News

The Helmi Habitats Programme has enhanced the understanding of ways to improve the state of nature and created an important foundation for the preparation of the National Restoration Plan.

The latest assessment report from the Intergovernmental Science‑Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) underlines the responsibility of businesses for their impacts on nature. The current business conditions do not support halting biodiversity loss. Broad structural changes are needed and can be driven by governments. However, businesses already have the knowledge and opportunities to act in ways that are sustainable for nature. The report also highlights confidence in the potential of businesses to become agents of nature-positive change.

The 12th Session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services IPBES will begin in Manchester on 3 February. The session is to approve the Business & Biodiversity Report.

The focus of international climate policy has moved from the formulation of targets and agreements to practical implementation. The era of implementation and geopolitical changes, including the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, increase the pressures to reform the practices of the UN Climate Conferences.

The Government’s legislative reforms and the one-stop service at the Finnish Supervisory Agency, which will begin operating on 1 January 2026, will promote economic growth that is based on the cleanest solutions and will strengthen our comprehensive security. “The Government’s historic reforms concerning the permit procedures enter into force at the right moment. In different parts of Finland there are green transition investment plans totalling as much as EUR 303 billion, and now it would be highly important to start putting them into practice. Smooth permit procedures are a major competitive advantage in terms of attracting investments to Finland,” Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala says.

The EU environment ministers will meet in Brussels on Tuesday 16 December. The ministers will exchange views on the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy published by the Commission on 27 November. The agenda also includes conclusions on the EU’s 8th environment action programme. Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala will represent Finland at the meeting.

The seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly UNEA, the world’s highest-level decision-making body for matters related to the environment, will take place in Nairobi, Kenya from 8 to 12 December 2025. The theme of the session is ‘Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet’. Finland’s UNEA delegation in Nairobi will be led by Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala.

Finland is on the path to achieving the emission reduction targets for the effort-sharing sector for the period 2021–2030, set jointly in the EU. On 4 December 2025, the Government gave a Report to Parliament on the Medium-Term Climate Plan that sets out the measures to boost emission reductions.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment have begun legislative drafting to ensure consistent and predictable application of the obligations under the Birds Directive. The need to amend the Forest Act and the Nature Conservation Act stems from a judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union on felling trees during the period of bird breeding and rearing.

Finnish Biodiversity Award 2023–2024 was given to an actor that had done something inspiring to halt biodiversity loss. The winner of the competition was Crowdsorsa mobile game that has already helped fight against invasive alien species in Finland on a total of 4 million square metres. Honourable mentions were awarded to the cities of Kauniainen and Vantaa. The prizes were awarded by Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala.