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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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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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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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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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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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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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24.6.2026 | The EU Environment Council will meet in Luxembourg on Thursday 25 June. Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala will represent Finland at the meeting. Finland supports strong emissions trading in the EU, an ambitious climate policy and increased allocation of private and public funding for nature protection.https://ym.fi/en/-/eu-climate-and-environment-ministers-meet-in-luxembourg-to-discuss-emission-standards-for-automotive-industry-and-biodiversity
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The Ministry of the Environment’s Administrative Branch The Ministry of the Environment’s branch of administration consists of a number of independently operating institutes and agencies carrying out the social objectives of the ministry and parti...https://ym.fi/en/the-ministry-s-administrative-branch
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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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International environmental agreements This page contains a list of international agreements within the Ministry of the Environment's scope of activities. The complete list of international treaties and agreements that fall within the Ministry of ...https://ym.fi/en/international-environmental-agreements
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Environmental impacts of activities at the Ministry of the Environment The aim of the Ministry of the Environment is to minimise the environmental harm caused by its activities and to consistently follow the principles of sustainable development. ...https://ym.fi/en/environmental-impacts-of-activities-at-the-ministry
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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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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 Ri...https://ym.fi/en/services-for-media
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4.6.2026 | A study led by the Finnish Meteorological Institute is describing the impact on Finland of a deteriorating Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) for the first time. The Government-funded HIIPUVA project is strengthening the knowledge base in preparation for conditions in which climate tipping points may rapidly disrupt living conditions.https://ym.fi/en/-/finland-prepares-for-a-weakened-amoc-new-research-project-launched
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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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Sustainable consumption and production In 2012, the UN Member States adopted the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, which extended until the end of 2022. In 2020, the UN General Assembly decided to ...https://ym.fi/en/sustainable-consumption-and-production
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Decrees on type approval of construction products Type approval is voluntary for manufacturers. By this, they can prove that the characteristics of the construction product are such that it fulfils the essential technical requirements laid down fo...https://ym.fi/en/decrees-on-type-approval-of-construction-products
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National parks and strict nature reserves – backbone of the nature conservation network National parks and strict nature reserves constitute the backbone of the Finnish network of nature conservation areas. In Finland there are 40 national parks w...https://ym.fi/en/national-parks-and-strict-nature-reserves
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Preparedness at the Ministry of the Environment The Ministry of the Environment is responsible for managing, monitoring and coordinating the environmental administration’s preparedness for disruptions in both normal and emergency conditions. Prepa...https://ym.fi/en/preparedness-at-the-ministry
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Wind power construction Wind power is a renewable and nearly emission-free form of energy production. It can be produced relatively fast and at a relatively low cost, and and it increases Finland’s self-sufficiency in energy. Increasing wind power...https://ym.fi/en/wind-power-construction
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A better environment for future generations The revised strategy of the Ministry of the Environment stretches to 2035. In future, the Ministry of the Environment will focus even more strongly on three themes: comprehensive solutions to the ecologi...https://ym.fi/en/strategy-and-goals
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The National Building Code of Finland The Land Use and Building Act (132/1999) specifies the general conditions concerning building, substantive technical requirements, building permit procedure and building supervision by the authorities. The sub...https://ym.fi/en/the-national-building-code-of-finland
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Chemicals legislation One of the primary goals of chemicals legislation is to prevent the environmental impacts of chemicals before they can cause problems. The majority of the chemicals legislation consists of EU regulations directly applicable i...https://ym.fi/en/chemicals-legislation
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Environmental permits and supervision of environmental protection A permit under the Environmental Protection Act is required for operations that cause a risk of environmental pollution. A permit is required for activities such as forest, metal an...https://ym.fi/en/environmental-permits-and-supervision-of-environmental-protection
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Research and development Diverse R&D activities at the Ministry of the Environment Research-based data and knowledge are vital for the core activities of the Ministry of the Environment - high-quality legislative drafting, steering and strategic p...https://ym.fi/en/research-and-development
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Climate legislation Finland's national legislation concerning climate policy has evolved gradually, reflecting the obligations imposed by international conventions and EU legislation. Finnish Climate Act The new Climate Act (423/2022) entered into...https://ym.fi/en/climate-change-legislation
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Preventing environmental damage Environmental damage Environmental damage means a sudden incident where an environmentally harmful substance is or could be released to the environment in such a way that it causes danger or harm to the environment ...https://ym.fi/en/preventing-environmental-damage
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Cultural environments Human activities leave traces in the environment. This is how cultural environments are created and formed. They tell about human activities and interaction with the environment at different times. In the Finnish context, ‘Cu...https://ym.fi/en/cultural-environment
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All news and press releases RSS (Opens New Window) (Opens New Window) UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to focus on accelerating progress on 2030 Agenda Type: Press release Publication date: 6.7.2026 11.06 Draft National Res...https://ym.fi/en/news-and-press-releases
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News Press Releases UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to focus on accelerating progress on 2030 Agenda 6.7.2026 11.06 The UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) will take place in New York between 7 ...https://ym.fi/en/news
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Circular economy market This is how we implement the Circular Economy Programme Estimates for the value of the global market supporting the circular economy are in hundreds of billions of euros. The circular economy and technological advances offe...https://ym.fi/en/strategic-programme-to-promote-a-circular-economy/circular-economy-market
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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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6.5.2026 | 1 TYPE APPROVAL BODIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACT ON THE TYPE APPROVAL OF CERTAIN CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS Type approval bodies Product group Validity Kiwa Sertifiointi Oy Ministry of the Environment Decree on the Type Approval of Weldable reinforcin...https://ym.fi/documents/1410903/0/Tyyppihyv%C3%A4ksynt%C3%A4laitokset%20taulukko%20englanniksi%2014042026.pdf/14f84802-a314-e6bf-ea63-5b96a6247aab?t=1778073318450
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During the Climate Conference COP29 Finland joined a number of new initiatives and boosted important initiatives launched earlier to promote clean solutions.https://ym.fi/en/-/finland-joined-several-initiatives-and-declarations-at-cop29-to-boost-climate-work
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2.3.2026 | The Ministry of the Environment will begin a law drafting process to expand the Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park to marine areas around the islands and rocky islets. The surface area of the marine areas concerned would be more than 60,000 hectares.https://ym.fi/en/-/ministry-of-environment-launches-project-to-expand-eastern-gulf-of-finland-national-park-to-marine-areas
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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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1.4.2026 | The nature values market supports the work to promote nature management in forests and offers an alternative way to seek funding that used to be mainly based on central government sources. In North Karelia, nature values trading is piloted in a few mire restoration sites.https://ym.fi/en/-/nature-values-trading-in-north-karelia-to-restore-biodiversity-of-mires
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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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Voluntary nature value markets Nature value markets create an economic incentive for nature protection and restoration. This is based on the idea that the ecosystem services produced by nature – clean air, water resources and biodiversity – have a...https://ym.fi/en/voluntary-nature-value-markets
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4.3.2026 | Online Reporting Tool (ORT) Section I Brief overview of the process of preparation of the report General Government Finland National authorities responsible for the preparation and submission of the report Contact person Contact details Briefly de...https://ym.fi/documents/1410903/33891761/scbd-ort-Finland-Seventh-National-Report.pdf/a3550563-4020-e02b-7f92-e6ec9d62de0b?t=1772625453871