Organisation and management of the Ministry of the Environment

At the Ministry of the Environment matters are prepared by the Natural Environment Department, Built Environment Department, Climate and Environmental Protection Department and Ministerial Governance and International Affairs Department. Besides these, the ministry has a support function for Communications.

The ministry is led by the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, with the Permanent Secretary as the highest public official.

Permanent Secretary

The Permanent Secretary holds the highest position within the ministry. The Permanent Secretary assists the ministers in directing, developing and supervising the activities of the ministry and its administrative branch.

The Permanent Secretary:

directs the ministry's activities and strategic planning
coordinates the implementation of the ministry's strategy
is responsible for internal supervision
directs performance guidance within the administrative branch.

Juhani Damski
Permanent Secretary
+358295250445
[email protected]

Secretary

Anna-Maija Kaikkonen
+358295 250 358
[email protected]

Departments and support function of the Ministry of the Environment

The ministry’s departments are headed by Directors General. The support function for Communications is headed by the Director of Communications.

Natural Environment Department

The Natural Environment Department is responsible for matters concerning:

nature conservation
landscape management
recreational use of nature
protection of surface waters, groundwater and marine areas
ecological sustainability and environmental protection in agriculture and forestry, extraction of earth materials, and other use of rural areas and natural resources
environmental impact assessments
regional cooperation in environmental protection projects.

Tarja Haaranen
Director General
+358295250282
[email protected]

Secretary

Krista Thauvon
+358295250293
[email protected]

Built Environment Department

The Built Environment Department is responsible for the guidance and development of land use, housing and construction and for matters concerning:

regional and urban structure
land use planning
land policy
community infrastructure
quality, functionality and efficiency of construction
quality of the living environment and housing
maintenance of the building stock
renovation construction
management of cultural environments
protection of buildings
construction supervision
healthiness and safety of communities and buildings
noise abatement
support for the production, repair and acquisition of housing
housing costs and financing.

Teppo Lehtinen
Director General
+358295250157
[email protected]

Secretary

Melica Hellén
+358295250012
[email protected]

Climate and Environmental Protection Department

The Climate and Environmental Protection Department is responsible for matters concerning:

air protection
climate change
sustainable consumption and production
waste issues
prevention of environmental harm associated with chemicals and nano- and biotechnologies
soil contamination
prevention of and compensation for environmental damage
environmental economics
environmental technology.

Leena Ylä-Mononen
Director General
+358295250023
[email protected]

Secretary

Heidi Tanskanen
+358295250290
[email protected]

Ministerial Governance and International Affairs Department

The Ministerial Governance and International Affairs Department is responsible for:

administration and its development
guidance of the administrative branch
operational and financial planning and guidance
human resource matters
coordination of the Ministry's multilateral cooperation, external relations of the European Union concerning environmental issues, and regional, Nordic and bilateral cooperation
coordination of the environmental policy of the European Union and preparation of common legislation in cooperation with the ministry’s other departments and the support function
preparation and implementation of international agreements within the ministry's field of activities in cooperation with the ministry’s other departments and the support function
development of information systems and information resources of the ministry and its administrative branch and guidance of their coordination in cooperation with the ministry’s other departments and the support function
other administrative affairs.

Ismo Tiainen
Director General (1 January-30 April 2023)
+358295250294
[email protected]

Secretary

Wikström Hanna
+358295250331
[email protected]

Communications

The support function for Communications at the Ministry of the Environment is responsible for the ministry’s external and internal communication activities, in cooperation with the ministry’s departments and units. The responsibilities also include cooperation in communication activities within the administrative branch and with other Government ministries.

Jussi Salmi
Director of Communications
+358295250263
[email protected]

Secretary

Oona Riitala
+358295250427
[email protected]

Management support

Management support works directly under the Permanent Secretary.

Research Director

The Research Director is responsible for coordinating the ministry’s research and development activities in cooperation with the Permanent Secretary, departments and the support function. The Research Director also assists the ministry’s management in the evaluation of the needs for research and analyses and in the monitoring and impact assessment of projects.

Tanja Suni
Research Director
+358295250013
[email protected]

Director of Legislative Affairs

The Director of Legislative Affairs is responsible for coordinating the preparation, development and implementation of legislation at the Ministry of the Environment in cooperation with the Permanent Secretary and the ministry's departments and units. The Director of Legislative Affairs also assists the management in the evaluation of the need for law drafting and in the monitoring and impact assessment of legislative projects, participates in the ministry’s key legislative projects where considered necessary, and manages the ministry’s joint coordination tasks.

Johanna Korpi
Director of Legislation
+358295250278
[email protected]

Director for Development

The Director for Development is responsible for monitoring and coordinating the implementation of the Government Programme in cooperation with the Permanent Secretary and the ministry’s departments and units. The Director for Development also assists the ministry’s management in strategic planning, guidance and development and in monitoring the implementation of the strategy, participates in the ministry’s key development projects where considered necessary, and manages the ministry’s joint coordination tasks

Juho Korpi
Director for Development
+358295250136
[email protected]