Finland and the rest of Scandinavia have been at the forefront of innovative environmental policies for decades. What motivates this engagement? How does Finland, in particular, balance the demands of economic well-being and environmental resilience?

Ville Niinistö is a member of the Finnish parliament, a member of the city council of Turku, a former chairperson of the Green League (Vihreä liitto), and former minister of the environment in Finland (2011–14). Before being elected to the parliament in 2007, Niinistö worked as a doctoral student in political history with a specialty in Finnish foreign policy at the University of Turku in Finland. He received a master’s degree in political science from the University of Turku.

Co-sponsored by Scandinavian Studies.