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12.2.2021 | Finland invests in climate diplomacy ahead of summits Ministry for Foreign Affairs Publication date 12.2.2021 15.34 Type: News item The year 2021 will be a “super year” for climate change and biodiversity. Finland's own ambitious climate objective...

7.3.2023 | on March 7 2023 in Doha

28.1.2022 | Finland's international climate finance needs a transparent long-term operating model, as well as a plan for increasing and targeting the financing. This is the conclusion of the Development Policy Committee's (DPC) recent analysis report ”Finland's International Climate Finance Needs Clear Direction”. The recommendations presented in the report outline actions towards more responsible, just and effective climate finance.

18.3.2022 | The Government has agreed on measures by which Finland will halve its emissions in the effort sharing sector by 2030 and set the course towards carbon neutrality by 2035. The measures decided in the autumn will be strengthened to ensure that the necessary emission reductions of 5.7 Mt in total will be reached. This is how Finland can achieve the emissions reduction target proposed by the European Commission for 2030 in the effort sharing sector, i.e.

1.6.2022 | Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko gave a speech at the conference on the theme of ecologically sustainable economic policy in the 2020s on 1 June 2022.

17.10.2024 | At Ukraine’s request, Finland will host a meeting dedicated to the eighth point of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, Environmental Security, on Saturday 19 October. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will deliver the opening address at the meeting, which will be chaired by Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Kai Mykkänen.

20.3.2023 | The previous UN Water Conference took place 46 years ago. Antti Rautavaara, Special Envoy for Water at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tells what the UN Water Conference to be held on 22–24 March 2023 is all about and how water issues are connected to security policy.

19.12.2022 | The 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity ends today on 19 December in Montreal, Canada. Almost 200 states negotiated on actions to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2030 and strengthen the state of the natural environment.

16.12.2022 | Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Maria Ohisalo gave the Finland's National Statement at the High-Level Segment of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity on 16th of December 2022.

The amended programme document Interreg AURORA 2021-2027 VERSION 3.0 After reallocation of Interreg NEXT Kolarctic and Interreg NEXT Karelia 1 CCI 2021TC16RFCB027 Title (Interreg VI-A) Sweden-Finland-Norway (AURORA) Version 3.0 First year 2021 Las...

13.4.2022 | Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished ambassadors,

17.11.2022 | Crisis Management NOW: Discussions on conflicts and peacebuilding in changed security situation Ministry of Defence Publication date 17.11.2022 17.00 Type: Press release The Ministry for Foreign Affairs together with its partners will organise a C...

5.10.2021 | The world’s poorest countries are most severely affected by crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. This week, the UN LDC Future Forum will bring together leading scientists, policymakers and development practitioners in Helsinki to discuss new solutions for boosting global development.

10.9.2021 | Today, on 13 September 2021, the United Nations is organising a High-level Ministerial Meeting on the Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan. The UN estimates that approximately half of the population of the country need humanitarian assistance. Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will represent Finland at the meeting.

10.5.2021 | EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on Monday 10 May. Finland’s representative at the meeting will be State Secretary Johanna Sumuvuori. The main topics on the meeting agenda will be the relations between the USA and the EU and the situation in the Western Balkans. Foreign ministers will also have a video conference with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry.

1.6.2022 | According to Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta, we need to make fundamental changes to how we think, act and measure success. Dasgupta spoke on Wednesday at a conference organised by the Economic Council around the theme of ecologically sustainable economic policy in the 2020s. The discussions were based on the Dasgupta Review, which has attracted wide international attention and emphasises the economic significance of biodiversity.

4.2.2021 | (Check Against Delivery) 

1.6.2022 | According to Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta, we need to make fundamental changes to how we think, act and measure success. Dasgupta spoke on Wednesday at a conference organised by the Economic Council around the theme of ecologically sustainable economic policy in the 2020s. The discussions were based on the Dasgupta Review, which has attracted wide international attention and emphasises the economic significance of biodiversity.

17.11.2022 | The Ministry for Foreign Affairs together with its partners will organise a Crisis Management NOW event focusing on crisis management and peacebuilding. The event will take place in the Wanha Satama conference centre in Katajanokka on Tuesday 29 November. It will be open to all and free of charge.

14.6.2022 | The Fifth National Dialogues Conference (NDC) will bring about 120 peace mediation experts from 30 different countries to Helsinki on 15–16 June. On the two days, the conference will focus on the significance and challenges of national dialogues in the changing world. Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto will open the conference and participate in the opening panel discussion.

