The European Commission published its proposal for an EU raw materials initiative (Critical Raw Materials Act, CRMA) in March 2023. The proposal contains plans to open new mines in Europe and to utilize minerals found in the waste materials of closed mines. Permitting procedures for new mines are additionally proposed to be shortened, and mining companies will be required to report their environmental footprints to the EU. The European Parliament approved the Act last September. To scrutinize the proposed Act, along with its implications to mining practices and our planetary boundaries, we held a seminar series with invited experts during autumn 2023.

The seminar series revolved around crucial questions that are expected to fundamentally shape our future: do we have enough minerals in the world for a green transition? What will be the environmental impact of increasing the number of mines? Is circular economy the solution, or should we reduce our consumption?

Europe depends on imported critical raw materials for its green transition

The autumn seminars were kicked off with a thoroughly informative presentation by Henna Virkkunen, Member of The European Parliament (MEP), working on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). MEP Virkkunen laid out the facts: the EU is currently dependent on China when it comes to critical raw materials. While Europeans consume around 20% of the world’s critical raw materials, only approximately 2% are produced in Europe. The proposed Act supports the plan to shift this balance towards a more self-sufficient and supply-secure future. The audience raised concerns about environmental safety and environmental degradation due to the increasing volume of mining, especially considering the simplified permitting process for critical raw material projects.

Tackling biodiversity loss while increasing mining is a conundrum

Transitioning from a fossil fuel-based economy is argued to be dependent on mining more (critical) raw materials. But how to do it sustainably with minimal environmental damage, and how well are natural values considered in the short and long term when decisions are made regarding new mines? The Chairman of the Finnish Nature Panel Professor Janne Kotiaho, from the University of Jyväskylä, and environmental activist Riikka Karppinen from Sodankylä further reflected on these questions.

Professor Kotiaho’s message was grimly realistic: biodiversity loss continues at an accelerated rate in both Europe and Finland, and we are all responsible for it. He argued that at the current state of affairs, to truly halt biodiversity and nature loss, we need to implement restorative, nature-positive solutions instead of solutions based on the principle of no net loss. Karppinen expressed shock and discontent regarding the aims to facilitate the opening of new mines in currently protected areas in the name of a green transition. Karppinen has frequently spoken out against a global mining company that is planning on opening a new nickel mine near her home in an area protected by Finnish law and the EU Natura framework. During her presentation, she kindly shared her experiences regarding the residents’ struggles.

The critical raw materials are not renewable

The green transition’s burden on the natural environment may indeed be enormous. But do we have enough materials to fully shift to renewables, or are we about to reach the limits of the planet’s boundaries? Research Professor Simon Michaux, from the Finnish Geological Survey, provided astounding figures on the amounts of minerals actually required for the green transition. According to his estimates, at current energy use rates, we simply do not have enough minerals in the world to fully shift to renewables, and in fact, minerals are “the new oil”. Professor Michaux’s presentation left us thinking: if we do not have enough materials in the world to substitute fossil fuels with renewables, are our current consumption patterns simply doomed?

To better understand how the new Critical Raw Materials Act may look like in Finland, we listened to a presentation by Jarkko Vesa, Special Advisor at the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. He provided a thorough overview on how the implementation process began. As the Director of Sustainable Development of the mining company Terrafame, Veli-Matti Hilla further underscored: it is clear that mining has received a substantial boost from the EU institutes.

A mix of solutions is needed for a sustainable future

Director Lasse Miettinen from Sitra gave the closing presentation to our seminar series, and it ended on a rather optimistic note. He argued – in line with most of our presenters, along with our own concerns – that we are currently exceeding the limits of our planet. To imagine a more sustainable future, we need to learn to think about ecosystems in a more nuanced and interconnected way. The climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and natural resource depletion cannot be solved separately. Both biotic and abiotic resources are part of nature and managing them should be reframed accordingly. Director Miettinen argued that transitioning to a circular economy is a crucial part and precondition of the solution to our multiple crises. To reduce supply risks and ensure positive environmental outcomes, we need circular solutions, diversified supplies, and more local production beside aiming for sustainable lifestyles and biodiversity offsets. He encouraged us to think that building a more sustainable future is indeed possible.

