Finland and Ukraine strengthen environmental and energy cooperation as part of sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine

Finland promotes Environmental Security in war-ravaged Ukraine. Minister of Climate and the Environment of Finland Kai Mykkänen and Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Svitlana Hrynchuk agreed on stronger cooperation in the forest, nature, meteorology and energy sectors.

Environmental Security in Ukraine was the main theme of the high-level conference organised in Helsinki on 19 October 2024. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has caused significant environmental damages, led to enormous pollution, disrupted ecosystems and destroyed biodiversity in an unprecedented way. 

The conference was co-chaired by Minister of Climate and the Environment of Finland Kai Mykkänen and Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Svitlana Hrynchuk. In their bilateral discussions in connection with the conference, the two ministers agreed on stronger cooperation in the environmental and energy sectors. 

“We need to be strong and united to hold Russia fully accountable for the environmental damages in Ukraine, and extensive cooperation will be needed for sustainable reconstruction of the country. Finland can offer a lot of expertise for monitoring the state of the environment and assessing the damages, and we can support Ukraine in the clean energy transition. Sustainable reconstruction means an opportunity to also replace the old building stock with more energy-efficient solutions,” Minister Mykkänen says. 

Finland has already launched significant environmental projects in Ukraine, which has also attracted commercial interest in Finnish technologies. 

Finland signed Joint Communique to strengthen Environmental Security in Ukraine

The conference on Environmental Security was part of the series of thematic meetings organised on all of the ten points of the Peace Formula presented by President Zelenskyy in 2022. Finland serves as the co-chair of the point concerning Environmental Security together with Germany and Bulgaria. 

The Joint Communique on strengthening environmental security in Ukraine published in connection with the conference stresses that it is important to assess and repair the damages caused by the war and that those guilty of crimes must be held accountable. 

The objective of the conference was to promote the reconstruction of Ukraine in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and the green transition. The conference was held in hybrid form and opened by Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo and Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal. The meeting was attended by representatives from 60 countries. 

With environmental cooperation, Finland also contributes to supporting Ukraine’s convergence with the EU and the implementation of the agreements concluded between Finland and Ukraine. 

Inquiries: 

Leevi Hietanen (requests for interviews with the Minister) 
Parliamentary Assistant to Minister Mykkänen  
tel. +358 50 475 1032 
[email protected] 

Kerstin Stendahl 
Senior Ministerial Adviser 
Ministry of the Environment  
tel. +358 50 525 2717 
[email protected]