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Minister of Climate and the Environment Mykkänen in KYIV: Finland will support Ukraine in mapping environmental damages and in reconstruction

8.3.2024 19.19
On Friday 8 March, Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen visited Kyiv at the invitation of Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ruslan Strilets. During the visit, he also met Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Deputy Minister of Energy Svitlana Grynchuk.

Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen visits Kyiv

8.3.2024 13.12
Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen visits Kyiv on 8 March 2024. The purpose of the visit is to discuss the environmental damages caused by the war, energy situation in Ukraine and Finland’s support for Ukraine’s reconstruction and assistance to the Ukrainian energy sector.

Provisional agreement on proposal for regulation concerning packaging and packaging waste

5.3.2024 15.10
On 4 March 2023, the EU Member States, European Parliament and Commission reached a provisional political agreement on a proposal for a regulation on packaging and packaging waste. Finland has taken an active part in the preparation of the regulation. The proposal that was agreed on can be evaluated in further detail only after its final content is available. The proposal is still pending formal adoption by the Member States and Parliament. The regulation will become applicable 18 months after its adoption.

Ministry of the Environment requests comments on changes to resident selection in affordable ARA housing

4.3.2024 13.42
Kaksi nuorta portaikossa kantamassa Peikonlehteä. Nuoret muuttavat uuteen asuntoon.
The aim of the legislative amendments circulated for comments is to clarify the resident selection procedure for affordable state-subsidised dwellings. According to the draft government proposal, the amendments will make it easier especially for people who have fled from Ukraine to find a dwelling. Comments can be submitted until 12 April.

UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi will focus on comprehensive solutions to global environmental problems

23.2.2024 11.17
The world’s highest-level decision-making body for matters related to the environment, the United Nations Environment Assembly UNEA, will convene at its sixth session in Nairobi, Kenya on 26 February–1 March. UNEA-6 will bring UN Member States and representatives of civil society groups, the scientific community and the private sector together to seek solutions to acute environmental challenges. Finland’s UNEA delegation will be led by Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen. The theme of the session is multilateral actions to tackle the planetary sustainability crisis – climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

Provisional agreement reached on EU carbon removal certification framework

22.2.2024 15.02
Rypsipelto Vantaalla, taustalla kerrostaloja, toimistoja ja voimalinjoja
During the negotiations on the carbon removal certification framework regulation of the European Union, a provisional political agreement was reached on the night between Monday and Tuesday. The regulation also provides support for the promotion of activities related to the domestic carbon market.

Voluntary forest protection popular among forest owners – record numbers of environmental aid agreements and nature management measures under METSO Programme

8.2.2024 9.03
Kuvituskuva: taulakääpä.
Last year, almost 10,000 hectares of forest habitats were protected under the Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland METSO. The ten-year environmental aid agreements concluded by Finnish forest owners covered more than 5,100 hectares of forest and about 4,300 hectares were protected permanently. Besides these, about 90 hectares were protected for 20 years and nature management work was carried out in an area of about 160 hectares.

Technologies and technical carbon sequestration solutions needed to reach EU’s 2040 climate target

6.2.2024 18.29
Ilmakuva kaupungista.
On 6 February 2024, the European Commission issued a Communication concerning the climate target for 2040 and a Communication on Industrial Carbon Management. The Communications open up paths towards new clean solutions and further development of carbon sequestration.

Solutions to clean energy transition – new research project speeds up phasing out fossil fuels

6.2.2024 8.30
Maisemakuva merenrannalta, jossa taustalla tuulimyllyjä.
Finland has received significant research funding of EUR 14 million from the EU to speed up the transition to a clean energy system. The REPower-CEST project will produce a comprehensive analysis of the means of phasing out fossil fuels and prepare a roadmap for implementing the transition in Finland.

Maximum amounts of home savers bonus loans to increase in April

25.1.2024 13.24
The Government has decided to raise the maximum amounts of home savers bonus (ASP) loans intended for those buying their first home. The maximum amounts will rise between EUR 15,000 and 25,000 depending on the municipality where the home is located. The aim is to make it easier for people to purchase or build their first home. The new maximum amounts will be applied from 1 April 2024.