Finland's place at the top of the environmental ranking is particularly due to its strength in the following keys areas of environmental protection, namely success in minimising air and water pollution, high institutional capacity to handle environmental problems and comparatively low levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Also wide-ranging and detailed environmental data and high levels of technological skill together with highly effective environmental administration and legislation, and the ways environmental protection is considered in all sectors of society form the basis of Finland's effective environmental protection policies. As one of the world's wealthiest industrialised countries Finland is also able to afford vital environmental investments. Finland's low population density and comparatively unspoilt natural environment also facilitate nature conservation.
The fruits of successful environmental policies are clearly visible around the country. Many polluted lakes and rivers have been cleaned up. Air quality has improved greatly around industrial locations. An extensive network of protected areas has been built up to safeguard biodiversity. Forests – Finland's most valuable natural resources – are managed more sensitively than in the past, and the overall annual growth rate clearly exceeds the total timber harvest.
Emissions from large industrial facilities have particularly been curbed significantly. There has also been progress in controlling emissions from agriculture, transport and homes, although these trends have not been as favourable as for industry.
Read more on the environmental protection in Finland.
The Finns and their economy consume a lot of energy yet they do not have indigenous oil, coal and natural gas resources. As a result, they learnt about the importance and benefit of energy efficiency quicker than most other countries.
In cold northern countries, buildings are heated for the best part of the year. The convection stove made its way into Finnish households a couple of hundred years ago and this is much more effective than an Anglo-Saxon open fireplace, which allows most of the heat to escape through the chimney. Double-glazed windows have been the norm in Finland for over a century, and triple glazing is increasingly common.
Finnish energy production is, characterised by advanced joint production of electricity and heat, and the high contribution of bioenergy to electricity production. Owing to the joint production of electricity and heat, the energy content of the fuel is extremely well utilised in Finland.
A little over a third of all electricity generated is connected to the production of district heat and industrial process heat, one of the highest rates in the world. The share of bioenergy feedstock in electricity production - approximately 12% - is the highest of all industrialised countries.
Updated 3/26/2008