SYKE supporting the sustainabilitity transition in Finland
In 2016-2019, interest in the environment, sustainable development and the necessary system-level transitions has grown and has also been reflected in the national and international debate. The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has further drawn attention to these approaches.
SYKE has been a key player in evaluating and supporting sustainability transition in Finland, feeding research-based information and expertise to discussions and decision-making. SYKE's information has been used in local, regional, national and international cooperation and decision-making. In 2018-2019, SYKE conducted an evaluation of Finland’s sustainable development policy, which fed into the new Government Programme. The evaluation received an award for its integrated and inclusive evaluation approach from the Fnnish Evaluation Association last year. SYKE has also supported citizens' sustainable activities and choices.
SYKE's role has also grown significantly at the global level, as its information has been utilized, for example, in the UN's Sustainability Assessment Work and the further development work of Agenda2030. SYKE's understanding of the effects of black carbon in the Arctic has also been utilized in discussions between the leaders of the great powers on climate change mitigation.
During Finland's last parliamentary elections, almost all parties turned to SYKE researchers to strengthen their knowledge base related to the environment. During the Government's negotiations and the preparation of the Government Program, SYKE's representatives were present in several roundtable discussions to give the drafters of the Government program their views on what solutions can be used to promote the sustainable development of society. SYKE's expertise is also constantly used in parliamentary work, when SYKE's management and researchers visit there to consult with MPs for legislative work.
Public visibility in traditional media and social media is also active and daily. For a few years now, SYKE has been publishing Policy Briefs, which have reached decision-makers for various actors in society. Indeed, the Policy Briefs have received a lot of positive feedback and have been perceived as a useful guide. SYKE's societal debate has been particularly central and active in areas such as climate change and the circular economy, the use of forest biomass, the interrelationship between forest carbon and climate change, biodiversity and Red listing assessments, habitat and health and wellbeing connections, the Baltic Sea and the algal situation, land use as well as impacts of pharmaceuticals on the environment.
SYKE seeks to promote sustainability and generate impact at all levels, from scientific impact to operational decisions by public administration, municipalities, companies and citizens. SYKE does this in a strategic fashion, bridging different activities, project types, forums and audiences.
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