Rautajoki stresses sustainable business growth

Lapland Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Timo Rautajoki in a recent interview with the Daily Finland emphasised developing responsible and sustainable businesses in Lapland.

He was talking about the special report issued on October 8 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The key focus of the report is on the importance of achieving the lower of the two targets adopted by the Paris climate agreement in 2015, i.e., to arrest the global warming at 1.5°C instead of 2°C or below by 2050.

“The 1.5°C warming target is a big challenge,” remarked Rautajoki, “but I am sure we are going to make it. Technology is developing, people are developing. Everybody believes in global warming, we had a very hot summer this year; so people want to struggle against global warming. Limiting the warming speed to 1.5°C is possible. For the past four to five months I have become more ‘green’ in my presentations and people are really surprised. I say there is no way to go back, we will need to solve this problem, and it’s possible.”

Referring to the booming tourism sector in Lapland, he said nowadays it is vital for tourism companies to pay attention to global problems and make an effort to be sustainable. “It is an important matter for us. We are trying to develop responsible and sustainable businesses in Lapland. We are aware of how serious the situation is. Something must be done, and we are ready to participate in creating some kind of a decision.”

“The IPCC report says it’s possible to do and I am sure that it is possible. Sustainable tourism is something possible for us to do. Of course we must put some speed to the companies, because competitors like Tromsø in Norway have already announced that they don’t use plastic anymore. We should do the same,” said Rautajoki.

Like any other issue, he said, global warming too has two sides to it. In his words, “There are always positive sides that no one wants to talk about. For example, forests are growing faster. That gives the possibilities for us to increase the growth of new kind of forest industry. We have a project in Kemi by Metsä Group of producing fibre that can be used for manufacturing clothes. It offers a new spin to the industry and innovations that are possible in Finland. They already have this new kind of mills in Äänekoski that has proved a great success.”

The chamber leader also discussed a number of aspects of businesses in Lapland and Rovaniemi, sustainable transportation, and the upcoming Arctic Business Forum (ABF) scheduled for May 9-10 in Rovaniemi.

About sustainable transportation, he said, “The big question is sustainable flying. We should have the possibility to organise sustainable logistics. Flight connection is the only way that tourists have to come here, because it’s almost impossible to come by train. We have seen it during every Christmas that trains are fully booked, because railway coverage in Finland is very small compared to the neighbouring countries. We have a lot of opportunities to use railways and that is much more sustainable. It concerns not only tourists but also cargo, with using trains instead of big trucks. That should be done not by increasing taxation, but by encouraging companies and entrepreneurs to use new technology.”

There is a big debate going on right now about the new city plan of Rovaniemi that has the potential of bringing changes to the city centre. The Rovaniemi market place (Kauppatori) might be transferred to the Lordi’s square which would also witness a higher level of constructions, including taller buildings. Dwelling on the matter, Rautajoki said, “Kauppatori is a cold and lonely place. It is a number one big problem in Rovaniemi, the second one being the railway station. In every city the railway station is in the centre of the city, but this one is far away. I think it’s a great idea to bring more life to this place. There is also a big unused place when we go down the hill next to the river – there is nothing. In all other cities there are cafes and restaurants along the river, which I think is good. We had the international market place here, so it could be continued, why not? It’s good for business. I think the big problem is that Rovakatu is going south, so the city centre is on Lordi’s square and 50 metres from Sampokeskus to that direction. If we could continue the market place along the street, it could also make the city centre bigger. I think it’s good. We also absolutely need more hotels. I like the idea of the tall tower hotel. I like Manhattan and tall buildings, glass and steel buildings of around 20 floors would be nice.”

Finally, Rautajoki shared the chamber’s plans for the upcoming Arctic Business Forum 2019, “We’re making it a little bit different, much better and maybe bigger. It will be organised in Rovaniemi in May, the day after the Ministerial Meeting of Arctic Council. It will take place from May 9 to May 10 in the hotel Santa Claus. There is a possibility to have good speakers from the Arctic Council, maybe also foreign ministers, but I don’t know for sure yet.”