International issues

Environmental problems are often international by nature. Threats to our environment caused by climate change, loss of biological diversity or pollution of the marine environment are examples of problems which can only be solved through cooperation with other countries. The Finnish environmental administration participates in international co-operation to contribute to solving global and regional environmental problems. We are also engaged in cooperation aimed at improving the state of the environment in our neighboring areas (and to promoting sustainable development in developing countries.)

One of Finland's main goals in international cooperation has been to promote and influence the drawing up of legally binding international agreements and their implementation. Indeed, Finland is party to more than a hundred international environmental agreements. We also take part in international processes for developing environmental policy and promoting sustainable development. In this work we put a lot of emphasis on integrating environmental concerns into all sectors of society and economic activities.

Protecting the Baltic Sea is one of the most important goals of Finland's involvement in regional co-operation. Also most of the projects in the framework of our co-operation with the neighboring countries have supported this goal.

Nature in the northern hemisphere is vulnerable and sensitive to pollution. Cooperation for the protection of the Arctic environment is also one of Finland's priorities, as is the wider framework for co-operation in the northern region, the Northern Dimension Action Programme of the European Union.