How is Finland going to do this?

There is international angst and hand-wringing about cutting carbon emissions. Both the developed countries (U.S., Canada, EU, Australia) and developing go-go-go economies (China, India) say that it's just too hard to cut emissions and keep their economies either a) going or b) growing.

Meanwhile, Finland says that it's going to cut it's emissions 80% (yes, 80 Percent) from its 1990 levels by 2050.

This is what they say: Finland says aims to cut emissions 80 pct by 2050

The report set out scenarios showing that emissions would be curbed by boosting energy efficiency in all sectors, increasing the use of low-carbon technology and renewable energy, and through carbon capture storage (CCS) and nuclear power.

There's got to be more than just that statement. How are they going to do this?

Energy efficiency is a big factor, I bet. There has been a lot written (and seemingly much ignored in the U.S.) about how a serious commitment to efficiency improvements would make major strides toward curbing our excessive emissions.

There is more to it than that. Link below is to a PDF:

FINLAND -- Energy Mix Fact Sheet

They got 23% of their energy from renewables and 16% of their energy from nuclear (in 2004). Renewables mainly means hydropower.

So if you increase the amount of energy that renewables and nuclear give you, implement carbon sequestration (it's in their plan) and use energy efficiency to cut the amount of oil you need, they think it's possible. The problem with elsewhere is that renewables have to be something other than hydropower. I.e., more nuclear, maybe more solar, and maybe biofuels.

But at least the Finns are trying. It'd be cool if the other countries stopped whining and started trying.