The use of natural resources has increased in Finland, and there is pressure to use even more of them in the future. Increasing use of natural resources also increases the risk of harmful environmental impacts. This applies to both renewable and non-renewable natural resources. Finland has a substantial supply of natural resources, such as vast expanses of forest and ample opportunities for mining.
Making use of natural resources is a huge opportunity for Finland, but taking advantage of this opportunity requires that natural resources are used in an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable manner. Among issues that need to be examined are emissions, effects on climate, economic value added and impacts on employment and regional economy. Reliable evaluation and monitoring of impacts requires investment in research and development.