“Thanks for bringing us to the future! The EU Bioeconomy Strategy should be following what Finland and Sweden already do” - The Forest Academy makes an impact to EU Decision Making

Press Release, 23.11.2018 Forest Academy for EU Decision Makers, Finland

“Thanks for bringing us to the future! This was a really future-oriented visit,” assessed Robert Schröder,Member of the Commissioner Carlos Moedas’ Cabinet.

According to Schröder, the first Forest Academy for EU Decision Makers was a real eye-opener, highlighting the need for an interdisciplinary approach and broad cooperation between industrial, agricultural, economical and environmental actors and perspectives.

“We are working from our desks in Brussels, so this was a great opportunity to see how things work in practice. The Bioeconomy Strategy of the EU must reinforce what we have now seen: Finland and Sweden are frontrunners. The strategy should be following what Finland and Sweden already seem to do”, told Schröder in the conclusive discussion of the Academy.

The analysis of Schröder was strongly supported by other key influencers.

“The last couple of days have certainly educated me a lot. Among the many great presentations, we learned for example that the cement industry emits four times as much carbon dioxide as air traffic does, which really makes you think about constructing with wood”, described Tom Tynan, serving in the cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan.

“A really important message was that everything now made of fossil materials can soon be made of biomaterials from trees. Another message to be taken to policymaking is that the harvest must always be below the growth”, summarized Tynan his key take-aways.

“Spread the knowledge!”

Nathalie De Basaldúa, the Deputy Head of Cabinet of Vice President Jyrki Katainen, agreed with Schröder and Tynan and had an important addition to make.

“The knowledge of Finland and Sweden needs to spread to the EU. However, please broaden the Academy from the institutions to the people from the Member States, since so many things rely on the competence of states”, underlined De Basaldúa in her thanks to the organizers.

Broader communication of the huge potential of forests was called for also by Kristian Hedberg, Deputy Head of Cabinet of Elżbieta Bieńkowska.

“We got really valuable takeouts to our policy work. I come from these parts myself, but I still go back to Brussels with new understanding of what the future might hold. One important thing I think we should add to the list is raising the awareness of people. Many of the impressive visions we’ve heard have to be driven by customer demand”, reminded Hedberg in his closing remarks.

“Turbo-injection of information”

Many important observations of the discussed topics were brought to the table among voluble thanks to the organizers. The participants were really taken to forests and forestry, touching new products concretely and talking directly to the best experts Finland and Sweden can offer.

“This was really a turbo-injection of information. As a financial expert, I can see how with improved practical definitions of sustainability also finance will actually contribute to benefit the environment. The knowledge of the Nordic Countries needs to be taken into account in the decision making”, crystallized Eila Kreivi, Director at the European Investment Bank.

A notable MEP, Paul Brannen found a major possibility especially in construction.

“There are big wins to be made with building more with engineered wood. And do it quickly! That would be a good direction to be heading. Speaking for sustainable use of forests both preserving and utilizing is a highly winnable campaign”, argued Brannen, adding his thanks for the hospitality and high quality of the Academy.

The Forest Academy for EU Decision Makers isorganized by the Finnish Forest Association and Swedish Forest Agency, on the basis of the extremely successful Finnish Forest Academy for Decision Makers. The Academy, working with the patronage of the Finnish Prime Minister, has educated 1500 top Finnish Decision Makers to better understand the potential and status of forests and forestry. The next Forest Academy for EU Decision Makers will be organized with the lead of the Swedish Forest Agency.

www.forestacademy.fi

Additional information:

Elina Antila, Director, Forest Academy for Decision Makers, Finnish Forest Association, +358 50 351 2411, elina.antila@smy.fi