Finnish philosophers challenge climate myths that refuse to die

Environmental philosophers Tere Vadén and Ville Lähde say several misconceptions about climate change and the environment persist despite being disproved. Yle joined them on a tour of five places in Helsinki to examine the claims.

Vadén and Lähde are researchers and philosophy PhDs who have focused on environmental issues throughout the 2000s. They founded BIOS, an independent, multidisciplinary research unit established in 2015 that studies the economics and politics of the environment and resources. Their book, 12 Concepts of the World, published in the spring, sums up BIOS’s work to understand the environmental crisis.

Before setting off, they described one idea to keep in mind: society starts from an inherited situation, not a clean slate. Past actions, habits, structures and policies shape how people think and behave, and large changes take time.

“One central burden is that we still live in a society dominated by fossil fuels,” Lähde said.

Myth one: Finnish actions do not matter because China emits so much

At Helsinki’s Market Square, where the Baltic Sea opens up beyond the stalls and piers, the philosophers addressed the claim that Finland’s actions are insignificant compared with China’s emissions.

It is understandable to worry that climate action will fail if China does not do its part, Lähde said, or that efforts become harder when the United States moves in the wrong direction. But China’s emissions cannot be used to argue that Finland’s actions do not matter.

Climate action is a large undertaking in which everyone’s efforts count, the researchers said. Each contribution can seem insignificant when the task is divided into small pieces, but every piece matters.

They said China produces most of the world’s solar panels, wind turbines, electric cars and batteries. Last year, it installed as much wind and solar power as the rest of the world combined. This year, for the first time, coal accounted for less than half of the energy China needed. The country’s large emissions are no longer rising and are beginning to decline, they said.

China’s shift is not only about tackling climate change or reducing air pollution at home. The country also has little oil, Vadén said, and is pursuing renewable energy to achieve energy self-sufficiency.

Finland also has a significant responsibility for the health of the Baltic Sea. About 90 million people live in its catchment area, and Finns make up six per cent of that population. Yet Finland accounts for about 10 per cent of nitrogen and phosphorus emissions into the sea, close to twice its population share.

Agriculture and forestry are the main sources of pollution, the researchers said. Both are deeply embedded in Finland’s regional economy and security of supply. “Finnish actions really do matter a great deal here,” Lähde said.

Myth two: Curbing consumption means living standards will fall or collapse

The next stop was the Vuosaari power plant in eastern Helsinki. The facility, which was nominated for the Architecture Finlandia Prize in 2025, produces about a quarter of the city’s district heating.

“This is what you cannot see from Senate Square or Market Square,” Lähde said. Power plants, pipelines and ports on the outskirts keep the city centre running. “This is the engine room, where you can see society’s metabolism.”