227/08 Social challanges s the basis for foresight - Gaia

market uptake. Those are important especially in
rural areas. Novel, inexpensive small-scale solutions
would fit well for export market.
Public transport services need to be developed to
better meet the consumers’ and society’s needs.
Better services increase the attractiveness of public
transport also.
There are, however, some barriers foreseen,
which might hinder or slow down the progress.
Carbon free energy production by nuclear power
might hinder the development and implementation
of new renewable energy solutions. Development
of renewable energy applications which
turn out to produce excess amounts of CO 2
through the life-cycle and use heavily natural resources
present a barrier also.
5.5 Conclusions and
recommendations
The roadmap presented in chapter 5.4 describes
well the future steps forward identifying the key
drivers, the central solutions how to reach the target
and the pre-requisites i.e. skills, practices and
changes needed to accommodate the solutions.
The proposed vision lies strongly on developing
and improving education and training on energy
and material efficiency comprehensively on all
levels, from primary education to continuing
training of professionals. In addition to education
research has strong foothold as well. Major
change in consumption behaviour and attitudes is
necessary and those can be achieved with the education
but also active information dissemination
and advice, demonstrating good examples and
economical benefits.
In order to bring the novel energy and material efficient
products and services to the market, strong
economical support and demonstration projects
are necessary. Policy makers and decision makers
must have strategic will and be committed to support
regulation with economic incentives towards
sustainable development.
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Strengths and opportunities of
Finnish industry
Finland can best achieve the goals to develop new
industrial products and services for global market
by relying on the strengths today’s Finland has.
The basis lies on the industries, services and expertise
which are Finland’s strongest export products
today. The background is solid due to the
long experience of long-term energy efficiency
planning in several sectors.
Information and Communications
Technology ICT
Some of Finland’s best known export companies
operate in ICT sector. The ICT provides opportunities
for other sectors’ development and new
products in future. Easy communication, teleworking,
internet solutions and services accommodate
opportunities for new service products
and applications for Finnish companies on global
market.
Material and energy efficient products
and services
Finland is already one of the leading countries in
development of energy efficient services, e.g. energy
audit methodology. That expertise will be in
higher demand globally and facilitate also development
of new service products around that expertise.
Integrating material efficiency into energy
efficiency the services and products have
better competence on the global market.
Finland has developed a high competence in material
and energy efficiency. This expertise and
competence are Finland’s future export products.
Capacity building in energy and material efficiency
is in great demand in economies in transition
and developing countries.
Low-energy building applications and
services
Finnish construction industry has developed energy
efficient applications and solutions in the
building sector. Intelligent buildings are on the