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UN Climate Conference agrees on finance goal

24.11.2024 2.18
The UN Climate Change Conference COP29 reached an agreement on the new climate finance goal (New Collective Quantified Goal, NCQG) of USD 300 billion and a total NCQG of USD 1,300 billion. Decisions on the global monitoring framework for the process to phase out fossil fuels were left to the future climate conferences.

Solutions for Global Plastics Treaty sought in Busan on 25 November–1 December

22.11.2024 8.01
Adobe Stock. Kuvassa valtava muoviroskakasa taivasalla.
Photo: Adobe Stock
Pressures to reach an understanding will be mounting when the representatives of the UN Member States convene in Busan, Republic of Korea, on 25 November–1 December for the last scheduled negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty. Finland’s Chief Negotiator Tuulia Toikka from the Ministry of the Environment expects that the negotiations will be challenging.

Baku Climate Change Conference to focus on finance target – energy transition needs to be boosted

4.11.2024 9.46
The world states will convene at the Climate Change Conference COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan on 11–22 November. The aim is to decide on a new common climate finance target. A faster energy transition will be needed as the countries are preparing to set new emission reduction targets during next year.

UN Biodiversity Conference reached agreement on genetic resources fund – other major issues remained unresolved

2.11.2024 15.37
Kuva: UN Biodiversity
UN Biodiversity Conference COP16 ended with a skinny agreement on Saturday morning after having gone into overtime. A benefit-sharing mechanism for digital information on genetic resources (the Cali Fund) was established and the role of indigenous peoples was strengthened, but no understanding was reached on monitoring the implementation of biodiversity targets or mobilising finances. As the meeting dragged on and some of the negotiators had to go home, there was no quorum to make decisions.

Minister Mykkänen: Environmental and climate themes high on agenda during visit to China

1.11.2024 11.25
Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen stresses that, to reach the global targets, China must be more strongly involved in the environmental and climate work.

Finland to strengthen environmental and circular economy cooperation with China

29.10.2024 14.01
On 29 October, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Kai Mykkänen signed two Memorandums of Understanding promoting Finland–China cooperation on the environment and the circular economy.

Framework created for voluntary biodiversity markets – cooperation started to boost action

25.10.2024 13.51
Kuva: Tero Pajukallio
Financing is needed to preserve biodiversity, both in Finland and globally. The EU Nature Restoration Regulation, the EU Biodiversity Strategy and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework call for measures that will require evermore financing, especially from the private sector.

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

19.10.2024 17.01
Kuvassa Ukrainan ja Suomen edustajia kokouspöydän ääressä.
The conference was held in hybrid form and opened by Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo and Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal. 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.
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.

UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali to focus on implementation of new biodiversity targets

16.10.2024 11.33
COP16 in Cali, Colombia on 21 October–1 November 2024
The Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) will convene in Cali, Colombia on 21 October–1 November 2024. The main objective of COP16 is to agree on the implementation of the global biodiversity targets and the related monitoring. Finland’s delegation will be led by Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen.

EU environment ministers prepare for upcoming international environment meetings

11.10.2024 13.08
The EU environment ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Monday 14 October. The topics include the negotiation objectives of the EU for both the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in October and UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in November. The ministers will also exchange views on the progress of the UN Plastics Treaty and on the EU Chemicals Strategy. Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen will represent Finland in Luxembourg.