Introducing Anni Toiviainen: “In my work, the worlds of science and politics come together”
Analyst Anni Toiviainen’s role is to analyze national and international climate policy and compile research-based information to support political decision-making. Understanding the logic of politics is a significant advantage in this work.
Anni Toiviainen, Analyst at the Climate Change Panel, is in her dream job: she gets to use her diverse expertise to advance meaningful issues.
“I’m a generalist, and that’s a great asset in this role. You need to understand the climate field from many perspectives to support the panelists’ work comprehensively,” Toiviainen explains.
The secretariat is responsible for planning the work of the Climate Change Panel. To fulfill its statutory duties, the panel needs foresight and hands-on support to translate information into an understandable form at the right time.
“I follow discussions on climate science and policy both nationally and internationally. My work involves a lot of writing, such as drafting statements and preparing reports.”
Toiviainen has studied environmental and sustainability sciences and holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences. Her work involves extensive stakeholder collaboration with political decision-makers and civil servants, where knowledge of political processes is highly beneficial.
“My work brings together the worlds of science and politics. Understanding how national decision-making works is important—for example, to know at what stage of preparation knowledge support is needed,” she says.
“Seeing the big picture is essential in my work”
Climate policy affects all sectors of society. While a science secretary doesn’t need to be a deep expert in every area, understanding the overall picture is crucial.
“The Climate Change Panel includes researchers from many scientific disciplines. To provide well-formulated and targeted knowledge support, I need to understand what I’m compiling—and for whom,” Toiviainen clarifies.
Discussions around climate issues can easily become polarized. They often involve emotions and even questions of identity. The topics are frequently perceived as difficult. Toiviainen and other experts at the Climate Change Panel aim to help solve complex issues based on scientific knowledge.
“I hope everyone understands that the Climate Change Panel’s work is grounded in research and the voices of a diverse scientific community. The goal is to provide decision-makers with a science-based, comprehensive view so they can make well-informed decisions, even in challenging situations,” she says.
Working with climate issues is highly motivating because it feels so meaningful.
“This work aligns with my values, and it’s great to spend eight hours a day advancing something that matters to me.”
The Climate Change Panel’s secretariat supports decision-makers in all kinds of climate-related matters. It produces and compiles information to aid decision-making.
“You can contact us when research-based information on climate topics is needed for decision-making. We always strive to find the right expert to answer questions in the relevant field.”