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Nature and water A diverse natural environment and living waters are the foundation of the wellbeing of us humans and the natural environment and a key condition for all activities in society. The aim of the Ministry of the Environment is to halt ...https://ym.fi/en/nature-and-water
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Water resources and marine protection The aim of the protection of waters and marine areas is that the status of the Baltic Sea and the rivers, lakes and groundwater is at least good. With the programme to improve the state of waters and marine ar...https://ym.fi/en/water-resources-and-marine-protection
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Legislation on water resources and marine protection Organisation of water resources and marine management The management of water resources and marine areas is based on the Act on the Organisation of River Basin Management and the Marine Strategy...https://ym.fi/en/legislation-on-the-protection-of-water-and-the-sea
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Management of water resources and marine environments in Finland Water resources management The aim of water resources management is to secure and maintain a good status of surface waters and groundwater. In Mainland Finland there are seven water ...https://ym.fi/en/management-of-water-resources-and-marine-environments-in-finland
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International cooperation on water resources and marine protection Water resources protection Finland’s International Water Strategy Finnish Water Way - International Water Strategy, adopted in 2018, sets out the objectives of Finland’s internatio...https://ym.fi/en/international-cooperation-on-water-resources-and-marine-protection
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Improving the state of waters and marine areas (Ahti Programme) The aim of the AHTI Programme is to achieve a good status for waters and the Baltic Sea. The programme promotes the implementation of the national Marine Environment Management Plan (...https://ym.fi/en/improving-the-state-of-waters-and-marine-areas-2023-2027
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18.2.2026 | 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.https://ym.fi/en/-/five-years-of-helmi-habitats-programme-rehabilitation-of-small-water-bodies-and-forest-nature-management-as-bright-spots-in-2025
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13.11.2025 | With a budget of almost EUR 28 million, the ACWA LIFE project is one of the most significant projects during the history of water resources management in Finland. The eight-year project to be started in the beginning of 2026 will improve the status of waters by enhancing river basin management planning and actions based on this in five areas.https://ym.fi/en/-/significant-eu-funding-to-acwa-life-project-to-improve-status-of-waters-in-finland
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6.7.2026 | The UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) will take place in New York between 7 and 15 July. The purpose of the annual meeting is to review the progress made in achieving the objectives of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Finland’s delegation will be led by Mika Nykänen, State Secretary to Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala.https://ym.fi/en/-/un-high-level-political-forum-on-sustainable-development-to-focus-on-accelerating-progress-on-2030-agenda
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20.10.2025 | The EU environment ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Tuesday 21 October. The ministers are expected to adopt Council conclusions on the preparations for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) and on the Water Resilience Strategy. The ministers will also discuss the European Ocean Pact proposed by the European Commission. Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala will represent Finland at the meeting.https://ym.fi/en/-/eu-environment-and-climate-ministers-meet-in-brussels-eu-positions-for-un-climate-change-conference-cop30-on-agenda
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23.9.2024 | The mission of the European Partnership Water4All is to support research and innovation projects that will improve global water security in the long term. The theme for the 2024 call that is now open is “Water for Circular Economy”. Funding will be available for international research projects.https://ym.fi/en/-/water4all-funding-available-for-research-projects-related-to-water-and-circular-economy
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18.1.2023 | 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.https://ym.fi/en/-/1271139/better-information-to-be-available-on-water-quality-and-consumption
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Protection of groundwater The aim of groundwater protection is to maintain a good qualitative and quantitative status of groundwater. Finland’s groundwater bodies are highly susceptible to the impacts of human activities, which is why it is import...https://ym.fi/en/protection-of-groundwater
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Finland signed commitment to promote sustainable and fair use of water - Ministry of the Environment
5.11.2021 | At the Climate Change Conference today, Finland signed the Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints. This is the first international commitment concerning responsible use of water. Water is in a key position in climate change adaptation, as well as in the mitigation efforts Finland was asked to sign the declaration as one of the leading countries in water responsibility.https://ym.fi/en/-/1410837/finland-signed-commitment-to-promote-sustainable-and-fair-use-of-water -
Restoration of aquatic and shore habitats The key aim in the restoration of aquatic and shore habitats is to enhance the biodiversity of small water bodies and shore environments which may have degraded as a result of land use changes and water co...https://ym.fi/en/helmi-habitats-programme/restoration-of-aquatic-and-shore-habitats
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Act on the Verification of Qualifications The new Construction Act that entered into force in the beginning of 2025 lays down provisions on qualification requirements in construction and the verification procedure for qualifications. Provisions on...https://ym.fi/en/act-on-the-verification-of-qualifications
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Green Deal agreements Green Deals and the commitments made under them promote sustainable development and accelerate the achievement of environmental objectives. The purpose of these voluntary agreements concluded for a fixed term is to find solut...https://ym.fi/en/green-deals
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30.6.2022 | The United Nations Ocean Conference was held in Lisbon from 27 June to 1 July 2022. At the Conference, states pledged to contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially that concerning life below water. Finland’s delegation was led by Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä. State Secretary Terhi Lehtonen and Permanent Secretary Juhani Damski attended the Conference as well.https://ym.fi/en/-/10616/finland-promotes-water-protection-in-un-ocean-conference
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Restoring aquatic bird habitats and wetlands The restoration of wetlands and aquatic bird habitats is essential for the protection of many of our endangered coastal and aquatic birds. Half of the bird species living in wetlands are endangered, and...https://ym.fi/en/helmi-habitats-programme/restoring-aquatic-bird-habitats-and-wetlands
