Finland’s Economic Minister resigns over speech suggesting Africans should have ‘climate abortions’

July 2, 2023

Finnish Economic Affairs Minister Vilhelm Junnila resigned on Friday after his speech as a freshman MP resurfaced. In the address, he recommended that the country sponsor “climate abortions” for African women to save the planet.

“It would be justified for Finland to shoulder its responsibility by promoting climate abortions,” the Finns Party politician declared in 2019, quipping, “Climate abortion would be a small step for a person, but a giant leap for humanity.” The party is known for opposing the idea that Finns should have to alter their lifestyles to fight climate change dramatically and argues that they already pollute markedly less than their European peers.

Taking the comments at face value, Christian Democrat MP Paivi Rasanen accused Junnila of promoting an “eco-fascist” concept even “without the racist connection.”

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