"Since there will be fewer Finns of working age in the future than at present, it is necessary for public finances that more people have jobs. The employment rate, on the other hand, will not increase unless labor mobility improves. This requires a functioning housing market and transport connections, which means that people must be given the opportunity for a smooth everyday life", CEO Aleksi Randell sums up the main messages of Rakennusteollisuus RT for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Construction Industry RT published its goals for the next term of office at its fall meeting on November 7. The construction industry elevates sustainable urban, housing and transport policy to a key position in order to preserve the foundation of the Finnish welfare society.
Aleksi Randell wants to direct attention to the importance of growing urban areas as a source of vitality for the entire country. With tightness, productivity increases. Cities attract both companies and people and thus act as platforms for the development of know-how and innovation. They do not compete with each other or with the countryside, but against the metropolises of different countries.
Sustainable urbanization requires an overall vision and foresight
The sustainable growth of cities can best be promoted by developing land use, housing and transport connections in a more comprehensive and long-term way. Low-emission rail traffic must be invested in both intra-city and intercity traffic. These shorten travel times, expand working areas and thus reduce the pressure to concentrate.
Permanent rail connections create attractive locations that attract investments, increase the value of the land and accelerate the supply of land. The state must require significant additional zoning from the municipalities, so that there are enough lots available, especially along good transport links. According to various reports, a sufficient supply of land is the most effective way to curb housing price developments.
"Smart construction that reacts to the needs of its users more nimbly than before requires the full use of the latest digital tools, starting from zoning and permitting all the way to building maintenance. In speeding up the planning and construction process, the overall reform of the Land Use and Building Act also plays an important role," says Randell.
In order to develop transport connections, Finland must build a long-term strategic transport system plan.
"We need a fast two-track and four-lane core network as the backbone of travel and supply chains. In this way, industry is also guaranteed competitive transportation from raw material sources all the way to global markets, without which Finland cannot survive. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure adequate financing of the transport infrastructure by daring to try new types of financing as well," says Randell.
When reducing emissions, the whole must be considered
According to the Construction Industry, in reducing emissions in the built environment, the focus should be on low-emission movement and energy forms of heating energy, as well as the existing building stock and infrastructure and their efficient utilization.
"The impact of the built environment on the carbon footprint is considerable, so committing to the Paris climate agreement will inevitably place new demands on construction as well. It is essential to reduce the emissions during the entire life cycle of buildings", Olli Nikula says.
Olli Nikula is the CEO of Saint-Gobain Finland and will start as chairman of the board of Rakennusteollisuus RT at the beginning of 2019. He has participated in the formation of election goals in RT's board.
"In addition to the carbon footprint, all components of sustainable construction must be taken into account, such as long-term sustainability, health and safety, and life cycle costs. We have to take care of the natural environment, the built environment and the indoor environment of buildings as well," Nikula reminds.
"Promoting the circular economy also has the effect of reducing the carbon footprint. By removing obstacles that slow down the utilization of recycled materials, we can save natural resources."
Along with curbing climate change, the Construction Industry sees the preservation of biodiversity as an important and demanding challenge. It requires actions from political decision-makers and a new kind of cooperation between nature conservation and actors who use natural resources sustainably.
The built environment not only has the greatest emission reduction potential, it also greatly affects Finland's competitiveness and people's well-being and livelihood. It accounts for no less than three quarters of our national wealth. The real estate and construction sector directly or indirectly employs one in five Finns.
Rakennusteollisuus.fi/valit page you can find the government program objectives in their entirety and related materials:
For more information:
- Aleksi Randell, CEO, tel. 0400 500 822
- Olli Nikula, chairman of the board (2019–2020), tel. 040 844 7194
- Merja Vuoripuro, director of communications, tel. 040 587 2642