Local Government Pension Institution LGPI Licenses ALM Solution From Ortec FinanceJuly 2nd, 2009 ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands - LGPI, the pension institution for local governments in Finland, has signed an agreement with Ortec Finance to license its Asset Liability solution for pension plans Ortec Finance PALM. The ALM solution enables LGPI to formulate ALM strategies based on Ortec Finance state of the art scenario generation, asset and liability methodologies. Minority Directors of Rockwell Desperately Attempt to DistractJune 10th, 2009 TORONTO - Pala Investments Holdings Limited ("Pala") dismissed today's announcement by the Minority Directors relating to a highly conditional "financing" for Rockwell Diamonds Inc. ("Rockwell", TSX: RDI, JSE: RDI, OTCBB: RDIAF). Volga Resources Raises Stake in Novatek to 18.2%May 26th, 2009 LONDON - Volga Resources SICAV-SIF S.A ("Volga"), the Luxembourg-based investment fund, announces that it has agreed to purchase 13.13% of the issued share capital of OAO Novatek ("Novatek") from Cartagena Development Inc. which is indirectly controlled by Novatek`s management. Robot Learns Fundamental Mathematical and Physical Concepts by Experimentation and ObservationApril 19th, 2009 ST. AUGUSTIN, Germany - Researchers in the European research project XPERO have developed a machine learning method, which enables a small humanoid to learn rather fundamental mathematical concepts such as position and orientation in a coordinate system. The algorithm takes the robot's sensor data recorded while it moves through the surrounding world and creates a model, which allows the robot to predict how the objects in its vicinity will change their position relative to the robot when it moves. Finland Seeks Systemic Changes in Health CareMarch 25th, 2009 HELSINKI - The report entitled The Finnish Health Care System: A Value-Based
Perspective highlights new strategic perspectives on the development needs of
health care in Finland. The report utilizes Michael E.
Related News US beats Finland 3-2, will face Russia in semifinals at hockey worldsMay 8th, 2009 US beats Finland 3-2 at hockey worldsBERN, Switzerland — The United States scored three goals in a four-minute span to beat Finland 3-2 Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the hockey world championships. Dustin Brown, T.J. Finland calls for joint Nordic membership in G-20, more say in international affairsMay 14th, 2009 Finland calls for Nordic membership in G-20HELSINKI — The five Nordic countries should have more say in international affairs, including a joint seat in the Group of 20, Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said Thursday. Vanhanen said the Nordic region — Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland — deserves representation in the group of major economies "because our joint economic weight is quite significant on an international scale."
Sweden, Finland and Denmark are represented at G-20 summits by the European Union, while Iceland and Norway are not EU members. Finland demands more environmental details of planned Baltic gas pipelineJune 8th, 2009 Finland wants more details of Baltic gas pipelineHELSINKI — Finland says it needs more details of the environmental effects of a Baltic Sea gas pipeline planned between Russia and Germany before it can approve its construction. The Environment Ministry says it wants information about how the pipeline would affect fishing, toxic chemicals and unexploded ammunition on the seabed and nature reserves in Finnish territory. EU says Denmark, Ireland and Finland have highest prices for food, clothing and electronicsJuly 16th, 2009 Denmark, Ireland have EU's highest pricesBRUSSELS — Denmark, Ireland and Finland had the highest overall prices of all European Union nations for consumer goods such as food, clothing and electronics last year, the EU statistics agency said Thursday. Eurostat said widely different taxes on food, alcohol and tobacco across the bloc's 27 states account for a massive price gap where Ireland tops the table and Romania is cheapest. Yoga is HOT in Finland!August 22nd, 2009 Yoga seems to be becoming a rage in Finland. Various yoga centers-studios have reportedly popped up in cities across Finland and besides regular yoga classes; retreats, workshops, and even teacher training courses are held in Finland. Russia to deploy special Arctic force by 2020March 27th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russia will create by 2020 a group of forces to protect its interests in the Arctic but does not plan to militarise the region, a spokesman for the Russian Security Council said Friday. The spokesman further said the council had recently posted on its web site a document, 'The fundamentals of Russian state policy in the Arctic up to 2020 and beyond,' which outlines the country's strategy in the region, including the deployment of military, border and coastal guard units 'to guarantee Russia's military security in diverse military and political circumstances.'
'However, it does not mean that we are planning to militarise the Arctic. Finland to double troops in AfghanistanFebruary 24th, 2009 BRUSSELS - Finland is to double the number of its troops in the NATO-led force in Afghanistan to some 200 in time for elections Aug 20, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said Monday as his European Union (EU) colleagues discussed a police-training mission there. 'We will double our presence from about 100 to 200 for the elections, and in that sense I hope that we have responded to the requests (for more troops) that have come from the United States,' Stubb told journalists in Brussels. India, Australia sign $20.5 bn gas dealAugust 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's Petronet LNG has signed a $20.5-billion gas purchasing agreement with Australia's ExxonMobil, the first long-term gas contract between the two countries. According to the agreement, signed Aug 10 in Perth, ExxonMobil will sell around 1.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually from the Gorgon project in western Australia to Petoronet for 20 years. ND oil field burns off enough natural gas to heat homes in the state through 2 wintersAugust 20th, 2009 ND burns off natural gas due to lack of pipelinesBISMARCK, N.D. — Enough natural gas to heat every home in North Dakota through at least two brutal winters was burned off as an unmarketable byproduct in the state's oil patch in 2008, records obtained by The Associated Press show. Madonna 'wants sea, airspace around Finnish gig venue closed'March 12th, 2009 LONDON - Madonna has reportedly filed an application to "close the sea and airspace" near Helsinki, Finland, to block fans without tickets from having a peep of her concert. The Queen of Pop was allegedly eying Jatkasaari island as the probable venue to host a gig for 80,000 people, and subsequently made the application.
|
|
