Part I of the Government Report on the Future explores alternative paths of development, how they will impact Finland and how to prepare for them

Part I of the Government Report on the Future explores alternative paths of development, how they will impact Finland and how to prepare for them

Growing uncertainty about the future means it is important to identify alternative paths of development in the operating environment in order to support preparedness. The Government Report on the Future responds to this need. Part I of the Government Report on the Future was submitted to Parliament on Thursday 18 September.

The first part of the report is a broad-based scenario process that looks 20 years ahead and discusses how different paths of development will affect Finland and how to prepare for them. Uncertainty about the future is caused by a variety of factors, including tensions and strategic competition between great powers, risks related to the global economy, global warming and technological development.

Constant changes in the operating environment highlight the need for measures that support Finland's future preparedness in all global situations. From the Government's perspective, it is essential to ensure economic flexibility, security and strong education and skills. All of these help to build a sustainable and resilient society, giving Finland the ability to respond to the challenges and risks in the scenarios and to succeed regardless of what challenges the future may bring.

Towards more anticipatory governance

Each electoral term, the Government submits to Parliament a two-part Report on the Future, which aims to identify issues that will be important for decision-making and require particular attention in the future. The first part is drawn up in line with Parliament's resolutions through interministerial collaboration, as part of the ministries' official duties and is designed to support strategic policy preparation and decision-making across the Government. The second part of the report focuses on a key theme selected by the Government at a later date.

The first part of the report discusses the following themes:

• overview of the strategic environment: 26 geopolitical, economic, social, technological, environmental and legislative drivers of change affecting Finland's future
• uncertainties related to the development of the operating environment: 14 critical uncertainties and their alternative trajectories up to 2045
• scenarios creating systemic overviews for the year 2045 and the trajectories leading up to them: World of Cooperation, World of Tech Giants, World of Blocs and Crumbling World
• scenario-specific impacts (risks/threats and opportunities) identified by all ministries, along with preparedness measures, and
• actions to develop Finland's readiness for the future, regardless of scenario.

The analysis of the operating environment for Part I of the Report on the Future was published in November 2024.

Wild cards and dialogues complement foresight work

The report contains a series of wild cards - relatively unlikely but significant paths of development, all of which would have more or less direct impacts on Finland.

As part of the preparations for the report, the Government also organised 40 dialogues on Finland's future. Participants in the dialogues perceived societal resilience to rest on shared values, empathy and cooperation. The dialogues support the Government Programme's objectives of strengthening democracy, participation and trust in society and promoting the participation of children and young people.

Inquiries: Jaana Tapanainen-Thiess, Chief Specialist, Secretary General, Government Report on the Future, tel. +358 295 160 593, Prime Minister's Office.

The email addresses of the Finnish Government are in the format [email protected]