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European Sustainable Development Week provides impetus for operational commitments

valtioneuvoston viestintäosasto
Publication date 30.5.2016 10.13
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Finland will participate for the second time in the European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW), which this year takes place between 30 May and 3 June. Participating in the ESDW are 38 countries, hosting nearly 4000 events, 29 of which are in Finland.

Among those who have registered for the event are the Social Insurance Institution (Kela), Microsoft, DNA, the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK), Fujitsu, the Finnish International Baccalaureate Society (FIBS), Suez Finland, Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY), the Ministry of the Environment and representatives of the financial sector. The purpose of the ESDW is to highlight activities promoting sustainable development as well as the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Finland is implementing the global action programme through, among other things, Society’s Commitment to Sustainable Development, in which operating practices and objectives to secure a good life now and for future generations are agreed. Concrete commitments will create new practices that promote sustainable development on an everyday level.

The commitments are aimed at responsibility on many fronts. Actors may commit to sustainable development by, for example, protecting traditional environments, combating loneliness, promoting cultural diversity or setting targets for the use of energy and water.

Businesses, organisations, schools, the public sector and individuals have already made more than 270 operational commitments. The objective of the Finnish National Commission on Sustainable Development, led by Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, is to multiply the number of operational commitments and increase the effectiveness of the process.

Many new commitments have been made in advance of the European Sustainable Development Week. Practical measures to promote sustainable development have been launched by, among others, Posti Group Corporation, the President of the Republic, Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission, DNA, Keskuspuisto Vocational College, Espoo Catering Oy, Espoo City Library, SOL Services Ltd, LocalTapiola Group, Technology Industries, the Finnish National Board of Education, Mankkaanpuro School, Globe Hope, Gasum, GreenKey, PEFC Finland – Finnish Forest Certification Council, Arkea Oy and Tekes – the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology.

Team Finland and the Finland100 project as well as government ownership steering policy lines are also encouraging partners and state-owned companies to embrace social commitment.

Inquiries: Marja Innanen, Deputy Secretary General, tel. +358 40 777 5582, Finnish National Commission on Sustainable Development, Prime Minister’s Office


European Sustainable Development Week

Executive Summary of Finland’s report – UN

Further information on sustainable development (in Finnish)

Juha Sipilä Team Finland
 
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