21.4.2021 | Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Krista Mikkonen will participate in the ministerial discussions to be held in connection with the US Climate Summit on Friday 23 April. The United States has invited 40 world leaders to a Leaders’ Climate Summit on 22–23 April.

22.1.2021 | EU foreign ministers meet to discuss climate and energy matters and a broad range of other topical issues Ministry for Foreign Affairs Publication date 22.1.2021 14.25 Type: Press release The EU Foreign Affairs Council will hold its first meeting ...

3.7.2023 | The Conference of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization FAO is currently meeting in Rome. Permanent Secretary Jaana Husu-Kallio delivered Finland’s statement at the Conference and met the re-elected Director-General Dongyu QU. Finland and FAO have close cooperation especially in forest and water issues.

2.11.2021 | Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko will participate in the Finance Day held in connection with the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow on Wednesday 3 November. She will also attend the meeting of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action as a Co-Chair of the Coalition.

14.6.2021 | Finland will chair the session of the Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on 15–17 June 2021. Representatives from more than 180 countries are expected to attend the Conference, which will be held both virtually and at the UN headquarters in New York. A large number of representatives of civil society organisations and UN agenci...

21.3.2023 | The first UN Water Conference in 46 years takes place in New York on 22–24 March 2023. The Finnish delegation is composed of a broad spectrum of stakeholders representing the water sector. Jaana Husu-Kallio, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, stresses the importance of good governance of water resources, cooperation between the public and private sectors, and the high level of expertise Finland has in water issues.

2.12.2022 | The 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity will be held in Montreal, Canada on 7–19 December 2022. “The Conference in Montreal must mark a turning point in terms of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2030, somewhat in the same way as the Paris Climate Change Conference did for preventing climate crisis,” says Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Maria Ohisalo, who leads Finland’s delegation.

13.12.2021 | Mr President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

31.5.2023 | The increasing frequency of extreme weather events caused by climate change, the loss of fertile soil and biodiversity loss are challenging the food security and the future of food production worldwide. However, soil management offers solutions to these challenges. The first Northern European meeting of the international “4 per 1000” Initiative will bring international leaders in the topic to Helsinki on 6–8 June 2023.

25.8.2026 | Speech by Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission 2026 in Helsinki. Changes possible during the speech.

29.4.2022 | Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen will attend the seventh and final plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe in Strasbourg on 29–30 April. At the plenary session, the representatives will draw up a proposal for the final report of the Conference on the Future, which will be published on 9 May 2022.

7.1.2026 | Finland’s term as Chairperson of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) ended on the last day of 2025. Last year marked 50 years since the CSCE meeting in Helsinki and the adoption of the Helsinki Final Act. The principles enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act are as relevant today as they were fifty years ago because they represent the essence of humanity: the yearning for freedom, cooperation and peace.

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.

19.2.2021 | The UN Environment Assembly UNEA-5 brings together the UN Member States and representatives of the business sector and civil society organisations to a session conducted virtually on 22-23 February. The themes of the meeting are the role of nature in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals and green rebuilding and sustainable recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.

22.10.2021 | Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen and Minister of Local Government Sirpa Paatero will represent the Finnish Government via remote connections at the second Plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe to be held on 22–23 October 2021 in Strasbourg. Citizens’ representative Ninni Norra will also represent Finland at the event.

2.5.2022 | The Conference on the Future of Europe, which kicked off on Europe Day of last year, has gathered the views of citizens on the future challenges and opportunities facing the EU. Now, one year later, the conference is coming to a close and it is time to assess the results. Join us at Helsinki Central Library Oodi to hear about the conference and discuss the future of Europe with Minister Sirpa Paatero and Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen on Monday 9 May at 14.00.

2.7.2025 | The European Commission has published a legislative proposal on the emission reduction target for 2040. The Commission proposes a net emission reduction target of 90 per cent by 2040 compared to the 1990 levels.

29.6.2022 | The UN Ocean Conference, which will be held for the second time, brings together representatives of states, researchers, civil society, and businesses to discuss the oceans’ role in climate change mitigation as well as the future of a sustainable blue economy.

10.11.2021 | Minister of Education Li Andersson will lead the Finnish delegation to the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris on 10–11 November. In Finland’s keynote speech on Wednesday, the Minister of Education highlighted human rights as the basis of UNESCO’s activities and its work as an implementer of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustaina...

5.11.2025 | Minister Multala: It is most important that we were able to reach an agreement, even if many of the details remained to be decided later.