Peace and Sustainable Development Symposium

In August of 1721 the peace treaty of Uusikaupunki in Western Finland (in Swedish Nystad) ended the Great Northern War between Sweden and Russia. After decades of devastation and depopulation, peace offered the opportunity for enhancing human development which also called for a statistical evidence base. As a consequence, Finland has the world’s longest
series of annual demographic data at the national level starting in 1722.

In preparation for a planned highest-level political meeting between Sweden, Russia and Finland in 2021, this high level academic symposium is planned with participation of the academies of sciences of the three countries. With human wellbeing being a central element of both peace and sustainable development and the fact that systematic population statistics started around this historical peace treaty, the substantive focus of the symposium is on “Population, peace and wellbeing”.

The event is held under the leadership of former Finnish president Tarja Halonen and co-organized by the City of Uusikaupunki, Turku University and IIASA. The organizing team consists of Jaana Vasema (Uusikaupunki) and IIASA's World Population Program Director Wolfgang Lutz (scientific co-ordination) together with other Finnish experts.

The Finnish foreign minister Pekka Haavisto and the Finnish Ambassador to the UN Kai Sauer, as well as a number of highly distinguished scientists from Finland, Sweden and Russia have confirmed their participation.

From IIASA, World Population Program Director Sergei Scherbov will give a presentation entitled "A new look at on age, mortality, health and ageing in comparative perspective”, and IIASA Council Member and Alumna Lea Kauppi will participate at the event.

Event details:

Date: 8-9 August 2019

Location: Kulttuurikeskus Cruselli, Kullervontie 11, Uusikaupunki, Finland

Contact:

The presentations are free and open for all, who are interested in these themes.

For more information please visit the event website.

Last edited: 04 December 2019