Finland’s OSCE Chairpersonship emphasises climate security and sustainable development in both words and action

Finland is emphasising climate security and the importance of sustainable development in international diplomacy during its Chairpersonship of the OSCE.

According to the Deputy Head of the Task Force for the Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship, Toni Sandell, the environment’s importance for security was already taken account of in the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, on which the organisation’s activities are based.

Today, climate change affects the dynamics of conflicts and political stability by increasing vulnerabilities and risks. Threats associated with the environment and climate change are linked to the scarcity of resources, migration and social instability, among other things.

“Finland’s OSCE Chairpersonship is focusing on climate security. This paves way for the discussion on the triple planetary crisis, that is, how climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution affect security. The OSCE has a unique, complementary role to the UN, bringing participating States together to discuss common challenges and possible solutions,” Sandell says.

Important and topical themes are highlighted in many ways during the Chairpersonship. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen has appointed Kersti Stendahl from the Ministry of the Environment as her Special Representative on Climate Security. In addition, Finland will organise a climate security conference in Helsinki on 11 June.

Sustainable development is achieved through action

Finland is cooperating with WWF Finland during its OSCE Chairpersonship. In February, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and WWF Finland published an update to the guidelines on sustainable meeting practices. The guidelines cover both environmental and social sustainability objectives.

Sustainable guidelines are followed especially in the choice of the venue and in catering, procurement and planning parallel programmes.

“We have worked with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on climate and nature issues for a long time. The updated guidelines are a good example of how to take responsibility into account at many different levels in international meetings and demonstrate Finland’s commitment to combating the climate crisis,” says Secretary General of WWF Finland Jari Luukkonen.

Conference Adviser Annariina Kukkonen from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs believes that sharing conference participants about Finland’s measures can help spread best practices elsewhere.