Land use - Outlook 2020 (Finland)

In a report[1] produced by the Ministry of the Environment, views on the long-term development of land use and spatial structure in Finland are presented. In future, especially globalisation and economic development based on know-how, but increasingly also the ageing of the population and climate change will have an impact on the location of functions and activities. Since decisions on land use and spatial structure have long-term effects, they should be given a sustainable direction so as to support competitiveness, ecological sustainability and the well-being of the citizens.

For Finland to be successful in the global economy, the spatial structures should be linked to developments in Europe and adjacent areas. Advantage should be taken of the opportunities offered by the Baltic Sea, and the emergence of cross-border development zones should be promoted. A polycentric spatial structure will support the strengths of each region and the utilisation of advantages in location and existing structures. Improved accessibility requires inputs, but these should be environmentally safe. Finnish regions have a particular strength in their varied environments, which provide an excellent framework for high-quality living environments, more extensive tourism, and the utilisation of natural resources.