As a global leader in sustainable development, Finland has ranked first for five consecutive years in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) implementation ranking. How has Finland achieved such results? Why does the country consider sustainability a core national value? On April 10, a Sino-Finnish education exchange event themed "Sharing the Future, Meeting Sustainability" was held at the Embassy of Finland in Beijing. In his opening remarks, Finnish Ambassador to China Mikko Kinnunen emphasized that sustainable development should go beyond being a slogan and must be genuinely embedded in daily practices within education, culture, arts, and sports.
Ambassador Kinnunen stressed that sustainability is deeply rooted in Finland's education system. The Finnish national curriculum treats sustainability as a core value, integrating it not as a standalone subject but deeply into the operations and teaching of all schools. He mentioned that the Finnish Innovation Fund (Sitra) develops teaching materials, toolkits, and projects for schools, engaging students in tasks related to recycling, the circular economy, and sustainable development to foster a sense of ownership.
Currently, Sitra has created circular economy teaching materials covering primary, secondary, and vocational schools. Collaborating with over 50 schools, universities, and institutions, more than 70,000 Finnish children participated in circular economy courses during the 2018-2019 period alone.
Finland also integrates equity and inclusion into its education system, using mixed-gender classes, personalized support, and free education to reduce socioeconomic disparities. Ambassador Kinnunen noted that national policies ensure all students have equal educational opportunities, with each school required to develop its own equality and inclusion plan.
In practice, inclusive education is a core principle of the Finnish system, aiming to educate all students, regardless of background, ability, or special needs, in mainstream classrooms. Finnish education law prohibits denying enrollment to students with disabilities unless they pose a danger to themselves or others. All schools are co-educational, with boys and girls learning together from basic education onward, providing equal development platforms. Education is free from preschool through higher education. At the basic education level, this includes not only tuition but also textbooks, learning materials, teaching tools, and a free hot meal each school day. Students with special needs receive additional support, such as free hearing aids. High school students also benefit from free tuition and learning devices like laptops.
Additionally, Finnish teachers receive systematic training to identify and address gender stereotypes and discrimination, encouraging students to choose any subject without gender restrictions. In 2025, the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture released an equality and non-discrimination plan for 2025-2027, helping educators recognize and counter bullying, harassment, and discrimination based on gender, appearance, worldview, sexual orientation, disability, and other personal characteristics. The plan includes eight specific measures covering teacher capacity building, reducing gender segregation, and developing teaching materials.
Finland is a geographically large country with a relatively small population. Over 75% of its land is forested, making it one of the most forest-covered nations globally and the most forested in Europe. "We develop a close connection with nature from a very young age," Ambassador Kinnunen stated in a dialogue, explaining that Finns are accustomed to spending time outdoors in forests, national parks, lakes, and the sea. Nature empowers people in various ways, forming the foundation of Finland's societal commitment to sustainability. As a Nordic country, Finland also faces tangible challenges from climate change, which it takes very seriously.
Finland has set ambitious climate goals. In 2019, five governing parties included the "carbon neutrality by 2035" target in the government program, aiming to fully offset carbon dioxide emissions through afforestation, renewable energy use, and carbon sink purchases. Four years later, Finland's new Climate Act came into effect, giving this target legal binding force.
When asked why Finland set its carbon neutrality target for 2035, Ambassador Kinnunen explained that the Finnish sustainability model is always nature-centered. "Finnish culture emphasizes respect for nature and establishes protecting nature as a shared societal responsibility. The behaviors and attitudes Finns develop from childhood can bring about real change." He also highlighted the importance of sharing global experiences, noting that since 2017, Sitra has organized the World Circular Economy Forum, bringing together global policymakers, experts, and practitioners annually to share cutting-edge circular economy solutions and explore how businesses can seize opportunities for both economic and environmental benefits. China has actively participated, hosting seminars, engaging in bilateral dialogues, and exploring cooperation opportunities.
Ambassador Kinnunen spoke highly of Sino-Finnish cooperation in sustainable development, emphasizing that "energy-related issues are one of the key areas of collaboration between China and Finland." This was discussed in depth during Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's visit to China earlier this year. According to the Joint Work Plan for Promoting the Future-Oriented New Partnership between China and Finland (2025-2029), low-carbon development and sustainable growth are listed as priority cooperation areas, covering energy transition, the circular economy, climate, and biodiversity. Both sides have identified climate change, carbon neutrality, and the circular economy as priorities for bilateral scientific and technological innovation cooperation.
In terms of specific cooperation, the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and China's National Energy Administration signed a memorandum of understanding in 2017, agreeing to collaborate on demonstration projects in energy storage, smart grids, and geothermal energy. Among the first Sino-Finnish energy cooperation demonstration projects, the Guangzhou Nansha multi-energy microgrid project has been completed and put into operation. Developed in collaboration between China Southern Power Grid's Guangzhou Power Supply Bureau and three Finnish companies, the project integrates cooling, heating, and power supply systems, serving as a benchmark for smart, low-carbon parks in the Greater Bay Area. It is the first successfully operational demonstration project in the energy sector between the two countries.
During Prime Minister Orpo's visit in January this year, the memorandum of understanding was renewed. Currently, three pilot bioenergy projects are underway, focusing on district heating, innovative carbon technologies, and nanotechnology applications. Ambassador Kinnunen believes that both Finland and China possess extensive technical expertise in sustainable energy and green transition, offering broad prospects for cooperation.