Press Releases
Real estate and construction innovations help solve climate crisis – EUR 12 million in development funding available in spring
2.2.2023 10.29
Emissions from the real estate and construction sector can be effectively cut while creating new business that is also of international interest. The Low-carbon Built Environment Programme is offering another approximately EUR 12 million in funding for research, development and innovation projects that promote the green transition of the built environment.
New guide outlines good practices for voluntary carbon market
1.2.2023 9.44

Voluntary climate action is one way to promote climate work in Finland and globally. The guide published by the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on 1 February outlines good practices for the voluntary carbon market. The guide aims to improve the reliability of the domestic carbon market and create opportunities for Finnish companies to act for the benefit of the climate.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Somalia Khadija Mohamed Almakhzoumi to visit Finland
31.1.2023 8.24
The first Minister of the Environment and Climate Change of the Federal Republic of Somalia Khadija Mohamed Almakhzoumi visits Finland on 31 January–3 February 2023. The visit is on the invitation of the Finnish Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Maria Ohisalo. The purpose of the visit is to support the new ministry in starting its work.
Annual payments of state-subsidised loans not raised in 2023 - aim to ease cost pressures related to housing
26.1.2023 13.50

The Government has decided to keep the annual payments of the state-subsidised rental housing and right of occupancy housing loans (ARAVA) at the same level as in 2022. No adjustment according to the consumer price index will be made in 2023. The decision will curb the pressures to raise rents and management fees in the current situation where the property management costs and the residents’ living costs are also rising rapidly.
Better information to be available on water quality and consumption
18.1.2023 10.01

The revised EU Drinking Water Directive has been implemented in Finnish national legislation through statutory amendments that took effect on 12 January 2023. These amendments concern a wide range of laws and regulations. The main goal of the reform is to safeguard the quality of water intended for human consumption and to provide more information on water quality.
UN Biodiversity Conference reached agreement on halting biodiversity loss by 2030 – 30 per cent protection and restoration goal for world’s nations
19.12.2022 11.47

The 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity ends today on 19 December in Montreal, Canada. Almost 200 states negotiated on actions to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2030 and strengthen the state of the natural environment.
Cities solve sustainability challenges related to urban green spaces, urban planning and wellbeing
13.12.2022 11.42

Sixteen Finnish municipalities are taking part in in the work on challenge clusters under the Sustainable City Programme. The aim is to tackle the most difficult sustainability challenges that cannot be solved by individual organisations or sectors alone. The three themes selected on the basis of the needs of cities are: urban green spaces in increasingly built-up cities, urban planning that takes sustainability targets into account, and flourishing communities in socially sustainable cities. The themes are particularly challenging as they combine the different dimensions of sustainability.
Climate Policy Roundtable: Upholding climate targets key issue in terms of justice
8.12.2022 15.58
On Thursday 8 December, the Climate Policy Roundtable discussed the different dimensions of justice in climate actions and plans. The members of the Roundtable stressed that, even if justice can be considered from many different dimensions, the most important thing in terms of justice is to uphold the climate targets and continue to pursue a consistent climate policy. The meeting was chaired by the vice-chair of the Climate Policy Roundtable, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Maria Ohisalo.
Climate Policy Roundtable to discuss climate justice in policy preparation
7.12.2022 11.06
The Climate Policy Roundtable will hold its 19th meeting on Thursday 8 December. The main topic of the meeting will be justice in climate actions and plans.
UN Biodiversity Conference starts in Montreal – turning point needed to halt nature loss
2.12.2022 8.58

The 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity will be held in Montreal, Canada on 7–19 December 2022. “The Conference in Montreal must mark a turning point in terms of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2030, somewhat in the same way as the Paris Climate Change Conference did for preventing climate crisis,” says Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Maria Ohisalo, who leads Finland’s delegation. Minister Ohisalo will attend the Conference on 15–19 December.
News
Speech of Minister Maria Ohisalo at the Convention on Biological Diversity, 15th Conference of the Parties, High Level Segment in Montreal, 16.12.2022
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16.12.2022 17.28
Speech of Minister Maria Ohisalo at the Into the Woods event 24.11.2022
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24.11.2022 12.12
This year, the Lääkkeetön Itämeri campaign aims to reduce the incorrect disposal of medicines – particularly young people have much to learn
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22.8.2022 8.25
Candidates sought for Multidisciplinary Expert Panel of IPBES
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11.2.2022 13.38
Citizens’ Jury tested in Finland to support climate policy preparation
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26.8.2021 11.50
Returning expired medicines has increased in Finland
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26.8.2021 9.53
Sustainability, natural environment, equality – Nordic building blocks for the New European Bauhaus initiative
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31.5.2021 11.03
Hiilihelppi provides tips on how to reduce the carbon footprint of living
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23.4.2021 15.32
Nordic ideas to enrich the New European Bauhaus
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1.4.2021 10.32
Ministry of the Environment participates in a joint European research project on forest sector – The call is open until 13 April 2021
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27.1.2021 7.41
Environmental administration to introduce a built environment information system
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28.9.2020 10.57
The year of celebration for European landscapes
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7.9.2020 3.44
The Environment Council conclusions: need for urgent measures to protect and restore biodiversity
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19.12.2019 14.54
Network of nature reserves in Barents region gains two new sites in Northwest Russia
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5.12.2019 7.06
High Level Celebration Conference of the first EU wide ecosystem assessment in Helsinki 13 December 2019
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25.11.2019 14.12
Finland will celebrate European Heritage Days 2020 with the theme Places to Grow
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11.11.2019 8.26
Strong support for the continuation of the EU's Urban and Territorial Agendas
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17.10.2019 16.47
Digital innovations kick off Presidency discussions on regional and urban development
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12.9.2019 16.15
Photography Exhibition on Arctic Biodiversity in the Lobby of the Ministry
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22.5.2019 12.10
Timanttiteko award for 2018 granted to National Climate Change Adaptation Plan implementation group
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21.3.2019 17.00