In this public event, the authors of the OECD Economic Survey of Finland 2025 will present the report’s key findings, with a special focus on the Finnish Arctic. The event includes an overview of Finland’s recent performance in international comparison, recommendations for achieving net zero, and a panel of experts followed by a general discussion.
The OECD, an international organisation based in Paris with 38 member countries, publishes Economic Surveys around every two years assessing a country’s economic, social and environmental development in international comparison. The Surveys provide policy recommendations based on international best practice to improve a country’s performance in these domains. The OECD Economic Survey of Finland 2025 examines how to raise productivity and living standards by increasing the share of the workforce that is highly skilled. It takes an in-depth look at how to realise Finland’s huge potential in the transition to net zero emissions.
The report has a special focus on the Finnish Arctic, where much of the transition potential lies. However, sustainably realising this potential requires balancing vast renewable electricity generation and industrial project needs with a diverse range of alternative land-uses from nature protection to defence, farming, forestry, mining, reindeer herding and tourism.
In this public event, two of the authors of the OECD Economic Survey, David Haugh and Vincent Koen, will provide as context a brief overview of Finland’s recent overall performance in international comparison. They will then present the report’s main findings and recommendations for achieving net zero, while highlighting the challenges in the Arctic associated with balancing such a diverse range of stakeholder and right-holder interests in the transition. A panel of experts will then provide their take on these issues, followed by a general discussion.
Public Event: The Arctic Will Echo Your Call – An OECD Perspective Based on the 2025 Economic Survey of Finland
May 26, 2025, 13:00–15:00 Polarium Hall, Arktikum House, Rovaniemi
Moderator: Miia Kärnä
Programme
13:00–13:15 COFFEE OUTSIDE POLARIUM HALL
13:15–13:30 WELCOMING WORDS
Tanja Joona University Researcher, Docent, PI of REBOUND
13:30–14:00 OECD’s Economic Survey of Finland 2025
David Haugh Senior Economist, OECD Economics Department
Vincent Koen Country Studies Division Chief, OECD Economics Department
14:00–14:30 EXPERT COMMENTS
Researcher Henri Wallén Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
Senior Adviser Sanna Hast Reindeer Herders’ Association
Executive Director Annakaisa Heikkonen Forest Management Association “Mhy Metsä-Lappi”
CEO Liisa Ansala President of Lapland Chamber of Commerce
Development Director Päivi Ekdahl Regional Council of Lapland
14:30–14:35 COMMENTS
David Haugh Senior Economist, OECD Economics Department
Vincent Koen Country Studies Division Chief, OECD Economics Department
14:35–14:50 GENERAL Q&A
14:50–15:00 CLOSING WORDS
Tanja Joona University Researcher, Docent, PI of REBOUND
More information
Miia Kärnä, Arctic Centre
+358 40 485 3046
miia.karna@ulapland.fi
Tanja Joona, Arctic Centre
+358 40 484 4283
tanja.joona@ulapland.fi