Professor of Practice in Environmental Responsibility and Chair of the seminar series, Hannele Pokka further noted that while observing how mining in Finland has developed over the years, ordinary people tend to support mining but under no circumstances do they want a mine near their homes. Finland is an old mining country, and minerals have been extracted from the land for hundreds of years. Public opinion in Finland has taken a more critical stance on mining in recent years, which has been reinforced by the Talvivaara mine environmental disaster. It has been difficult for new mining projects to gain social acceptance, and several mining projects, especially in Northern Finland are pending. If mining companies want to seek approval for their projects, mining should be reformed to incorporate a more comprehensive notion of sustainability, including new approaches and technological solutions in water management.

The seminar series, above all, taught us that what used to be possible in mining is not so any longer, and we need drastic changes to remain within our planetary boundaries.

Seminar recordings and further reading materials are available via the links embedded in the text.

Source: Mirage News

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The new government will safeguard the welfare society, ensure adequate services for all, and promote the balanced development of the national economy, said the government’s press release on Friday.

It will make adjustments to taxation, lowering personal income tax and increasing value-added tax on items such as pharmaceuticals, sports services, film screenings, etc, it said.

Regarding immigration, the government plans to significantly lower the refugee quota and raise the threshold for permanent residence permits, including requirements related to continuous residency and language proficiency.

The coalition government consists of the conservative National Coalition Party, the right-wing Finns Party, the Finnish Christian Democrats, and the Swedish People’s Party.

According to the cabinet position allocation plan, the new government will consist of a Prime Minister and 18 ministers, the same as the current one. 

The post Finland’s New Government Unveils Policy Program appeared first on Policy Print.

Two politicians in Finland have come up with an innovative way to get their message out to potential voters ahead of the April 2 general election.

Johan Kvarnström and Coel Thomas have both released rap videos, where they set out their policy platforms and try to engage with potential new voters.

Kvarnström is a freshman Member of Parliament from the Social Democrat Party, and represents a constituency on the southwest coast of Finland, with a large Swedish-speaking population.

Performing as his rap alter ego Qruu, he spits rhymes on his track “The Struggle Goes On” about the Nordic nation’s carbon neutral goals; extending compulsory education to age 18; the cradle to grave welfare state; equality; support for Ukraine, and “stopping Putin’s missiles”.

The video shows the politician-turned-rapper on the steps of parliament, and on a train as he commutes from his home town to the capital, Helsinki.

Just before local singer Cstar croons “you are the change you want to see” in the chorus, Qruu invokes the star power of his party’s leader in a mic drop moment:

“My party is said to be old fashioned, but we have Sanna Marin, what do you have?”

“My campaign manager” — singer Cstar — “has a background in music and we knew each other for a long time but never collaborated before,” Kvarnström told Euronews.

“He used to be a rapper back in the day but now he’s more into soul and reggae, and I used to rap for fun as well. He was pushing me that we should do something together, it’s a strength we have and a card we should play.”

The track has already generated positive responses, including from a group of senior citizens at a retirement home he visited who knew some of the lyrics. And when Sanna Marin shared the clip on her own social media channels, Kvarnström saw a surge in viewers.

“It’s a fresh way to come out, something different. I don’t see too many likes on Facebook but my daughter came from her dance lesson and said that people were saying ‘your dad’s video is good, say hello to him’.”

“I also have it on Instagram. I know I should also put it on TikTok but I’m not really sure, because of the Chinese government control.”

The rap also takes a look at the toll being a politician can take on candidates — including time spent away from their families, or being on the receiving end of social media trolls, conspiracy theories and hate mail.

“Traditionally rap music is the underdog perspective, and my campaign still has an element of the underdog in it. But I’m still me.

“We all have our struggles, and when we recorded it was important that my pain was present,” said Kvarnström, who describes himself in his rap as “the hip-hop patriot.”

In Helsinki, Green League candidate Coel Thomas doesn’t actually rap on his track: he leaves that to long-time friend and collaborator Calum Barrett.

Their “Nova Finlandia” finds inspiration in the bassline and words of Jean Sibelius’ Finlandia anthem, set to a UK drill beat, and with the video shot on top of Helsinki’s tallest residential building.

“We covered 10 subjects in about 90 seconds, and there were some things we ended up talking about less than we wanted to,” Thomas told Euronews.

“It wasn’t so difficult fitting political policies into a rhyming scheme,” adds Barrett, “it was more about fitting the rhyming scheme into our time limit, we could only spare about two lines per topic.”

The duo cover environmental issues; building a tunnel from Helsinki under the Baltic Sea to the Estonian capital Tallinn; nuclear energy; wind, solar and geothermal power; investing in education, and getting young people to be more active.

Source : Saudi Gazette

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