This assessment concerns the Government Foresight Report on Long-term Climate and Energy Policy, submitted to Parliament in the autumn of 2009. The assessment characterises the report and its background material as extensive and versatile. By providing a picture of the current state of climate change and the risks it creates, alongside calculations of the emission reduction potential of various sectors, the report serves as a basis for a rational national debate and political decision-making. Various scenarios chart different ways of implementing the model of a lowcarbon Finland within the next 40 years. The report thus aims to lay a foundation for Finland's pioneering status in climate and energy policy. Plenty of excellent material is provided to this end. On the other hand, the report could have provided deeper coverage of the climate and energy policy's economic impact, in terms of employment, industrialisation, investments and education policy. The rural development perspective was also somewhat lacking. In addition, the assessment describes administrative divisions' suitability for meeting the strategic challenge posed by climate change. The development of foresight reports should focus on how long-term goals and the related path dependencies can be handled in greater detail by employing a scenario technique. Furthermore, the ministries must show sufficient commitment to the report's implementation.