Fire and fuels: CO2 and SO2 emissions in the Finnish economy, 1800-2005

Fire and Fuels: CO2 and SO2 Emissions in the Finnish Economy, 1800–2005 This article provides a summary of my Doctoral thesis, the subject of which was Finland's transition from a wood based energy system to a fossil fuel based one, and the environmental consequences of this transition. The period under examination was from the beginning of the 19th century to the present, covering Finland’s transition from a proto-industrial agricultural society to a “post-industrial” society. Along the way, I show how historical methods can be used to test economic theory, adding two new explanations for the existence of an Environmental Kuznets curve; and the usefulness of quantitative methods in historical research, showing that burning cultivation of peatlands was by far the greatest source of carbon dioxide in Finland in the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Finally, I argue that proper environmental standards and conservation comprise a necessary condition for economic growth in the long run