UN recognises the Ministry’s digital services

Ministry of the Environment
Publication date 18.3.2015 16.11
Type:News item

The Ministry of the Environment’s e-services for housing and construction have been recognised both in Finland and internationally. The UN shortlisted the Tarkkailija and Harava solutions and Lupapiste was elected to the final of the Finnish Grand One digital media awards in two categories. All the services are part of the national Action Programme on eServices and eDemocracy (SADe).

Tarkkailija and Harava recommended by the UN

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has done a review of best practices in environmental protection and the communications related to them. The report on the subject was released at the Commission’s meeting in early March 2015.

Tarkkailija and Harava, digital services provided as part of the Ministry of the Environment’s e-services for housing and construction, were recognised in this international review. Tarkkailija, a map-based web application launched in 2009, seeks to increase access to information on environmental and land use projects in different areas and cities by enabling interested parties to identify themes or locations that they would like the application to monitor. The application is mentioned in the UN report’s category “Obligation to Make Environmental Information Public”.

Harava, also a map-based application, is being used by municipalities, cities, and local governments for collecting insights, ideas, and feedback from citizens who often have practical knowledge and understanding of their surroundings which the authorities and organisations might not be aware of. The UN report picked Harava for the category ”Obligation to Facilitate Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making”.

Lupapiste reaches national Grand One

The Ministry of the Environment’s Lupapiste digital service has been selected as a finalist in two categories, “Best consumer service” and “Best B2B service”, in the national Grand One digital marketing awards. Lupapiste is a service that enables users to apply for construction permits, among others, more flexibly than before.

Grand One has been organised since 1996 and it is one of Finland’s largest competitions in digital-marketing communications. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 26 March.