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Areas of Expertise Climate Human action warms up the climate, with severe consequences. Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees requires strong and fast emission reductions. Climate warming will continue despite the efforts to mitigate it, which me...https://ym.fi/en/areas-of-expertise
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One-stop services and streamlined permit procedures The one-stop services project of the Ministry of the Environment has supported the reform of the regional state administration and development of the one-stop service. To make the one-stop servic...https://ym.fi/en/onestop
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International environmental agreements Finland is currently party to many international environmental agreements, including all central multilateral agreements. These agreements lay the groundwork for the prevention and mitigation of global enviro...https://ym.fi/en/international-environmental-agreements
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5.2.2020 | The ambassadors of the EU Member States today adopted a shared political agreement on the content of the new Drinking Water Directive. The new Drinking Water Directive is aimed at guaranteeing a higher quality of drinking water, enhancing the accessibility of water, increasing the communication of information about water management and improving the energy efficiency of water utilities in the entire Union.https://ym.fi/en/-/1271139/eu-n-uusi-juomavesidirektiivi-parantaa-talousveden-turvallisuutta
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Wilderness areas A total of 12 sites in northern Finland have been designated as wilderness areas. The aim is to preserve the wilderness character of the areas protect the Saami culture and nature-based livelihoods promote a diverse use of the nat...https://ym.fi/en/wilderness-areas
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Protection of species and habitat types The protection of species and habitat types is in a key position for preserving biodiversity. According to the latest assessment of threatened species, the Red List, every ninth species in Finland is already...https://ym.fi/en/protection-of-species-and-habitats
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Contaminated areas Soil, groundwater and sediment Soil contamination refers to reduced soil quality due to harmful substances resulting from human activity. This may endanger or harm human health or the environment, impair the amenities of the are...https://ym.fi/en/contaminated-areas
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Helmi habitats programme aims to strengthen biodiversity Helmi habitats programme, led by the Ministry of the Environment, aims to strengthen Finland’s biodiversity and safeguard the vital ecosystem services that nature provides for us. At the sam...https://ym.fi/en/helmi-habitats-programme
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What is the green transition? The green transition towards an ecologically sustainable economy is an absolute necessity. A sustainable economy leans on low-carbon solutions that promote biodiversity and on the sustainable use of natural resources....https://ym.fi/en/what-is-the-green-transition
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Environmental damage legislation Provisions on the obligation to take action and the liability for costs related to preventing, limiting and combating environmental pollution and on compensations related to environmental damages are laid down in a...https://ym.fi/en/environmental-damage-legislation
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Recreational use of nature Recreational use of nature means spending time in the natural environment during leisure time for recreational purposes. Common forms of such recreational use include walking, cycling, skiing, berry picking, swimming, hi...https://ym.fi/en/recreational-use-of-nature
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Ramsar sites Finland is a signatory to the global Ramsar Convention on the protection and sustainable use of wetlands. The convention obliges to establish nature conservation areas in wetland areas and promotes the protection of internationally si...https://ym.fi/en/ramsar-sites
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Cooperation in the Arctic and Barents region Arctic Council The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum for promoting sustainable development and environmental protection. It has eight Member States: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark,...https://ym.fi/en/cooperation-in-the-arctic-and-barents-region
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Minister of Climate and the Environment Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala leads the Ministry of the Environment. Within the Finnish Government, she is responsible for matters related to the environment, construction and housing....https://ym.fi/en/minister-of-climate-and-the-environment
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9.10.2024 | On 9 October 2024, the Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy discussed and supported the new outlines for the ownership policy concerning Metsähallitus for 2024–2027. Besides the reconciliation of different needs, new objectives have also been included. Among the topics concerned are the economic benefit from the operations of Metsähallitus to the State and promotion of biodiversity and renewable energy.https://ym.fi/en/-/1410837/outlines-for-ownership-policy-concerning-metsahallitus-new-objectives-related-to-promotion-of-renewable-energy-restoration-of-flowing-waters-and-recognition-of-revenue
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9.4.2026 | The transaction concerning nature values agreed between a private landowner and the retail and service company Pohjois-Karjalan Osuuskauppa is among the first ones in Finland. The surface area of the site concerned, the Kuikkasuo mire, is about 12 hectares, and it will be restored to a state that is as close to natural as possible.https://ym.fi/en/-/nature-wins-the-most-in-nature-values-trading-but-all-parties-stand-to-benefit
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Services for media The ministry's communications is responsible for the external and internal communications of the Ministry of the Environment in cooperation with the ministry’s departments and units. Contact information Head of Communications Li...https://ym.fi/en/services-for-media
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Natura 2000 areas The European Union aims to halt the loss of biodiversity within its territory. One of the most important means to achieve this goal is the Natura 2000 network. The network protects the habitats of wild fauna and flora defined in ...https://ym.fi/en/natura-2000-network
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Noise abatement legislation The central goals and tools for noise abatement are laid down in the Environmental Protection Act and Decree. Finlex: Environmental Protection Act 527/2014 Finlex: Environmental Protection Decree 713/2014, in Finnish Th...https://ym.fi/en/noise-abatement-legislation
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Nature conservation areas The purpose of nature conservation areas is to safeguard the biodiversity of species and habitats. Nature conservation areas also contribute to the preservation of national landscapes, cultural heritage and recreation and...https://ym.fi/en/nature-conservation-areas
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The Ministry of the Environment’s Administrative Branch The government branch of the Ministry of the Environment comprises a number of independent institutions and agencies that implement the ministry’s policy objectives and contribute to projects...https://ym.fi/en/the-ministry-s-administrative-branch